The efforts of overseas Chinese to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake show that blood is thicker than water, and have attracted the attention of the world. Taiwanese were the biggest aid donors, giving even more than some rich Chinese. Why was Taiwan’s show of support even stronger than that of the Chinese public and the wealthier people among them?
The answer likely involves differences between the historical experience and the educational systems in Taiwan and China, which in turn involve culture and tradition.
The most obvious difference in historical experience is the chaos during the Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976, which almost destroyed China’s culture. Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong (毛澤東) stirred up political struggle and built a personality cult. Children attacked their parents and students attacked their teachers. China’s long tradition of respect for parents and teachers was lost, and even worse, people lost their humanity.
Today’s Chinese millionaires all lived through that period, and in their communist education there was little room for developing a humane perspective. This is the reason why most rich Chinese are indifferent.
Educational differences between Taiwan and China are also reflected in care for others. For a long time, Chinese have been educated in a system controlled by a party-state, and we all know that such education often includes one-sided patriotism and nationalism, and is not likely to cultivate the spirit of humanity that can reach across borders and between peoples.
Everywhere in China it is obvious that the party controls everything, including the media. This is no different from the situation in Taiwan under dictators Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his son Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國).
In Taiwan, on the other hand, a Chinese cultural revival was promoted before the lifting of martial law. Since then, Taiwan has enjoyed a democratic and liberal education system, freeing itself of single-minded nationalism and patriotism. Everything can be discussed and debated, and the government is no longer unaccountable. Only in a country that values human rights is there room for sympathy with the suffering of others.
Another important difference between Taiwanese and Chinese culture is aid from religious workers. The dissemination of religion is restricted in communist China, and as a result religion takes on a political color. In Taiwan, religion is spontaneous and part of civil society. Religious aid organizations attract a lot of donations and look after disadvantaged groups, providing a large part of emergency aid and care for the elderly.
Given the lack of efficiency of the Taiwanese government and its empty coffers, disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed and the physically disabled depend largely on the attention of religious groups that fill in the vacuum left by government shortcomings.
Religious charity organizations transcend racial and national borders. In their eyes, there are only living creatures in need. This pure and practical ideal of helping others is the main reason why religious Taiwanese donate to charity; organizations like Tzu Chi, Dharma Drum Mountain and the Fo Guang Shan Monastery are therefore able to accomplish much with their work. The role Chinese religious organizations can play is much more limited.
The earthquake in Sichuan has brought to light many problems in China, but also highlights that a humane core of empathizing with the suffering of others is still lacking in communist China.
Chang Kun-chiang is an associate professor in the Department of East Asian Culture and Development at National Taiwan Normal University.
TRANSLATED BY ANNA STIGGELBOUT
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