Chinese Masculinities in a Globalizing World

This book explores how the traditional ideal of Chinese manhood, the fragile scholar hero of ＂wen＂ as superior to the ＂wu＂ of marital prowess, has been transformed by increasing integration of Chinese men into global culture. It discusses how increased travel and contact with the West, where ＂wu＂ figures are a more significant ideal, are shifting the balance and prompting a hybridization of Chinese cultural norms, whilst emphasis on wealth creation in China has also incorporated business skills and monetary power into the concept of ＂wen＂ itself. The book shows that in a very short period China has changed from a relatively isolated state with stable and established cultural ideals, to being greatly globalized.

Kam Louie is Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities Languages at UNSW and Honorary Professor in the School of Chinese at the University of Hong Kong