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H-ASIA April 21, 2007 On the usage "laowai"/Chinese ideas of ethnicity ************************************************************************ From: Ian Welch <ianwelch@coombs.anu.edu.au> Dimon Liu's comment can be backed up from missionary archives. It was not uncommon for people who had never seen a European (whatever brand), or heard of Europe or America, still less Australia (except in Taishan District, Guangdong) to classify missionaries as being from some other part of China, like the other side of the mountain, particularly if they spoke the local dialect passably. Physical appearance tended to rest more on eye and hair colour, but if the missionary had dark hair and brown eyes, things seemed about even. What did attract local interest was what the escorting Chinese had to say about their charges. Women missionaries, in particular, rarely had to worry about their security because their very presence was a potential source of entertainment. Almost invariably they were invited into houses, not for religious reasons, but for their curiosity value. (I have found few incidents of attacks on European women travelling only with Chinese assistants) Ian Welch Canberra ************************************************************************* To post to H-ASIA simply send your message to: <H-ASIA@h-net.msu.edu> For holidays or short absences send post to: <listserv@h-net.msu.edu> with message: SET H-ASIA NOMAIL Upon return, send post with message SET H-ASIA MAIL H-ASIA WEB HOMEPAGE URL: http://h-net.msu.edu/~asia/
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