Chinese Clichés - A copy of the Japanese?

Previously, we wrote an article about Japanese clichés. This time we will talk a little about Chinese clichés and how they relate to Japanese works.

China is a country famous for its dramas that explore local and oriental culture. Sometimes, they are very similar to Western soap operas.

Their format is sometimes referred to as dorama - dramas of Japanese origin. They are influenced by soap operas and television series.

Chinese dramas have various production locations. Some are produced in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China - thus, the style, language, and editing are affected.

There are also anime of Chinese origin. Although little known, they are - in fact - a surprise for many viewers. Some manage to reach the quality level of the original Japanese anime. Others fall short.

There is also another genre of Chinese television production: web novels. They are available online, have no illustrations, are written entirely in text, and are very famous.

However, in their stories, it is possible to see a recurring plot pattern, which can sometimes bring a certain discomfort because of the triviality of some characters and scene elements. They are present in soap operas, web novels, and Chinese anime.

The main Chinese clichés

One of the first clichés that is more common in web novels is the master who behaves in an extremely arrogant and perverted way. This type of character is present in almost all soap operas that depict ancient times in Chinese history.

In some anime, this stereotype is associated with characters' nosebleeds. Sometimes it even causes discomfort for the viewer - or reader - because the sexual connotation is obvious.

Another famous cliché is the protagonist who does not show his real power, allowing the enemy to take advantage of his goodwill. This makes the scenes, or small fight narratives, very boring and can leave the reader frustrated.

Some anime, not only of Chinese origin, depict a superstition that is common across Asia in general. The superstition says that when you sneeze, it is because someone is talking about you. In some Western cultures, people say that if your ear is warm, it is because someone is speaking ill of you!

At certain moments in the plots, the protagonists are always saved by random characters. This, in fact, is not a specific cliché of web novels, Chinese soap operas, and Chinese anime, but rather of many good plots. However, good writing starts to fade when the main character always comes out unscathed from risky situations.

Because he stops showing his abilities, he also stops showing his human side - the side where he is prone to mistakes. Thus, the main character becomes just a puppet in the middle of the story.

The excessive description in certain passages of web novels is truly exhausting for the reader. This happens when some authors refer to the muse who has "the softest white skin with a pearly tone" ever seen on the face of China.

One of the cliché cases reported by viewers and readers of Chinese-origin works is related to fights. When the fight begins, there is no one around. Suddenly, a swarm of idle people starts watching the fight. Where do they come from?

Another common theme is that every anime has a beach episode. But this practice is not common only in China, but also in all other anime and even in Western cartoons.

It is also common, in combat scenes, for the protagonist - or the enemy - to announce his powerful move. The famous shouts that seem to boost the strength of the blow make the scenes more exciting - however, they are very common and predictable for the more experienced.

Along with the shouting moves, there is always the character who eats non-stop. It seems that his stomach is just a hole leading to another dimension.

Now, speaking of the protagonists specifically, you may have noticed that they are orphans - most of the time - or their mother left when they were children.

Another historical description of the characters is this: the mother is dead and the father is a mysterious person who is somewhere in the world, acting as an opponent throughout the hero's journey. Or else he becomes a very powerful ally to defeat the great enemy of the moment.

Still about the main character, he will usually come out well from the situation. He will fall, he will get beaten a lot, but he will always get back up. He is also very handsome in almost all plots, while the villain is shown as a monster or as ugly in appearance.

To conclude, a cliché that exists only in Chinese fiction: the good man always belongs to the Communist Party.

In fact, it is a recurring pattern in the culture of Chinese stories, but it is part of something bigger - a political issue. The influence of Chinese communist politics will always be present in literary works. The exaltation of the Communist Party is part of the politics itself: the exaltation of the homeland and its leader.