Who are Chinese people's heroes?

[-葛亚辉-]

This is a topic that has come up as part of a story we're working on at the magazine I work at. We're currently conducting a survey about it, but a few interesting things have come up I thought might be worth discussing here.

The biggest issue we have run into is that "hero" is not the same as 英雄. In fact, I think what we define as "hero" could be called 英雄，偶像，or just 最崇拜的人 in Chinese. So for "who is your hero?" we're having to ask "谁是你的英雄？谁是你的偶像？你最崇拜的人是谁？" in Chinese to get an appropriately broad response. Then of course there's the big cultural and historical differences that affect the way those things tend to be defined in China, too.

Anyway, I'm curious whether you all have ever discussed this topic with Chinese friends. Among my close circle, I rarely if ever hear someone referred to as a "hero"; I just hear 羡慕 and 佩服 a lot to describe people they look up to. I wonder why this is, or if it's an accurate reflection of Chinese people on a broader scale. Certainly, in past generations, there were heroes (Lei Feng, etc.), but I'm not sure who China's heroes are now (yes, obviously it depends who you ask, which is why we're trying to ask as many people as possible).

So I was hoping to get some feedback from the community here. Is this something you ever discuss with Chinese friends? Have you heard people talking about who their heroes are, or explaining why? Or is this the sort of question that just kind of doesn't work in Chinese culture (and possibly also the current political climate...)

[abcdefg]

I usually, like you, just hear 羡慕 and 佩服。

When talking casual politics with young Chinese friends, I hear praise of Deng Xiaoping but precious little for Mao Zedong.

As to Lei Feng, he was a "manufactured hero" created by the CCP at a certain point in time to serve a specific propaganda purpose.

Last year I bought a Lei Feng tee shirt in Kunming and wore it to an evening social event at school. Thought it would be fun, but it wasn't. Got lots of ugly stares on the street and on the bus; not a single smile or laugh. It soon became obvious that I had made a major gaffe and I never wore the shirt again.

[gato]

Last year I bought a Lei Feng tee shirt in Kunming and wore it to an evening social event at school. Thought it would be fun, but it wasn't. Got lots of ugly stares on the street and on the bus; not a single smile or laugh. It soon became obvious that I had made a major gaffe and I never wore the shirt again.

They either thought you were a wacko or trying to be too clever. ;)

You'll get a similar reaction if you wore a Gang of Four t-shirt, if there is such a thing.

As for heroes, I think there's pretty much universal admiration for people like Lu Xun and Lin Zexu (林则徐), the Qing Dynasty official who burned confiscated opium and ticked off the British.

[Bomb]

If my grandpa answer this question ,I would be prepared to bet that he will say "MAOZEDONG" without hesitation,and indeed ChairmanMao is the only choice in old generation.but the young won't think so too. For me the frist name flahed in my head when I see this question is YaoMing.I like to play basketball.(in fact I just played all afternoon ).Yao set a healthy example to young people,and his humor maybe change some western's viewpoint that chinese is always boring.

If the definition of the "hero" is also involve "偶像or just 最崇拜的人".perhaps many people will choose public character like author ,singer or movie star etc.Yao is the one who I admire most.And one of my friend regard 韩寒（a author of individuality）as their idol.Mention to the own idol, everyone has different theory.

if the hero just means "英雄".I think YuanLongPing is chinese people's hero.

[Don_Horhe]

Hmm, speaking of Lei Feng, I remember Wuhan had many 雷锋车 taxis, like the one here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EsJ0XNB5s0RsdpciEtfwsw

Do they exist elsewhere?

[abcdefg]

They either thought you were a wacko or trying to be too clever.

Yep. You're probably right.

Hmm, speaking of Lei Feng, I remember Wuhan had many 雷锋车 taxis... Do they exist elsewhere?

That's funny. Haven't seen them.

[skylee]

Other relevant terms include 敬佩 and 尊敬. I think it is very common for students to be asked to write essays on 我最尊敬的人 (at least that was what happened when I was at school, up till the last year).

[-葛亚辉-]

skylee,

just out of curiosity, who did you write about? (you don't have to answer if that's too personal...)

[skylee]

I only remember my last essay on this subject. I was surprised that our teacher gave us this assignment (we were seniors and were about to leave school). I could not think of anything to write, so I wrote about Bob Geldof. It was a piece of rubbish. And our teacher later singled it out for criticism. hahaha. I was among the few who passed the mock exam of Chinese that year. And I got an "A" in Chinese at the public exam.

Right now 我最尊敬的人 is Simon Hui who donated part of his liver to someone he hardly knew.

[-葛亚辉-]

That is pretty hardcore. Personally, I'm pretty protective of my internal organs. Not sure I would give one to a random stranger.