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(Chinese: 玄奘; Wade–Giles: Hsüan-tsang; c. 602 – 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (Chen I), was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang dynasty. Born in what is now Henan province around 602, from boyhood he took to reading religious books, including the Chinese classics and the writings of ancient sages.
As far as I know, he is the best foreign student in history. And how did he introduce himself in foreign countries? The answer is 支那僧.
Here is my take. I think the term "Chinaman" can be distinguished from calling someone as a Englishman, Frenchman, etc. (the real equivalent should be "Chineseman" anyways, otherwise you should call the English, "Englandman", and the Frenchman, "Franceman."- I digress).
I think the way one was referenced as a "Chinaman" was used in a context of disdain rather than a description of the person national origin or ethnicity like "Englishman" or "Frenchman." During the 1800's most of the Chinese that came to the US or UK were poor laborers coming from the Qing Dynasty ruled China. It was time when China was quite weak and colonist started trying to divide up a weak China. Some of you may have seen this cartoon. See this cartoon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...sm_cartoon.jpg
Also, as I stated most of the Chinese that came during the 1800's were men, poor, uneducated laborers, and culturally very different from Europeans. When someone was referred to as a "Chinaman"-they were trying to emphasize that they are nothing but a dime in a dozen, poor, dirty, uneducated and alien. This is just my humble opinion and assessment.
Chinaman was used as a racial pejorative in the past. Irishman was never used in this way, but calling an Irish person a m*** is pretty offensive.
Yes Irishman was. I know it wasn't the number one insult, but it was often used in sentences when Irish were the lower and discriminated against class.
I think it is more that Irish aren't as sensitive to past racism.
That term is used in Trinidad where my parents are from. It is not really meant to be offensive, but I personally find it annoying as a lot of the time the person is not even really Chinese ( other oriental ) so the term could accidently be interpreted as offensive. I cannot count the times I have had to correct my dad ex how is your freind from school doing? You know the Chinese girl? Me: Dad for God sake she is Filipino! Not the same place! Then again they also refer to white people, Arabs or Hispanic people there by similar types of vague semi offensive terms too ... Ex the white boy, the spanishy one, the Syrian boy .... Lol. Not sure what that is all about, but likely more playful ignorance then intentionally insulting.
Didn't even know that could be used as an insult. Calling someone Cinese or Uomo Cinese isn't seen as offensive here in Italy. The fact that English has so many pejorative terms (in comparison to Italian which has just two which are negro for Africans and crucco for Germans) for the various ethnicities speaks volumes about how racist and xenophobes English speaking countries were/are.
No. What it illustrates is the heightened altruism, kindliness, mannerliness, and social-consciousness of English-speaking peoples.
These characteristics have become weaknesses, exploited by ruthless outsiders, who wish to subjugate and replace them in their own lands. The English-speaking peoples can be shamed into abandoning words which have been labeled as 'offensive', because, collectively, they are kind people who care for the feelings of others.
Certain others, apparently, lack the innate wiring for true morality, and so cannot be so easily shamed, because, inwardly, they lack the heightened ability to empathize.
Because some nations and especially some individuals wants to point out why you (especially if a white person) are a racist when you are just treating them as everyone else.
That is only manipulation by using racism as excuse.
Also many individuals of certain races uses some words with each other but if some other is using it that is "racism". Double standards...
Oh well perhaps the reason why Chinaman is offensive, because the word was invented by White people to make fun of Chinese or any other East Asian person.
Chinaman is never used in England and does not sound offensive but Chinky, which is offensive was heard of in the 70`s I am sure
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