Sinologist Robert Chard believes that promoting a “Cool China” through pop culture, games, and literature is key to fostering a deeper understanding of China’s rich history and culture.
“I hope the West can recognize that China is cool, fascinating, and worth learning from.”
Robert Chard, a former Oxford professor and sinologist, now a Visiting Professor at Peking University, shared this view at the Wuyi Forum in Fujian, China, on March 22.
Chard believes young Westerners are more open to China. He sees promoting a “Cool China” as the key to breaking Western stereotypes.
Chard emphasized China’s long history and rich culture, which hold strong appeal in philosophy, history, literature, and art. He urged sinologists to step out of academia and share China’s wisdom through books, films, and video games.
In recent years, Chinese cultural products have gained increasing international recognition. The video game Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by Journey to the West, has made a strong impact in global markets. Meanwhile, modern Chinese science fiction is also growing in influence—Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem has not only been translated into English but also adapted into a television series.
Chard observed that Chinese students understand the West better than Western students understand China. But with engaging media, young Westerners can develop interest in Chinese culture and explore its true history on their own.
The commentary described Cool China as a nation that seamlessly blends heritage with vitality—a China the world should eagerly anticipate and better understand.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by CNS.
If you liked this article why not read:Colin Renfrew: A Man With A Deep Connection To Liangzhu
