China is one of the oldest, largest, and most complex civilizations on Earth, yet Western understanding of it is often built on outdated tropes and over-simplifications. In this episode, dives into five common misconceptions Westerners have about China.

This isn't a political lecture; it's a cultural exploration. We'll move beyond the headlines to discuss the immense diversity of Chinese food (it's not all the same!), the reality of its modern tech landscape, and the difference between the government and the hundreds of millions of people who call China home. This episode is about adding nuance, challenging our own assumptions, and remembering the human element behind the geography.

Resources & Links:

• Further Reading: The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao by Ian Johnson
• Video to Watch: Our upcoming video on Wuxia cinema!

Thanks for joining East of Everywhere! If this episode made you think, the best way to support us is by sharing it with a friend and leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast app.

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🔄 Your Boy's other adventures:

• Required Watching – deep dives into must-see films for filmmakers.

• Emerging – real-time screenwriting insights from rising writers.

Until next time, keep exploring—and keep learning!

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After our deep dive on the philosophy of Filial Piety, let's get practical. How do those values actually manifest in daily life? Who lives with whom? Who pays for dinner? Who is responsible for taking care of grandma?

In this solo "Field Notes" episode, I'm exploring the tangible differences between traditional East Asian and modern Western family structures. We'll discuss the prevalence of multi-generational households, the immense pressures on the eldest son, the different concepts of "coming of age," and how these structures are being challenged by rapid modernization. This is a look at the unwritten rules of family life.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

► What was the biggest "rule" of your family growing up? Share your story in the #culture-talk channel on Discord

FURTHER READING:

► The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong (A novel that explores family pressure)

If this episode gave you a new perspective on your own family, please consider sharing it or leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast app.

Thanks for joining East of Everywhere! If this episode made you think, the best way to support us is by sharing it with a friend and leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast app.

✉️ Join Boy Meets Inbox

🐦 Follow us: @BoyMeetsEast on X • Instagram • TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BoyMeetsEast

🔄 Your Boy's other adventures:

• Required Watching – deep dives into must-see films for filmmakers.

• Emerging – real-time screenwriting insights from rising writers.

Until next time, keep exploring—and keep learning!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we continue our "Family Table" month, we need to understand the bedrock of family structure in traditional East Asian culture: Filial Piety. Often translated as "respect for one's elders," this Confucian concept is a deep and complex system of duty, obligation, and reverence that has shaped society for millennia.

In this solo "Field Notes" episode, I'm exploring what Filial Piety (Xiào in Chinese) truly means. We'll look at its origins in the "Five Relationships" of Confucianism, its core principles of obedience and care, and how it shows up in everything from K-Dramas to business negotiations. We'll also grapple with the "Bridge" question: How does this concept contrast with the Western emphasis on individualism, and what can we learn from it?

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

► How was respect for elders shown in your family? Share your experiences in the #culture-talk channel on Discord

FURTHER READING:

► The Analects of Confucius

Thanks for joining East of Everywhere! If this episode made you think, the best way to support us is by sharing it with a friend and leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast app.

✉️ Join Boy Meets Inbox

🐦 Follow us: @BoyMeetsEast on X • Instagram • TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BoyMeetsEast

🔄 Your Boy's other adventures:

• Required Watching – deep dives into must-see films for filmmakers.

• Emerging – real-time screenwriting insights from rising writers.

Until next time, keep exploring—and keep learning!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.