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''Gaoli bangzi'' () is a Chinese slang term, with a long history of being used as a deprecatory ethnic slur for Koreans. The term '' gaoli'' (高麗) refers to the ancient Korean dynasty Goryeo, while ''bangzi'' (棒子) means club. It is used synonymously with
Huang Puji of the Nanjing University Department of History argues that the term originated as the Chinese language near-homophone "幫子" which means "helper", referring to the '' nobi'' servants that accompanied Korean diplomatic missions to China in large numbers during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but this mistakenly became corrupted as "棒子", a term which differs only in tone. These poverty-stricken servants had apparently gained a reputation for petty crimes such as smuggling, according to the diary of Korean scholar Kim Chang-eop (Hanja: 金昌業). and subsequently its usage expanded to refer to all Koreans in Chinese public perception.
One incorrect belief is that the term originated from the baton-wielding Korean parapolice guards during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. According to this account, the Japanese distrusted the Korean guards and did not issue them firearms, only allowing them to equip themselves with the ''bangmangi''
However, the use of this slang term has been seen as early as the reign of the Kangxi Emperor two centuries before, so this explanation does not stand up to scrutiny. At present the exact origin of "Gaoli Bangzi" remains uncertain. The term's earliest mention in writing is in the 1722-published Chinese journal ''Liaozuo Jianwenlu'' () by Chinese traveller Wang Yiyuan, which recorded that the lower class in Korea, specifically citing the children of prostitutes, were referred to as "Bangzi". The term "helper" (幫子) was also used this way to refer to the embassy's servantry by
Er Guizi
''Guizi'' () is a pejorative Chinese slang term for foreigners. It has had a history of containing xenophobic connotations.
History
Starting with the arrival of European sailors in the sixteenth century, foreigners were often perceived in China ...
(二鬼子) and is sometimes shortened to ''han bangzi'' (韓棒子) or simply ''bangzi'' (棒子).
Origin
Huang Puji of the Nanjing University Department of History argues that the term originated as the Chinese language near-homophone "幫子" which means "helper", referring to the '' nobi'' servants that accompanied Korean diplomatic missions to China in large numbers during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but this mistakenly became corrupted as "棒子", a term which differs only in tone. These poverty-stricken servants had apparently gained a reputation for petty crimes such as smuggling, according to the diary of Korean scholar Kim Chang-eop (Hanja: 金昌業). and subsequently its usage expanded to refer to all Koreans in Chinese public perception.
One incorrect belief is that the term originated from the baton-wielding Korean parapolice guards during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. According to this account, the Japanese distrusted the Korean guards and did not issue them firearms, only allowing them to equip themselves with the ''bangmangi'' washing paddle
The washing paddle (or washing beetle, battledore, laundry bat), known as ''thaapi'' in Haryanvi and Hindi languages, is a hand tool used to do laundry. It is made of wood, shaped like a baker's peel, but with a much shorter handle used as a gri ...
s commonly found in Korean households. The guards often enjoyed teasing Chinese people and beating them with batons, earning enmity among the Chinese populace.黄普基：“高丽棒子”释意——历史记忆的集体构建However, the use of this slang term has been seen as early as the reign of the Kangxi Emperor two centuries before, so this explanation does not stand up to scrutiny. At present the exact origin of "Gaoli Bangzi" remains uncertain. The term's earliest mention in writing is in the 1722-published Chinese journal ''Liaozuo Jianwenlu'' () by Chinese traveller Wang Yiyuan, which recorded that the lower class in Korea, specifically citing the children of prostitutes, were referred to as "Bangzi". The term "helper" (幫子) was also used this way to refer to the embassy's servantry by
Hong Dae-yong
Hong Daeyong (; 12 May 1731 – 17 November 1783), styled Damheon (, "Relaxed house") was a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician of the late Joseon Kingdom. Hong was an early leader of the ''Profitable Usage and Benefiting the People'' () ...
() in the diary of his visit to China ''Eul-byeong Yeon-haeng-log'' ().
Usage
In the First Volume of the Qianlong period court document ''Huangqing Zhigongtu'' (, literally " Portraits of Periodical Offering of the Qing"), the entry regarding Koreans includes the statement: "朝鮮國民人，俗呼為高麗棒子。" (''Joseon
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
commoners, colloquially referred to as Goryeo bangzi'')
Terry Gou, the president of Foxconn referred to Koreans as ''gaoli bangzi'' in the general meeting of shareholders on 18 June 2012.
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
people are also being called Bangzi as Shandong Bangzi 山東棒子. In this context in Mandarin, Bangzi means people who is stubborn, rigid and hard as a stick/rod.
See also
*''Er guizi
''Guizi'' () is a pejorative Chinese slang term for foreigners. It has had a history of containing xenophobic connotations.
History
Starting with the arrival of European sailors in the sixteenth century, foreigners were often perceived in China ...
''
*Anti-Korean sentiment in China
Anti-Korean sentiment in China refers to opposition, hostility, hatred, distrust, fear, and general dislike of Korean people or culture in China. This is sometimes referred to in China as the ''xianhan'' (dislike of Korea) sentiment, which some h ...
References
External links
* {{Ethnic slurs Anti-Korean sentiment in China China–Korea relations Chinese words and phrases Anti-Asian slurs Racism in China