In the lecture on Chinese humor held on May 20, we explored whether the Chinese have a sense of humor at all and why such a question might arise. We also examined the differences between Chinese and Western humor, discussed Chinese attitudes toward humor, its characteristics and forms, as well as the culture of internet memes.
The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor Loreta Poškaitė, a philosopher and sinologist at Vilnius University, who has spent many years researching Chinese thought, the Daoist tradition, and their relevance to contemporary life.
The aim of the lecture was to reveal how humor developed in Chinese culture, how it differs from Western humor, what social, political, and cultural functions it serves, and how contemporary digital humor reflects and critiques Chinese society. The lecture helped explain the subtleties of Chinese humor, its moderation and intellectual character, demonstrating that the Chinese possess a distinctive sense of humor despite common stereotypes.
First, the speaker introduced the characteristics of Chinese humor and the traditional understanding of humor shaped by two opposing philosophical traditions—Confucianism and Daoism. She emphasized the intellectual nature of Chinese humor, linguistic wordplay, idiomatic expressions, and the often subtle appreciation of humor that may be difficult for non-Chinese audiences to grasp at first glance. She then highlighted the differences between Chinese and Western humor and explained the historical and cultural circumstances that led to their development.
The lecture concluded that humor in Chinese culture is a complex and well-defined social and cultural practice that combines traditional moral principles, philosophical tensions, and the challenges of contemporary society. Cultural differences shape humor as a cultural phenomenon: Chinese humor is generally subtle, intellectual, and restrained, yet also dynamic and creative, especially in the online sphere. Understanding Chinese humor requires familiarity with linguistic expressions, cultural contexts, and social nuances.
This lecture was valuable for anyone interested in cultural differences, the Chinese language and culture, intercultural communication, and contemporary Chinese society.