International Law

Famous Chinese Film Director Expresses Commonly Held Opinion of Western Workers: Lazy! Therein Lies a Lesson for Business Managers

Chinese, as we well know well, are supremely capable of putting in long hours. Indeed, suffering quietly is a badge of honor. Hong Kong Chinese work even while asleep (or so it seems). Well, they do often pass the evening in the office or factory. Taiwanese follow as close runners-up only because they are known to give up Sundays to spend with family. I've not found Mainland Chinese workers to be self-starters, but generally resist little when compelled by circumstance (poverty) or a berating management. Pleasure or entertainment is, without doubt, not a focus of Chinese existence. Does the quality of life suffer as a result these profoundly held ideas?

Americans, to the contrary, are no longer willing to suffer much -- the Protestant work ethic has just about gasped its last breath. We would rather be safe, fat and happy. Americans believe they work long hours, but generally maintain a 5 day schedule lasting perhaps 10 hours. Lazy? Perhaps...

Lazy!

Zhang Yi-mou?????, film director and Olympic Impressario, describes to Southern Weekly (?????the frustration of working with Western artists, whom he had the displeasure to direct:

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The Washington Times translates this interview, in part, thus:

"North Korea is No. 1 in the world when it comes to uniformity. They are uniform beyond belief! These kinds of traditional synchronized movements result in a sense of beauty. We Chinese are able to achieve this as well. Through hard training and strict discipline," he said. Pyongyang's annual mass games feature 100,000 people moving in lockstep.

Performers in the West, by contrast, need frequent breaks and cannot withstand criticism, Mr. Zhang said, citing his experience working on an opera performance abroad. Though he didn't mention a specific production, he directed an opera at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2006.

In one week, we could only work four and a half days, we had to have coffee breaks twice a day, couldn't go into overtime, and just a little discomfort was not allowed because of human rights," Mr. Zhang said of the unidentified opera production.

[Editor's Note: Tan Dun's The First Emperor, Dec. '06.]