HammurabiTheOverpowered
Chieftain
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2024
- Messages
- 5
Civilization VII has added a lot of new content, and each civilization has gained far more unique abilities than in previous installments, which is great and exciting.
However, this has inevitably led to more cultural misrepresentations.
As a Chinese, I can only point out the cultural misrepresentations involving China, but I suspect that the same issues may exist in many non-Western civilizations.
Confucius:
Keju (imperial examination) first originated in the Sui Dynasty and became the primary way of selecting officials during the Tang Dynasty, nearly a thousand years after Confucius had died.
Although Confucius' works were considered one of the main texts for the imperial exams, the examinations may also cover a variety of subjects including geography, history, politics, military affairs, law, and document writing.
It is as strange as calling Shakespeare's ability TOFEL.
On the other hand, Keju system absolutely does not produce science. As opposite, many Chinese people believe Keju system is what caused China fell behind during the Industrial Revolution (Smart people focused on writing rather than on technology).
万世师表, "Model Teacher Of All Ages", a phrase used by later generations to praise Confucius, would be a better name for his ability.
Han:
Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin are the five virtues spoken of by Confucian.
We have Yi, Li, Zhi in Han's civic tree, but the fourth slot is taken by Junzi. Why not call it Ren? (Junzi is mostly people with Ren virtue)
Chu-Ko-Nu
Chu-Ko-Nu is a famous weapon (mostly because its inventor Zhuge Liang was too famous). But Zhuge Liang serves Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms.
The relationship between Shu Han and Han is like Byzantine and Rome.
Is Byzantine Dromon a reasonable UU for Rome?
By the way, it is quite strange most Chinese names in Civ 7 are spelled in Pinyin, but Chu-Ko-Nu is still spelled in Wade Giles.
Shi Da Fu:
This list features very few individuals who lived during the Han Dynasty; most lived centuries before, while Wang Yangming born after 1000 years.
Ming:
Mandarin are just civil officials, they have no connection to Unique Merchant Units
Divine Engine Division:
Although this army could be translated as "Divine Engine Division", they are just musketeers.
They are not responsible for scientific research.
Also, I felt it was a misleading translation. This name fits better in Warhammer 40k than real world.
The original meaning of 神机 in Chinese is closer to "amazing tool" than "divine engine". (神机 is also a pun for Cunning Plan in Chinese. This may also be the reason why they are called 神机.)
Imagine you are a soldier in 15th century, would you call your gun amazing tool or divine engine?
Wait, Amazing Tool Division is still a strange name, please simply call them Shen Ji Ying.
Baojia:
If we consider Divine Engine Division's science bonus as a misinterpreting.
I have no idea why Firaxis Games think household registration management could increase science production.
Qing:
Hangshang: Shang means merchant while Hang means exchange house.
Qing Dynasty merchants were prohibited from going out sea.
They only transported goods to designated locations (the 13 exchange houses) in Guangdong and handed them over to foreign trading fleets. They don't create naval trade route.
Chuang Guandong:
The "Ten Great Campaigns" refers to the ten wars won by Emperor Qianlong during his lifetime, most of which were suppressing rebellions.
Chuang Guandong, however, refers to a surge of domestic migration that occurred after the government lost its grip on control in the late Qing Dynasty.
(The Qing government had long restricted population movement, believing it would reduce the incidence of rebellions.)
满城 might be a better name for what "Ten Great Campaigns" unlocks.
I really hope that Firaxis Games can address these issues. It’s better to deal with one Chinese guy's complaint now, than to deal with tons of negative reviews from many in the future.
(If anyone knows the official feedback channels, please let me know. Thank you.)
However, this has inevitably led to more cultural misrepresentations.
As a Chinese, I can only point out the cultural misrepresentations involving China, but I suspect that the same issues may exist in many non-Western civilizations.
Confucius:
Keju (imperial examination) first originated in the Sui Dynasty and became the primary way of selecting officials during the Tang Dynasty, nearly a thousand years after Confucius had died.
Although Confucius' works were considered one of the main texts for the imperial exams, the examinations may also cover a variety of subjects including geography, history, politics, military affairs, law, and document writing.
It is as strange as calling Shakespeare's ability TOFEL.
On the other hand, Keju system absolutely does not produce science. As opposite, many Chinese people believe Keju system is what caused China fell behind during the Industrial Revolution (Smart people focused on writing rather than on technology).
万世师表, "Model Teacher Of All Ages", a phrase used by later generations to praise Confucius, would be a better name for his ability.
Han:
Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin are the five virtues spoken of by Confucian.
We have Yi, Li, Zhi in Han's civic tree, but the fourth slot is taken by Junzi. Why not call it Ren? (Junzi is mostly people with Ren virtue)
Chu-Ko-Nu
Chu-Ko-Nu is a famous weapon (mostly because its inventor Zhuge Liang was too famous). But Zhuge Liang serves Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms.
The relationship between Shu Han and Han is like Byzantine and Rome.
Is Byzantine Dromon a reasonable UU for Rome?
By the way, it is quite strange most Chinese names in Civ 7 are spelled in Pinyin, but Chu-Ko-Nu is still spelled in Wade Giles.
Shi Da Fu:
This list features very few individuals who lived during the Han Dynasty; most lived centuries before, while Wang Yangming born after 1000 years.
Ming:
Mandarin are just civil officials, they have no connection to Unique Merchant Units
Divine Engine Division:
Although this army could be translated as "Divine Engine Division", they are just musketeers.
They are not responsible for scientific research.
Also, I felt it was a misleading translation. This name fits better in Warhammer 40k than real world.
The original meaning of 神机 in Chinese is closer to "amazing tool" than "divine engine". (神机 is also a pun for Cunning Plan in Chinese. This may also be the reason why they are called 神机.)
Imagine you are a soldier in 15th century, would you call your gun amazing tool or divine engine?
Wait, Amazing Tool Division is still a strange name, please simply call them Shen Ji Ying.
Baojia:
If we consider Divine Engine Division's science bonus as a misinterpreting.
I have no idea why Firaxis Games think household registration management could increase science production.
Qing:
Hangshang: Shang means merchant while Hang means exchange house.
Qing Dynasty merchants were prohibited from going out sea.
They only transported goods to designated locations (the 13 exchange houses) in Guangdong and handed them over to foreign trading fleets. They don't create naval trade route.
Chuang Guandong:
The "Ten Great Campaigns" refers to the ten wars won by Emperor Qianlong during his lifetime, most of which were suppressing rebellions.
Chuang Guandong, however, refers to a surge of domestic migration that occurred after the government lost its grip on control in the late Qing Dynasty.
(The Qing government had long restricted population movement, believing it would reduce the incidence of rebellions.)
满城 might be a better name for what "Ten Great Campaigns" unlocks.
I really hope that Firaxis Games can address these issues. It’s better to deal with one Chinese guy's complaint now, than to deal with tons of negative reviews from many in the future.
(If anyone knows the official feedback channels, please let me know. Thank you.)
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