I can remember reading a children's book when I was in first grade. I'd read it every time we went to the school's library. The book was about five (give or take a few) Chinese (Asian, at least.) brothers, who each had a power. I remember one was capable of holding insane amounts of stuff in his mouth (At one point, he held an entire lake in his mouth, in order to get out all of the fish.), another was able to blow gusts of wind, or something like that, I think...
Anyway, I can't remember the name of it, but would love to know. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
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Anonymous2007-01-05 9:31
Holy shit, I just found it by googling "Five chinese brothers."
Turns out the name of the book was "The Five Chinese Brothers."
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Anonymous2007-01-05 13:54
This charming book has taken a lot of heat in recent years for not being politically correct enough to suit modern sensibilites. The author and artist have been accused of non-PC conduct, the most famous charge being the representation of all Chinese as looking alike through out the book.
I remember reading this book as a young child back in the 60s and being entranced by its clever story of five look-alike brothers with supernatural powers who save their own from an unjust punishment. I've thought of this book many times over my 45 years, remembering it with a fondness and awe unmatched by many other books--children's or no, that I have read. I have only recently revisited this fondly remembered favorite, all too mindful of the criticisms launched against it, paying close attention to the text and art.
The book, originally written in 1938, deserves to be judged not by our modern sensibilities, but for where the world was at the time it was written. Keeping that in mind, the book becomes less the poster child for racism than a respectful retelling of an old Chinese folktale. Careful study of the artwork will reveal that aside from the identical brothers (and their resemblance to each other IS an unassailable plot point from the original folk story)
there is as much effort placed into creating depictions of peripheral characters as there generally is in any children's book. The pen and watercolor wash drawings are simplified as one would expect for the age group that is the target audience, but each person rendered is an individual in facial expression, hair style and dress. Complaining of the sameness of all Chinese depicted becomes mystifying--as aside from similar dress and skin tone used the charge proves to be specious. (And I don't hear anyone complaining the the "Where's Waldo" series was racist and again there, the resemblance of all people depicted is a plot devise to provide the puzzle).
If the criteria of our modern world is not met by a nearly 70 year old book, we are wasting too much time clucking over the artifacts of the past and not doing
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Anonymous2007-01-06 16:47
>>3 'The book, originally written in 1938, deserves to be judged not by our modern sensibilities, but for where the world was at the time it was written.'
Agreed, but what can you do in such cases. It can't stay on the shelves for young readers as they are incapable of such a level of judgement, and at the same time, placing it on the adult shelves would only have any point were the book of any significant interest to, say, literature historians.
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Anonymous2007-01-10 1:08
>>4
For God's sake, it's not like this is Protocols of the Elders of Zion in pop-up book form. It's a charming Chinese legend that children enjoy. The worst stereotype I can think of it portraying is that Chinese twins have superpowers. I'd worry about that as much as the Mexicans being made of candy.
While really toxic racism and other cruelty should probably be gently introduced only to young people with a "teen" at the end of their age, this book is about as offensive as a spring breeze and certainly should stay on the low shelf to inspire imaginations for as long as the children will read it.