Society & Cultural Observation
Observations on Chinese and German society, everyday rules, values, public life, trust, freedom, responsibility, and the different ways people understand the world.
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Why Does an Ancient City That Has Managed Floods for a Thousand Years Still Flood Today?
This essay begins with the recent flooding in my hometown of Linhai and a conversation with Chris about why a city that has managed floods for centuries can still be overwhelmed by them. It reflects on childhood memories, ancient and… Continue reading
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“Zhǐ Gē Wéi Wǔ” — True Martial Strength Means Stopping the Weapons. Sadly, 90% of Foreigners Cannot Understand This Ancient Chinese Wisdom
This essay looks at the Middle East through the deeper structures of power, dependency, history, and the real cost of resistance. It returns to the Chinese idea of *zhǐ gē wéi wǔ*（止戈为武）: true strength is not about expanding conflict, but… Continue reading
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External Force and Inner Growth: Why “Overthrow” Does Not Mean “Rebirth”
The essay explores why removing a leader or dismantling an old system does not automatically create a better future. Through a long conversation about Iran, it reflects on the importance of a society’s ability to rebuild from within—and how the… Continue reading
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An Interesting Soul Needs a Childhood with Room to Explore
The essay explores how “prepackaged childhoods” and ever-rising academic demands can erode children’s curiosity, joy, and ability to discover what they truly love. It argues that while education matters, children also need time to play and explore, especially in a… Continue reading
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Germany Keeps Saying It Needs Workers. So Why Can So Many People Still Not Find Jobs?
This essay explores the contradiction at the heart of Germany’s labour market: companies say they cannot find workers, while many capable people remain excluded by rigid qualification requirements and inefficient training paths. It argues that Germany often lacks not people,… Continue reading
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What’s Really Being Packaged Isn’t Hair Clips — It’s a Mother’s Hope of Earning Her Own Money
This essay examines the growing number of deceptive “work from home packaging” ads aimed at mothers seeking flexible income. It shows how these schemes exploit the desire for financial independence, while often serving as a gateway to identity theft, advance-fee… Continue reading
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After Going Viral, Why Does Steady Growth Start to Feel Like Failure?
This essay reflects on how a sudden viral surge can quietly change a creator’s sense of what “normal” growth looks like. It explores why steady progress may begin to feel like failure after a dramatic peak, and why sustainable routines,… Continue reading
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From WeChat’s Redesign to AI Poisoning: Why I Suddenly Thought of Idiocracy
This essay looks at how algorithmic feeds and AI are changing the way we search, choose, judge, and think. Using *Idiocracy* as a point of reference, it asks whether the greater danger is not machines becoming more human, but people… Continue reading
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Why Chinese People See Safety in Surveillance Cameras, While Germans Think First of Privacy
This essay explores why surveillance cameras often represent safety and efficiency in China, while they raise concerns about privacy and power in Germany. Rather than judging which view is more advanced, it traces how history, collective life, urbanisation, and changing… Continue reading
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Why Is It So Difficult for Brand Stories to Become Part of the Price in China?
Why can brand storytelling become part of a product’s value in Germany, yet struggle to do the same in China? Using Snocks as a starting point, this essay explores how platform design, consumer expectations, market competition and different social rhythms… Continue reading
Jane Sonnenschein | A Chinese Way of Seeing 