Final answer:
The perception of the Chinese as 'inferior' or 'barbaric' has historical roots in the way different groups defined themselves against one another. The Chinese Exclusion Act in the US further marginalized Chinese immigrants by labeling them as passive 'imports' rather than active 'immigrants.' Art has also played a role in challenging prejudiced societal judgments, as exemplified by Fang's works.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some ethnophaulisms about the Chinese dealt with perceptions of being inferior or barbaric. Beyond the physical borders, cultural and ethnic lines between the Chinese and their neighboring groups were often fluid, yet at the same time, there existed a mutual view of the 'other' as less civilized or developed. For example, while Chinese saw themselves as the sophisticated 'Middle Kingdom,' they regarded northern nomads and tribes as lowly, weak, and servile.
This view was reciprocated by the nomads who looked down upon Chinese farmers. Similarly, during periods of foreign rule, such as under the Yuan dynasty, the Chinese experienced a rigid hierarchy where they were categorized beneath the ruling class, which reinforced a sense of cultural inferiority. In the United States context, the Chinese were demeaned through policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was underpinned by language that further marginalized them, suggesting they were not agents of immigration but passive 'imports.'
The conceptualization of certain groups as 'other' often stems from a socio-political need to define 'us' versus 'them.' The idea of 'otherness' not only occurred in relation to the Chinese but can also be seen throughout history in the relations between various groups, as humans have often defined their identity in opposition to those who are different. In medieval Europe, encountering new races and cultures during exploration led to new definitions of what it meant to be 'European' as opposed to 'African' or 'Asian,' positions often rooted in prejudiced perceptions.
Artistic expressions, like those of painter Fang, can challenge these perceptions by criticizing judgments based on occupation or appearance, as seen in the example of the bald man, whom traditional Chinese society considered foolish.