I was going to reply with a long comment, but it got deleted near the end, so here's the short version:
Disclaimer, I am not trying to argue with you or tear you down etc.
Ofc they can tell another story, but I can definitely make the argument that this is a deviation, and not a good one either. I mention culture, because they clearly don't get what "Chi" is, nor the concept of honor in chinese society. Yet they bring it up, incessantly.
I would also say that as a chinese person, it is rather insensitive to say that Chinese culture needs Disney to provide some transmasculine or non-binary narrative, and that non-binary-ness is somehow radical to China. It ignores the very rich and old history of non-binary identities in Chinese mythology. For instance, the most well known Buddhist figures in China is 观音菩萨, or the "Goddess" of mercy in english. They are not explicitly labelled as male or female in chinese, and gender neutral terms are used for them. Their statues, temples, figures, pendants, drawings etc. are everywhere in China. I have several pendants of them myself.
One of the eight immortals in Daoism is 藍采和, who is also very well known for being not explicitly male or female. They were known for touring china, singing philosophical songs, and carrying a basket of flowers. The scene of the eight immortals are also very well known, and a common literary and artistic motif.
Beijing Opera has a whole lot of trans-masculine and trans-feminine roles. For instance, young female roles (但) are often played by men, and male roles (生 and 净) can definitely be played by women. I am not making the argument that these actors ARE trans, but they are definitely queer coded/fluid. A C-drama called winter begonia is about the romance (?) between a guy who plays said feminine roles in Peking opera, and another dude. Apparently, it's pretty good!
So ehhh, I wouldn't say Chinese culture needs non-binary/trans-masculine/trans-feminine narratives. It would certainly be nice to see more, but it is not somehow necessary, nor is it "radical"??
I hope that was informative for you, and again, I'm not trying to attack you.
If you ever log in to this account again, I watched that Mulan movie and have some odd theories about it.
Would like to get input from someone more familiar with Chinese language and culture.
I was going to reply with a long comment, but it got deleted near the end, so here's the short version: Disclaimer, I am not trying to argue with you or tear you down etc.
Ofc they can tell another story, but I can definitely make the argument that this is a deviation, and not a good one either. I mention culture, because they clearly don't get what "Chi" is, nor the concept of honor in chinese society. Yet they bring it up, incessantly.
I would also say that as a chinese person, it is rather insensitive to say that Chinese culture needs Disney to provide some transmasculine or non-binary narrative, and that non-binary-ness is somehow radical to China. It ignores the very rich and old history of non-binary identities in Chinese mythology. For instance, the most well known Buddhist figures in China is 观音菩萨, or the "Goddess" of mercy in english. They are not explicitly labelled as male or female in chinese, and gender neutral terms are used for them. Their statues, temples, figures, pendants, drawings etc. are everywhere in China. I have several pendants of them myself.
One of the eight immortals in Daoism is 藍采和, who is also very well known for being not explicitly male or female. They were known for touring china, singing philosophical songs, and carrying a basket of flowers. The scene of the eight immortals are also very well known, and a common literary and artistic motif.
Beijing Opera has a whole lot of trans-masculine and trans-feminine roles. For instance, young female roles (但) are often played by men, and male roles (生 and 净) can definitely be played by women. I am not making the argument that these actors ARE trans, but they are definitely queer coded/fluid. A C-drama called winter begonia is about the romance (?) between a guy who plays said feminine roles in Peking opera, and another dude. Apparently, it's pretty good!
So ehhh, I wouldn't say Chinese culture needs non-binary/trans-masculine/trans-feminine narratives. It would certainly be nice to see more, but it is not somehow necessary, nor is it "radical"??
I hope that was informative for you, and again, I'm not trying to attack you.
If you ever log in to this account again, I watched that Mulan movie and have some odd theories about it.
Would like to get input from someone more familiar with Chinese language and culture.