Why are the Japanese called "devils"?
The term "Japanese" has been used by Chinese people to refer to the Japanese for a long time, especially during the Anti-Japanese War. There are both historical reasons and cultural and psychological factors behind this title. The following is a structured analysis of popular discussions on this topic and related hot content across the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Historical background and origin

The origin of the word "guizi" can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty. At that time, the Chinese people were fearful and angry about the invaders, and gradually associated the image of "ghost", symbolizing evil, with the Japanese. The following are key nodes in historical events:
| time | event | associated title |
|---|---|---|
| 1894-1895 | Sino-Japanese War | "Japanese pirates" evolved into "Japanese devils" |
| 1931-1945 | Anti-Japanese War | "Japs" are widely used |
2. Cultural Psychological Analysis
From a cultural perspective, "Japanese" embodies the Chinese people's complex emotions towards the Japanese invaders:
| psychological factors | performance |
|---|---|
| fear | Collective memory brought about by Japanese atrocities |
| Angry | moral condemnation of aggression |
| contempt | Strengthening national stance through derogatory epithets |
3. Hot topics of discussion on the Internet in the past 10 days
Combined with social media data, the current discussion mainly focuses on the following aspects:
| Platform | Topic popularity | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| #historicalmemory# (120 million reads) | The post-90s generation’s emotional perception of titles | |
| Zhihu | "An examination of the etymology of devil" (discussed 5800+ times) | Academic controversies from a linguistic perspective |
| Station B | Analysis of lines in Anti-Japanese War film and television dramas (viewed 3 million+) | Literary and artistic works strengthen concepts |
4. Evolution in the contemporary context
With the changes in Sino-Japanese relations, the use of this title has taken on new characteristics:
| Usage scenarios | Frequency changes | Typical cases |
|---|---|---|
| official occasion | significantly reduced | Diplomatic rhetoric avoids this word |
| cyberspace | contextualized use | Appears when discussing historical topics |
| Film and television works | artistic treatment | Line design for movies such as "Eight Hundred" |
5. Comparison of scholars’ views
In recent academic discussions, experts in different fields have provided insights:
| scholar | field | core argument |
|---|---|---|
| Wang Moumou | History | "A legacy of wartime propaganda" |
| Li Moumou | social psychology | "Symbolic expression of group trauma" |
| Zhang Moumou | international relations | “You need to be wary of the political sensitivity of words” |
Conclusion
The title "Japanese" carries special historical memory, and its use and evolution reflect the complexity of Sino-Japanese relations and the changes in public sentiment. In contemporary society, we must not only respect historical facts, but also examine the cultural psychology behind language with a rational attitude. The latest Internet data shows that the younger generation is more likely to use the word in specific historical contexts rather than in daily communication. This change deserves continued attention.
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