Sinophile

A Sinophile is a non- person who demonstrates a strong interest in aspects of or who shows a specific interest in the Greater China region. It is also commonly used to describe those knowledgeable of Chinese history and culture , non-native Chinese language speakers, pro-Chinese politicians, and people perceived as having an obsessive interest in any of the above.

Typical interests of Sinophiles

* Chinese languages
* Martial Arts, such as variants of Kung fu
* Chinese calligraphy and art
* Chinese horoscopes
* Ancient art of feng shui - Daoism
* Zen Buddhism
* Traditional cultural Chinese clothing Hanfu and modern cultural Chinese clothing Qipao
* On occasion, Sinophiles can also denote a sexual preference for Chinese or Asian partners. The term can be used to describe men or women but is more frequently used to describe men occasionally being used as a synonym for those displaying a real or perceived Asian fetish. The term is not inherently offensive as "yellow fever."

Notable Sinophiles

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*Matteo Ricci , Jesuit priest; fluent in

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*Gottfried Leibniz, polymath who was fascinated with Confucius and I Ching

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*Pearl S. Buck , who wrote many novels about China.
*Anson Burlingame, ex-U.S. Congressman, who was appointed in 1861 to be the United States minister in China. He was an unabashed Sinophile, who was a voice of conciliation and moderation within the Western diplomatic community.

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*Right Honourable Kevin Rudd , the Prime Minister of Australia, who majored in Chinese language and Chinese history in university and speaks fluent . He also adopted a Chinese name.

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*Joseph Needham , a biochemist best known for his works on the history of Chinese science; learned Classical Chinese
*Matthew Pankhurst, a world renowned scholar infamous for his studies of the Chinese language, cullture, and woman.
*David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn (, British diplomat and former Governor of Hong Kong; learned
* , missionary; fluent in
*Sir Cecil Clementi , British colonial administrator and former Governor of Hong Kong; fluent in Cantonese and Pekingnese
*Sir John Francis Davis , Sinologist, diplomat and former Governor of Hong Kong
*Sir Edward Youde , diplomat, Sinologist and former Governor of Hong Kong; fluent in Mandarin
*Sir David Akers-Jones , former administrator of Hong Kong and advisor to the government