ABSTRACT
The circumspection required in preserving the face of others in public has its negative side. It fuels a lively inclination among the Chinese to vent less polite thoughts and feelings about others behind their backs. Gossip enjoys universal popularity, of course, but in close communities it becomes particularly powerful. Among the Chinese, concern for face mixes with fear of gossip (yulun) to strengthen even further pressures to conform. It also influences attitudes towards self-disclosure. Often used as a tactic for initiating personal relationships by Americans, selfdisclosure is treated with more caution by Chinese. This is partly through fear of providing ammunition that may be turned against them. As a result, the Chinese sometimes end up knowing more about the personal lives of American acquaintances than they do of Chinese friends. Attacks can also be made indirectly through poison pen letters and there is some evidence to suggest that these may be more common among the Chinese than among other East Asians (Worm 1997: 175). In China, the authorities encourage it. It is not unusual to come across special report boxes (jian ju xiang) specifically for people to deposit denunciations anonymously.1
