ABSTRACT
The Chinese word ‘heart’ expresses a concept central to the dynamics of family transactions. This essay will explore the meanings of this term and suggest how these affect the selfimages of both parents and children, and ultimately, the meaning of intimate relationships in Chinese culture. We will examine the dynamics of how the generations attempt to achieve a satisfactory balance between being close to each other and being separate from one another, This will help us explain, for example, why parents would give one child a loan and not another, why a son would suddenly get married when his mother developed cancer, or why a child would absolutely refuse to ask his parents for a loan.
