Bullying in China

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This video is appearing today on social media as if it were new, but is actually from an incident in Henan in 2019. Read comments at the link above for a variety of reactions. Bullying is not uncommon in China, though as with everything in China, there are no reliable statistics. In Japan it is widely known that bullying is a serious problem. ABN

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Chinese translation:

• 「打她！」（多次重複）
• 「踹她！」
• 「別錄了！」
• 受害者哭喊：「不要！」 「啊！」（尖叫與求饒）

English Translation:

Victim’s cries: “No!” “Don’t!” “Ah!” (screams and pleas for mercy)

“Hit her!” (repeated several times)

“Kick her!”

“Stop recording!”

Bullying in China

Bullying in Chinese schools is a significant and complex issue, with research indicating a high prevalence. A 2016 nationwide survey of over 100,000 students across 29 counties found that 33.36% of students experienced bullying, with 4.7% reporting frequent incidents and 28.66% occasional ones. However, reported statistics vary widely; one study cited in a YouTube video claims 75% of children in China have experienced bullying, while another suggests only 11% report being bullied, highlighting inconsistencies in measurement and definition. This discrepancy underscores the difficulty in accurately assessing the scope of the problem.

The nature of bullying in China is often described as more indirect and subtle compared to physical bullying common in Western countries. Tactics frequently involve social exclusion, verbal abuse, and psychological torment, such as mocking a student’s appearance or using symbolic items (e.g., watermelon-themed objects) to humiliate them in a way that may not be immediately obvious to adults. Group dynamics play a central role, with bullying typically involving multiple students ganging up on a single victim, reflecting China’s collectivist culture where group identity can reduce individual accountability.

The causes of bullying are multifaceted. Research identifies factors such as family environment, including authoritarian parenting and corporal punishment, which may model aggressive behavior. The influence of Confucian values and social Darwinism—where success is tied to competition and survival of the fittest—can justify bullying against those perceived as weak, such as students with poor academic performance or social awkwardness. Additionally, the normalization of teacher-led humiliation and physical punishment in schools may contribute to students imitating such behavior.

Bullying in Japan

Bullying in Japan, known as “ijime,” remains a persistent and serious issue across all school levels, with recent data indicating a record high in incidents. In fiscal year 2024, the Japanese education ministry confirmed 769,022 cases of bullying, marking the fourth consecutive year of record-high numbers and an increase of approximately 36,400 from the previous year. The majority of cases occurred at elementary schools (610,612), followed by junior high schools (135,865), with smaller numbers at senior high schools (18,891) and special needs schools (3,654).

The problem is particularly severe in terms of its consequences, with serious cases such as suicide and truancy rising to a record 1,405, an increase of 99 from the previous year. This reflects a broader trend of escalating severity, with incidents often involving group dynamics where a student perceived as “different” is ostracized by peers, sometimes leading to the entire class participating in the bullying. This form of group bullying, or “shūdan ijime,” is deeply rooted in Japanese societal values that emphasize conformity and group harmony, where deviation from the norm is met with social punishment.