The Chinese Word for Gamma

Ah Q jingshen was identified in 1921

Different languages will have different words to describe the behavioral patterns, and the behavioral patterns will play out slightly differently due to cultural differences, but the SSH permeates every culture that contains heterosexual men.

The “Ah Q mentality” (A Q jingshen) is a term in modern Chinese language used to describe a psychological coping mechanism characterized by self-deception and the creation of false victories in the face of real failure or humiliation. It refers to an individual who refuses to confront reality and instead convinces themselves of unjustified superiority or success, often through mental rationalization. This mentality is exemplified by Ah Q’s “spiritual victories,” where he maintains a sense of psychological triumph after being defeated or humiliated, such as when he slaps himself after a fight, believing that since he is the one doing the slapping, he must be the victor.

Ah Q’s behavior reflects a pattern of bullying the weak while being fearful of those stronger than him, a trait described as “bullying the weak and fearing the strong”. He uses self-deception to escape from the pain of real-life failures, such as denying the existence of his ringworm condition or claiming a false connection to a wealthy family member to elevate his status. This tendency to avoid unpleasant truths and project superiority is seen as a symptom of a broader national character flaw that Lu Xun critiqued in early 20th-century China.

The concept has permeated contemporary Chinese discourse, with phrases like “relax for a bit” (A Q yi xia) reflecting the widespread use of Ah Q’s traits of evasion and self-consolation in everyday language. The term has also been applied metaphorically to critique societal behaviors, such as in discussions about Hong Kong’s colonial past and modern political movements, where individuals or groups are seen as embodying the Ah Q mentality by rationalizing injustice or projecting powerlessness onto others.

It’s particularly interesting to note that the Chinese form of Gamma “is seen as a symptom of a broader national character flaw” given the way in which both China and India are widely seen as particularly infested with Gammas and influenced by Gamma behaviors.

Given conventional SSH patterns, one might even surmise the possibility that Lu Xun, whoever he was, would likely have been a Sigma.

Lu Xun (Chinese: 魯迅; pinyin: Lǔ Xùn, [lù ɕŷn]; 25 September 1881 – 19 October 1936), pen name of Zhou Shuren, born Zhou Zhangshou, was a Chinese writer. A leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in both vernacular and literary Chinese as a novelist, literary critic, essayist, poet, translator and political commentator, known for his satirical, acerbic tone and critical reflections on Chinese history and culture.

In 1902, Lu Xun left for Japan on a Qing government scholarship to pursue an education in foreign medicine. After arriving in Japan he attended the Kobun Institute, a preparatory language school for Chinese students attending Japanese universities. After encouragement from a classmate, he cut off his queue that Han Chinese were obliged to wear at the time, and practiced jujutsu in his free time… In March 1906, Lu Xun abruptly and secretly terminated his pursuit of the degree and left college. At the time he told no one.

As you can see, the patterns hold. This is why a solid grasp on the SSH is like a social superpower. These historical antecedents also demonstrate the total absurdity of those who claim that I invented the socio-sexual hierarchy, or the various behavioral patterns exhibited within it, much less did so on the basis of my own psychological issues.

A taxonomy describes things that already exist; one cannot invent things that one observes.