Misrepresenting Chinese Folk Happiness: A Critique of a Study

Discourses on Chinese folk happiness are often based on anecdotal narratives or qualitative analysis. A recent study on Chinese folk happiness using qualitative method seems to provide some empirical findings beyond anecdotal evidence on Chinese folk happiness. This paper critically examines the study’s constructed image of Chinese folk happiness, its methodology and account of traditional Chinese happiness, and finds them wanting. A brief account of Chinese traditional happiness is provided.