Cultural Insights

Mit Dr. FANG Man.
How deeply does culture shape the way we think, communicate, and
collaborate? In this episode of ChinaConnect – Your Guide for
Research and Transfer, we explore cultural perspectives from
China and Germany with our guest Dr. FANG Man, Affiliate Scholar
at the Research Institute for Sustainability (Helmholtz Centre
Potsdam) and founder of the Mindful-Transculture Community.
Trained as a psychologist and psychotherapist in both China and
Germany, she draws on academic, therapeutic, and intercultural
experience to reflect on how cultural frameworks influence
everyday interactions, professional contexts, and international
cooperation.
The conversation sheds light on differences in communication
styles, language structures, and social norms—ranging from the
role of silence, humility, and independence to the importance of
guanxi and informal relationship-building in China. Dr. FANG Man
also discusses how philosophical traditions such as Buddhism,
Confucianism, and Daoism continue to shape society today, and
what community-oriented versus individual-oriented cultures can
contribute to tackling global challenges like climate change.