Etymology
A Sinophile is a person who demonstrates fondness or strong interest in China, Chinese culture, Chinese history, Chinese politics, or Chinese people.
The word Sinophile is derived from the prefix Sino- (referring to anything in relation to China) and the suffix -phile (meaning the lover of something). The word itself emerged in the early 20th century.
Notable Sinophiles
Europe
United Kingdom Joseph Needham, was a British biochemist, historian of science and sinologist known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology, initiating publication of the multi-volume Science and Civilisation in China.
France Louis XIV, a 17th-century French monarch whose Grand Trianon, spread of Chinoiserie, centennial new year bash, and Confucian translations were influenced by Chinese culture. Voltaire, a 17th-century French philosopher who admired Chinese culture and Confucian thought.
Germany Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a 17th-century German polymath who wrote about his admiration of the Chinese "idea of things being created by their natural propensity and by a pre-established harmony" in a letter written in the last year of his life (1716).
Italy Marco Polo (c. 1254–1324), Italian explorer who was one of the first Europeans to visit China and narrated about the nation in his travelogue, The Travels of Marco Polo Matteo Ricci (1552–1610), Italian Jesuit who was the first to translate the Confucian classics into Latin and taught European science to the Emperor and the Chinese literati
Russia Dmitri Mendeleev (1834–1907), Russian chemist and inventor Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), Russian writer widely considered one of the world's greatest novelists
Oceania
Australia Paul Keating (born 1944), Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996 Kevin Rudd (born 1957), Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and in 2013. Rudd took up Chinese in college and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, but his Sinophile characterisation has been disputed.
North America
United States Allen Iverson (born 1975), former NBA star basketball player who has expressed affinity for the country Stephon Marbury (born 1977), former NBA star basketball player who joined the Beijing Ducks and has expressed affinity for the country James Veneris (1922–2004), US soldier who defected to China after the Korean War and remained in the country expressing positive feelings until his death in 2004 Kevin Walmsey, American businessman based in Kunming, China who makes videos informing western audiences about the positive strides China has made in the recent years Jeffrey Sachs, famous American economist from Columbia University, who has a deep positive affinity towards the Chinese people and has been a strong advocate for greater China-western engagement and friendship Hasan Piker, popular progressive socialist American Twitch Streamer, has expressed his deep affinity and admiration for the Chinese people and visited China to help American progressives better understand the country Taylor Lorenz, popular progressive technology and culture journalist who has expressed admiration for the Chinese people and tries to help progressives better understand China
Asia
Thailand Sirindhorn (born 1955), Thai princess who has received awards in China for promoting friendship between the two countries
See also Chinamaxxing Chinoiserie Sinology
References