For the tea also known as white monkey, seeBaimao Hou.
Advertisement for a Chinese brand featuring a Western model, on a bus inHong Kong
White monkey (Chinese:白猴子;pinyin:Bái hóuzi) is a term for the phenomenon ofwhite foreigners or immigrants in China and Japan[1] being hired for modeling, advertising, English teaching, or promotional jobs on the basis of their race.[2][3] The phenomenon is based on the perception that association with foreigners, specifically white foreigners, can signify prestige, legitimacy, and international status.[3][4][5] The jobs themselves, called "white monkey jobs" or "white-face jobs",[5] often require little actual work on the part of the model, who in some cases is not expected to be fluent in Chinese.[6][7] The concept is considered a subset of a larger "rent a foreigner" industry in China and other parts of Asia.[3][8]
White monkey jobs are often related tomarketing andadvertising. The "white monkey" may be hired to act as an associate of an individual[3] or pose as an authoritative figure to promote a brand or company, and businesses will occasionally hire these individuals to pose as a founder or executive.[2][7][8]
While the concept is less viable in larger urban areas with more international exposure,[2] the practice is common in smaller urban centers and rural areas,[4][2] especially those trying to expand or attract real-estate attention by feigning an international presence.[8]
Advertising forDe Rucci, a Chinese mattress company, prominently showcases an unnamed European-looking man who has been described as the "most famous face in China".[9]
^abReinders, Eric (2024).Reading Tolkien in Chinese: Religion, Fantasy, and Translation. Perspectives on Fantasy series. London, UK:Bloomsbury Academic. p. 96.ISBN9781350374645.
.jpg)