This article discusses the myth of the non litigious Chinese in the context of the legal reforms in China since 1978. Whereas the Chinese government adheres to cultural relativism, the Chinese people seeking justice through the court embrace a universalist vision of human rights. The Chinese government also affirms that harmony is the dominant paradigm. This would lead litigants to avoid the courts and sacrifice their rights in order to preserve harmony. This is substantially contradicted by the fact that numerous litigants use the courts as forum of conflict resolution. Moreover, many in China advocate a universalist approach of human rights. Thus, there is a rupture between official representations and practice of various segments of the Chinese population.