China In Ten Words Summary

“To understand contemporary China, you have to understand its words – words that are gateways into this nation’s transformation, struggles, and identity.”

1. The Rise and Fall of “The People”

The concept of “the people” was at the heart of China’s identity during the 1960s. It defined how the government, under Mao Zedong, portrayed the nation as a collective whole, prioritizing shared purpose over individual identity. Every citizen, regardless of background, was seen as an equal part of this unifying group.

This unity was emphasized during the Cultural Revolution when Mao’s campaigns celebrated the idea of a classless society. Slogans reinforced this belief, such as the bold proclamation, “Chairman Mao is the people, and the people are Chairman Mao.” However, this vision of solidarity began to unravel during moments like the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Unified voices gave way to suppressed dissent when demands for reform and freedom were forcibly silenced.

By today’s standards, the term “the people” has mostly faded. Modern Chinese society has become fractured, labeling individuals by their professions, migrations, or consumer identities rather than emphasizing collective belonging. The shift reflects a broader move toward individualism amidst rapid economic and social change.

Examples

• Yu Hua learned to write the word “the people” before his own name as a child, mirroring its prominence.
• During Tiananmen Square protests, citizens united against corruption, but their efforts faced violent suppression.
• Post-1989, Chinese citizens began identifying as stockholders, fans, or migrants, moving away from collective labels.

2. Leadership Reimagined After Mao

Mao Zedong embodied the archetype of a Chinese leader, or lingxiu, blending charisma with proximity to the masses. He famously jumped into the Yangtze River at 72 years old, proving his vitality and connection to everyday citizens. This theatrical leadership style enhanced his image during a time when the idea of a leader was romanticized.

Post-Mao, the meaning of leadership shifted. No longer represented by singular, larger-than-life figures, leadership transitioned to a shared system where committees govern. This change was visible at public events where smiling and waving became a group act rather than Mao’s sole gesture of dominance.

Nevertheless, nostalgia for Mao’s style persists. When a satirical 2009 text suggested Mao had been cloned, many citizens cheered the idea of his return to tackle modern corruption. Lingxiu, once a commanding and iconic role, has diluted into softer, administrative roles in today’s China.

Examples

• Mao's Yangtze swim symbolized a leader’s endurance and closeness to the people.
• Today’s political committee system reflects a collective ruling body, unlike a single leader.
• Polls show 85% of Chinese citizens believe the return of Mao would benefit the country.

3. Reading: The Evolution of Books and Access

During Mao’s reign, books were precious and rare. Most literature branded as “poisonous” was burned, leaving homes with only two official choices: Mao’s Selected Works and his Quotations (Little Red Book). For Yu Hua and his generation, reading meant diving into propaganda or hand-copying banned classics.

The thirst for literature gradually shifted when the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976. As bookstores began reopening in 1977, crowds queued overnight just to purchase a single book, often with rationed book tokens. Stories that were once suppressed now became accessible treasures.

Over time, reading culture blossomed into something richer and freer. This transition reflects the hunger for intellectual exploration, proving how a society craving knowledge can rapidly transform once barriers are removed.

Examples

• As a child, Yu once hand-copied a banned book because its limited availability made borrowing unpredictable.
• In 1977, bookstores issued only 50 book tokens per shipment, limiting access to literature.
• Big-character revolutionary posters doubled as sources of storytelling during the book-starved Cultural Revolution.

4. Writing as Both Art and Survival

Yu Hua’s journey as a writer began with “red pen” propaganda, where creativity served political movements. His pseudonym, Spring Shoots, was attached to big-character posters attacking authority figures and directing social critique.

Later, Yu turned to writing stories in pursuit of a peaceful, creative life after years as a dentist. The discipline, inspired by his boyhood amidst violent upheavals, helped him process the chaotic memories of executions, public punishments, and propaganda in his hometown.

But writing could also be dangerous. Immersing himself too deeply in dark narratives brought on nightmares and stress. It wasn’t until he tempered his approach to creative expression that he created a balance between emotional exploration and personal well-being.

Examples

• Yu’s six-hour detours to watch public executions heavily influenced the violent themes in his early writings.
• Revolution-era plays by Yu celebrated peasants’ fight against landlords, reflecting Maoist ideals.
• Nightmares of execution convinced Yu to step back from overtly graphic subjects in his fiction.

5. Lu Xun: The Revolution’s Literary Son

Lu Xun, an outspoken critic of societal flaws in early 20th-century China, became a favorite of Mao Zedong, granting his works an almost sacred status during the Cultural Revolution. For schoolchildren like Yu, his stories were unavoidable symbols of revolutionary ideology.

In his youth, Yu viewed Lu Xun's constant presence with bitterness. It was only two decades later, revisiting his works after the revolution's fervor cooled, that Yu saw the emotional depth and artistic skill behind Lu Xun’s critiques.

This rediscovery underscores how context often reshapes art. Once synonymous with propaganda, Lu Xun’s work regained its identity as literature outside of rigid interpretation.

Examples

• Yu used a fictional Lu Xun quote to win a science debate as a schoolboy.
• Thirty years after Lu Xun’s death, Mao cemented his legacy as central to revolution-era literature.
• A 1996 film adaptation project led Yu to reappreciate Lu Xun’s timeless narrative style.

6. Revolution’s Legacy in Modern Instability

The spirit of revolution defined China's modern history, with Mao’s initiatives like the Great Leap Forward testing the limits of centralized planning. Grand propaganda masked tragic results, particularly during times of famine and chaos.

These revolutionary exaggerations and risks echo modern projects: overbuilds like ghost cities reflect bold but questionable aspirations. For Yu, such instability is woven into China’s government and business practices, where ambitious policies must coexist with undercurrents of political rivalry.

Even infighting among officials resonates with historical struggles for power during Mao’s time – especially fights over official stamps, essential for validating authority.

Examples

• The Great Leap Forward’s inflated farming statistics led to famine on a devastating scale, with millions dead.
• Modern China’s overbuilt ports and highways mirror past exaggerated project outcomes.
• A 2008 governmental seal theft case resembled struggles seen during the Cultural Revolution.

7. Inequality: China’s Widening Gap

Economic growth hasn’t bridged the vast gap between urban “haves” and rural “have-nots.” While China’s GDP neared world dominance in 2010, rural regions continued to stagnate, with the income ratio between these sectors starkly imbalanced at 1:3.

Desperation among the disenfranchised has intensified. Marketplace conflicts between unlicensed sellers and government enforcers often escalate into violence, emblematic of growing frustration with systemic inequality.

For Yu, the disparity feels personal, as he recalls when poverty existed—but not to current extremes. The new model of inequality combines modern excess with echoes of the past.

Examples

• Children in a rural community thought washing a soccer ball was part of the game rules due to their unfamiliarity.
• Yu witnessed dramatic violence between sellers and officials over licensing.
• Urban-rural divide remains steep despite GDP optimism.

8. Copycat Culture’s Roots

Copycat, or shanzhai, has become a defining term in modern China. Far from merely implying piracy, it represents a creative entrepreneurial spirit, particularly in consumer goods. Cheap knock-offs ranging from phones to books are seen as solutions rather than issues.

To Yu, shanzhai symbolizes ingenuity stretching back to the Cultural Revolution. Back then, leadership committees or even power were “faked” with overwhelming success. Today’s phenomenon builds on a familiar creativity, now targeting economic systems.

While controversial, the power of imitation continues disrupting traditional norms, offering shortcuts to wealth for those unable—or unwilling—to follow established methods.

Examples

• Knock-off phones dominated markets due to low costs and innovation.
• Yu once confronted a bookseller carrying pirated copies of his work.
• Fake leaders during the Cultural Revolution redefined political hegemony.

9. Bamboozling: China’s Modern Deception

The verb huyou, or “bamboozle,” captures a playful and oddly charming form of deception present in contemporary China. What might seem like manipulation is often brushed aside as witty ingenuity, reflecting the nation’s history of survival-oriented problem-solving.

Whether through overhyped advertising or clever self-promotion, huyou skirts dishonesty while celebrating creativity. However, as Yu warns, it’s a dangerous attitude when manipulation veers into fraud or exploitation.

Still, small-scale huyou stories, often humorous and harmless, reflect China’s deep cultural adaptability and ability to find levity during change.

Examples

• Zhao Benshan’s comedic skit popularized huyou’s modern connotation in China.
• Deliberately exaggerated winning bids for ad slots were justified as creative hustling.
• Yu’s pretend illness led to an unplanned appendectomy after he “bamboozled” himself!

Takeaways

1. Study local language to understand the deeper cultural framework of a society, as words reflect values and histories.
2. Explore how historical events shape modern business, politics, and social norms, especially in transitioning nations.
3. Reflect on the adaptive traits of a culture, such as creativity through adversity, to apply them to personal and professional challenges.