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A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary in Historic Context
Mao ZedongCentral to the themes of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary Lover by Xiaolu Guo is alienation of the intellectual in society explored between the relationship between east and west. In an interview Xiaolu Guo she says she met the characters two main characters to be one person intellectual torn between to sets of ideals. Z leaves China in order to learn English to help her parent’s to promote their family’s shoe business. Part of understanding Chinese culture and the novel in a broader context is being familiar with the Chinese Cultural Revolution. I didn’t know much about this important era and China’s recent history, so I thought I’d research it for my next blog.
The Chinese Cultural revolution started as a result of what Mao Zedong, the head Communist Party of China, saw as a capitalist conspiracy within the cultural and intellectual aspects of Chinese society. At the time Mao was worshiped as the father of the first revolution and the rise of communism in China. During the Cultural Revolution Mao stressed China needed to destroy the old ways and ideologies and labeled many as “class enemies.” He used the Red Guard, and army of ideological soldiers, to go to universities and spread the teachings of Mao. They labeled writers, artists, and intellectuals whose ideas were against Mao as enemies and destroyed many works of literature and philosophy. Lasting from about 1967 to 1976 students studies were interrupted and as a result China lost a large amount of would be educated class.
Though the main character Z didn’t grow up during this time, she is largely a product of the national mentality that the revolution instilled. Her parents have here leave China in order to help the family business that has brought opportunity in a country where widespread poverty and political upheaval has changed things forever.
Z probably liked Communism
Z probably liked Communism because it was what she had grown up with and the only way of life she knew. It was interesting how because of this she viewed Western culture in a completely different way than I do - especially when it came to ideas like individuality and independence.
It is also interesting
It is also interesting to poltical side from a social psychology point of view in relation to collectivist and individualist societies. The collectivist east placing more importance on duty to family and community (related to the ideals of communism.) And individualist stressing personal pursuit and non conformity ( in a more capitalist fashion) Z seems to, in a way, be torn between these two worlds.
Z did, though, mention the
Z did, though, mention the old-world quality and respect for ancient ways of Europe. She mentions how China wants everything to be shiny and new (I think somewhere she says that if a building is ten years old in China, it must be torn down). The rage for newness in China is probably partially part of the leftover revolutionary mentality as well as some romanticization of Western technology, media, etc. Thoughts?
Communism
I was very interesting to read in this book about Z's opinions on Chairman Mao and how she actually respected his ideology. Maybe I just had a very biased World History teacher in high school, but I only ever heard the negative ramifications of communism. My high school education led me to believe that almost everyone hated communism, including the Chinese. From this book, I have to believe that isn't the case at all. People who actually experience communism first-hand seem to generally like it. I'm not saying that communism is some utopian social model, because I'm sure it does have its drawbacks, but Z liked it, so there must be something redeeming about it. After all, like most societies, it was originally intended to be a utopia, but simply ended up falling short of its goal. Or, possibly, she just didn't want to recognize the negative aspects of it.