INTRODUCTION
ThereasontheStateenjoysaformidablelegitimacyintheeyesoftheChinesehasnothingtodo withdemocracybutcanbefoundintherelationshipbetweentheStateandChinesecivilization. TheStateisseenastheembodiment,guardiananddefenderofChinesecivilization.Maintaining theunity,cohesionandintegrityoftheChinesecivilization-stateisperceivedasthehighest politicalpriority,thesacrosancttaskoftheChineseState.UnlikeintheWest,wheretheStateis viewedwithvaryingdegreesofsuspicion,evenhostilityandregarded,asaconsequence,asan outsider,inChinathestateisseenasanintimate,aspartofthefamily,indeedastheheadofthe family. MartinJacques,WhenChinaRulestheWorld.
ThoughthefoundersofChinesecivilizationlivedthreethousandyearsago,theywouldbequite comfortablerunningtoday’sgovernment.TheymightbesurprisedthatCongresshasthelast wordonlegislationbut,otherwise,wouldnoticelittlechange.Infact,thethePRC'sproblems–flooding,overpopulation,barbarianinvaders,foreigntrade–wouldbeentirelyfamiliar.
Likethem,themenwhorunthePRCareChina'ssmartestwho,duringtheirthirtyyearsofpublic service,havetransformedChinafromthepooresttotherichestcountryonearth.
Whatdowemeanbytherichest?
Bythesummerof2021,thelowerhalfofincomeearnerswillallownhomesandhavea guaranteedincome,plentyoffoodandclothes,safestreets,healthinsurance,apension,andold agecare.What'smore,theirchildrenwillgraduatehighschoolthreeyearsaheadofourkidsand livelongerhealthierlives.
Andhere’sthekicker:by2021willbemorehungrychildren,moredrugaddicts,suicides, executions,homeless,poor,andimprisonedpeopleinAmericathaninChina.
Thisistheirstory.
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1.ALITTLEHISTORY
Ifrulers'ownbehaviorisethical,whatdifficultywilltheyhaveingoverning?Iftheirown conductisimproper,howcantheydemandlawfulnessfromtheircitizens? Confucius, Analects.
Governingisdifficult,andgoverningwellrequiresintelligent,honest,competentofficialsyet,in ourpoliticaltradition–whichdatestoAncientRome–governancetakesabackseattopolitics.We havealwayselected1 selfish,shallow,irresponsible,glibconartists,thenwonderedwhythey makesuchamessofthings.
TheChinesetradition,equallyancient,takestheoppositeapproach.Theyweedoutselfish, shallow,irresponsible,glibconartistsandpainstakinglyselectofficialswithtrackrecordsof brilliantgovernance–andtherebyhangsthisbook'stale. ***
Threethousandyearsago,intheintensivelyagriculturalYellowRiverValley,inanalready ancientlandthesizeofmodernFrance,literateShangpeople,whocalledthemselves‘theMiddle Kingdom,'usedcurrencytotradeinsilks,jade,andexquisitebronzes.InoneShangState,the DukeofZhou,regentforachildprince,governedcompassionately,extendedtherealm,taxed therich,andenrichedthepoor.Whentheyoungmonarchcameofage,theDukeretiredto composemusic,revisethelegalcode,andeditthestill-loved BookofPoems.Hisnameremains ahouseholdwordandhislegacy,theMandateofHeaven,isthebedrockofChinesepolitics: governmentsearntherighttorulebyimprovingpeople’slives.
FivecenturiesaftertheDuke’sdeath,Confucius,apoliticalscientistandsometimegovernment official,providedatripartiteformulaforsuccesswhichgovernmentsstillfollow:treattheentire nationasyourownfamily;2 transformthefamily’sdreamsintoconcretegoals,and only appoint peopleliketheDukeofZhoutoleadthemtowardsthosegoals.
Confuciusfurtherproposedtwostagesoffamilialwellbeing.First,a xiaokang3 societyinwhich everyonehasahome,plentyoffoodandclothes,education,medicalcare,old-agesupport,and sufficientleisureforartsandcontemplation.Thenbuildonthatfoundationa dàtóng4 societyso egalitarianandcompassionatethatnooneneedstolockherouterdoorsatnight.Hisvisionof socialhealthisradicallydemocratic,since xiaokang and dàtóng canexistonlyifeverymember ofthefamilyprospersandnoneisleftbehind.
TheSociopathNextDoorbyMarthaStout 2006. 1 Perfectstrangersstilladdressoneanotheras"aunty,""uncle,""sister,"and"grandfather." 2 Chinesetranslatorscallit ‘amoderatelyprosperoussociety’ andwecallit ‘theChineseDream’ 3 From DatongShu,BookontheGreatCommunity,acommentarybyKangYouwei,whichMaomemorizedinitsentirety. 4
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Headvisedpoliticalleaderstobeginbysettingapersonalexample,“Rulerswholedtheirpeople toa xiaokang lifestylewerepillarsofcourtesy,sincerity,justice,andvirtue.Thosewhowerenot lostpower,andeveryoneregardedthemaspests”.
Healsorecommendedreplacingthearistocracywithvirtuousofficials,“Morallyupright superiorsrelatetoordinarypeoplelikewindtograss;grassbendswhenthewindblowsoverit”. LikePlato’sPhilosopherKings5,theywouldestablishachainofrespect—fromdutifulchildren toparents,throughgrandparents,clanheads,uprightofficials,totheEmperorhimself.Citizens, bygladlyemulatingtheirexample,wouldvastlysimplifylawenforcement.“Ihaveyettosee anyonecreatedisorderwhoisrespectfulofsuperiors”.
Butrulersofthedaywerecomfortablewiththechainofcommand,andnoblesrejected meritocracy6 andConfucius,convincedthathehadfailed,died.Forthreecenturies,corrupt eunuchs,schemingregents,dowagerempresses,usurpers,concubines,wickeduncles,and rebelliousgeneralscontinuedtheirmassacres,kidnappings,beheadings,infantstranglings, siblingdrownings,poisonings,torturing,dismemberment,taxing,warring,andoppressionwhile Confucius'disciplespersistentlyadvocatedhisplanuntil,in188BC,theypersuadedEmperor WenofHan7 tostopimprisoningparents,wives,andsiblingsofcommoncriminals.
Encouragedbythepopularityofthispolicyandintriguedbytheadvantagesofmeritocracy,he beganexaminingtheliteracyandmoralmaturityofnoblesseekinghighoffice,loweringtaxes, abolishing corvée labor,andgivingmonthlypensionstowidows,orphans,andretirees.Whenhis motherfellillhenursedherforthreeyears,tastinghersoupsandmedicineshimself. Ifthings wentawry,EmperorWenwrote LettersofPublicApology acknowledginghisroleasthepeople's servant.AssConfuciushadpredicted,peaceandprosperityprevailed.
Today,ChinesechildrenknowEmperorWenasoneofTwenty-FourFilialExemplars,their parentsmeasureeverygovernmentagainsthis,andmodernofficialsstillwriteLettersofPublic Apologywhenthingsgoastray–becausethey,too,studiedEmperorWenatschool.
WhentheEmperor’sgrandsontriedtoextendWen’sreforms,hisgrandmother,GrandEmpress DowagerDou,sidelinedhimandbanishedthereformists.Buttheyoungman–thefuture EmperorWuofHan(157BC–87BC)–secretlyrecruitedscholarsofhumblebirthtoenterthe civilservice,usedhislimitedinfluencetohelpthemwinpromotionstomid-levelpositionsand, uponthedeathoftheEmpressDowager,calledforproposalstorenewtheempire.
AConfucianscholar-official,DongZhongshu,respondedbyoutliningabeguiling‘newbroom’
“Untilkingsarephilosophersorphilosophersarekings,neithercitiesnorthehumanracewilleverceasefromill,norwillour 5 idealpolityevercomeintobeing".Plato. TheRepublic
Britain’supperHouseofParliamentisreservedforthenobility,andBaronessUrsulaGertrudvonderLeyenrecentlyfollowed 6 CountvanRompuyasPresidentoftheEuropeanCouncil.
(203BC – July6157BC)wasthefifthemperoroftheHandynastyofancientChina.Hisreignbroughtmuchneededpolitical 7 stabilitythatlaidthegroundworkforprosperityunderhisgrandson,EmperorWu.
schemethatplacedtheEmperoratthecenteroftheuniverse,controllingtheWorldthrough sacredrituals8 and,lesttheyimplyimperialnegligence,promisedthatofficialswouldtake responsibilityforearthquakes,floods,comets,andfamines.Intrigued,theyoungEmperorasked whowouldadministerthescheme.Dongreplied,“YourHighness,sincenotonemaninthe entireempireiscurrentlyqualifiedtorespondtoyourcall,IbegYoutobuildanacademyand appointenlightenedteacherstonurture,test,andgoadyoungmentothelimitsoftheirability. Doso,andyouwillrecruitthefloweroftheempire’syouth”.
EmperorWuestablishedtheImperialCollegeofConfucianStudies,bannedcompeting ideologies,dismissednon-Confucianofficials,burnedtheirbooks,andrequiredeverychildto studyConfuciusdaily,astheystilldo.In140BC,hemadeConfucianismtheimperialdoctrine, establishedcompetitivecivilserviceexaminations,personallyexaminedaspiringscholars,and commandedthatexaminationsbecomethesoleavenuetosocialadvancement,astheystillare.
Whilehisselflessofficialsinspiredandenrichedthemasses,theEmperorexpandedtheempire, centralizeditsadministration,andcreatedtheChinesescript,theoldestwritingsystemstillin use.Hefixedthecartaxles'lengthtofithisextensiveroadnetwork,dugcanalsbetween provincestoreducefreightcosts,standardizedweights,measures,andcoinage,unified provincialwallsintotheGreatWallofChina,andcommissionedatombthatisstillguardedby histerra-cottawarriors.
FamiliessentpromisingoffspringtoConfuciancramschools,theIvyLeagueoftheirday,and, withinacentury,thirtythousandhadenrolledattheImperialCollegewhere,asaformof meditation,theymemorizedtheMaster’steachingoncompassionateserviceuntilitpermeated theirfeelings,thoughts,anddreams.Selectedbyincreasinglycompetitiveexaminationsatthe local,provincial,andimperiallevels–andforbiddentoworkwithinfivehundredmilesoftheir hometowns–theylaidthefoundationforagovernancesystemthatisagaintheenvyofthe World.9
Centurieslater,in600AD,EmperorYangofSuiopenedtheimperialexaminationtopeasants andinstructedassessors—fromwhomcandidates’identitieswereconcealed—tofindmenwith intellectualdepthandmoralmaturity.Toemphasizetheimportanceofofficialintegrity,hesaid, theyshouldexecutecheaters.Applicantsansweredquestionsontheeconomy,analyzed governmentpolicies,andcomposedoriginalessaystodemonstratetheirbrushwork,literacy, creativity,andknowledgeoftheWorld.TheEmperorqueriedtopcandidatesandlistenedasthey quotedfrommemorygovernancecasestudies,extensivepassagesfromthe Analects andpoetry, asmodernapplicantsstilldo.Advancementbyexaminationwasclass-blind(asitstillis) because,saidImperialCensorWangJi,“Ifselectionbyexaminationisnotstrict,thepowerful willstruggletobeforemost,andorphansandthepoorwillhavedifficultyadvancing”.
InevitableTreason:DongZhongshu'sTheoryofHistoricalCyclesandEarlyAttemptstoInvalidatetheHanMandate.ByGary 8 Arbuckle.JournaloftheAmericanOrientalSocietyVol.115,No.4(Oct-Dec.1995)
ThisiswhytheBritishcalltheirseniorcivilservants ‘Mandarins.’ 9
Thedemandforliteracysopowerfulthat,in1000AD,SongDynastyofficialsdistributed millionsofConfuciancatechisms–theLittleRedBooksoftheirday–anddelivereduplifting lecturesontheircontent.Acourtofficial,OuyangXiu,reportedhowsuccessfulscholarsbecame nationalcelebrities,theiracademicfeatsmemorializedinfamilybooksandtheirhomecomings semi-hysterical(astheystillare10),“Whenascholarridesinahighcarriagedrawnbyfour horses,flag-bearersrunningaheadwithamountedescortbringinguptherear,peoplegatheron bothsidesoftheroadtowatchandsigh.Ordinarymenandfoolishwomenrushforwardin excitementandhumblyprostratethemselvesintheduststirredupbyhiscarriage.Thisisa scholar’sjoy.Thisiswhenhisambitionisfulfilled”.When,duringOuyang'slifetime,the inventionofpaperandmoveabletypemadetheConfucianClassicswidelyavailable,literacy becameanationalobsessionandremainssotothisday.Thoughsonsoftheelitestillbenefited fromtheirfamousnamesandprivatetutors,poorbutbrilliantyoungmengraduallyerasedthe distinctionbetweengovernmentandgoverned.DuringEurope’sDarkAges,Chinesecivilization reacheditszenithandofficials’moralauthorityfarexceededthatofRome’sPopes.
ThepoormenwhoascendedontalentweretheEmperor’smenentirely.Theycouldneitherown land,serveintheirhomeprovinces,norhaverelativesinthesamegovernmentbranch–prohibitionsthatstillhold.Forcenturies,theycompetedforpromotionbybuildingpublic works–likethethousand-mileGrandCanal–toenrichthenation,honortheEmperor,andsustain theWorld’smostformidableState.Dynastiesroseandfellwhileloyal,intelligent, entrepreneurial,disciplined–oftencourageous–menservedinremoteregions,farfromfamilyand friends,frequentlyunderterribleconditionsuntil,by1000AD,onescholar-officialforevery eightthousandcitizens11 sustainedthemostharmonious,advanced,andprosperousnationon earth. By1200AD,oftwo-hundredseventy-nineseniorofficialswhosefamiliesweknow,12 forty-fourpercenthadforebearsingovernment.By2020itwastwelvepercentandall,highor low,thenornow,graduatesofthemostdemandingeducationsystemtheWorldhasknown.
PresidentXidampenedthehysteriain2014byobservingthatitover-glorifiedyounggraduatesandignoredthesacrificestheir 10 parents,teachers,andsocietyhadmadeforthem. Today,thereisoneforeverytwentythousand,andtheydeliverfarmoresocialgoods. 11 China'sMeritocraticExaminationsandtheIdealofVirtuousTalents.Xiao,H.,&Li,C.(2013). InD.Bell&C.Li(Eds.), 12 Cambridge.
2.EDUCATION
Whenthepeoplehavefullbelliesandwarmclothesontheirbacks,theydegeneratealmosttothe levelofbrutesiftheyareallowedtoleadidleliveswithouteducationanddiscipline.Thisgave theSageKingfurthercauseforconcern,soheappointedHsiehastheMinisterofEducation.His dutywastoteachthepeoplehumanrelationships:lovebetweenfatherandson,dutybetween rulerandsubject,distinctionbetweenhusbandandwife,precedenceoftheoldovertheyoung, trustbetweenfriends.13
Between1000ADand1911,sevenhundredtop keju14 scorerswonimmortalityas zhuàngyuán, ‘thenameatthetopofthelist.’JustasEuropeannobilitytracetheirlineagetogreatwarriors, Chinesefamiliestracetheirsto zhuàngyuán,immortalizetheirfeatsinFamilyBooks,andname landmarksforthem. Selectedfortheiracademicbrilliance,administrativecompetence,and moralprobity,theyformeda justhierarchy15 atthepinnacleofChinesesociety.Surpassingly intelligent,competent,honest,andself-sacrificing,thegreatestaresoreveredthatmillionsstill burnincenseattheirshrines,andparentsstilldreamthattheirchildrenwilljointheirranks.
ExaminationswereabandonedwiththefalloftheManchuDynastyandnotuntilMaointroduced the gaokao in1952werenationalexaminationsheldtoselectstudentsforthehandfulof universityplacesthenavailable. Today,tenmillionyoungsterscompeteforeightmillion positionsatthreethousanduniversities.Thefiercestcompetitionfocusesonone-hundred-fifty
Mencius.Ed.andtrans.D.C.Lau.HongKong:TheChineseUniversityPress.2003 13 14 ImperialExamination
Just(deserved)hierarchiesareearnedbymeritoriousservice,whileunjusthierarchiesareestablishedbybirthortrickeryand 15 sustainedbyviolence. JustHierarchy:WhySocialHierarchiesMatterinChinaandtheRestoftheWorld. ByDanielA.Belland WangPei.Princeton.2020.
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topuniversitieswhosecollectiveadmissionrateisunderthreepercent.Evengainingadmission, asPuzhongYao16 discovered,requiresnear-geniusability:
Itwasthesummerof2000.Iwas15,andIhadjustfinishedmyhighschoolentrance exam.IhadmadeconsiderableimprovementsfromwhereIstartedinfirstgrade,whenI hadthesecond-worstgradesintheclassandhadtositatadeskperpendiculartothe blackboardsothattheteachercouldkeepacloseeyeonme.Ihadmanagedtobecomean averagestudentinanaverageschool.Myparents,bythen,hadconcludedthatIwasnot goinganywherepromisinginChinaandwerereadytosendmeabroadforhighschool. Contrarytoallexpectations,however,Igotthebestmarkinmyclassandmyschool, rankingmeamongthetoptenofmorethan100,000studentsinthewholecity.Though myteacherandIbothassumedthescorewaswrongwhenwefirstheardit,Igotintothe bestclassinthebestschoolinmycityandthusbeganthemostpainfulyearofmylife.
My newfound confidencewasquicklycrushedwhenIsawhowtalentedmynew classmateswere.Inthefirst class,ourmathteacherannouncedthatshewouldstartfrom chapterfourofthetextbookassheassumed,correctly,thatmostofuswerefamiliarwith thefirstthreechaptersandwouldfinditboringtorepeat.Mostoftheclasshadbeen participatinginvariouscompetitionsinmiddleschoolandhadbecomefamiliarwitha largepartofthehighschoolsyllabusalreadyandhadgrowntoknoweachotherfrom thoseyearsofcompetitionstogether.AndhereIwas,someonewhodidn’tknowanything oranyone,surroundedbypeoplewhoknewmoretobeginwith,whoweremuchsmarter, andwhoworkedjustashardasIdid.WhatchancedidIhave?
Duringthatyear,Itriedveryhardtocatchup:Igaveupeverythingelseandeven movedclosetotheschooltosavetimeonthecommute,buttonoavail.Overtime,going toschoolandcompetingwhileknowingIwassuretolosebecametorture.YetIhadtodo iteveryday.Attheend-of-yearexam,IscoredsecondfromtheBottomoftheclass—the sameplaceIbeganinfirstgrade.Butthistime,itwasmuchhardertoaccept,afterthe gloryIhadenjoyedjustoneyearearlierandtheenormousamountofeffortIhadputinto studyingthisyear.Finally,Ithrewinthetowelandaskedmyparentstosendmeabroad. Anywhereonthisearthwouldsurelybebetter.
SoIcametotheUKin2001,whenIwas16yearsold.Muchtomysurprise,I foundtheUK’sexam-focusededucationalsystemverysimilartoChina’s.Whatismore, inbothcountries,goingtothe‘rightschools'andgettingthe‘rightjob’areseenasvery importantbyalargegroupofeagerparents.Asaresult,scoringwellonexamsanddoing wellinschoolinterviews—oreventheplaysessionforthenurseryorpre-prepschool— becomesthemostimportantthingintheWorld.Evenatuniversity,theundergraduate degreefromtheUniversityofCambridgedependssolelyonanexamattheendofthe finalyear.
Ontheotherhand,althoughtheUK’suniversitysystemisconsidered superior to China’s,withapopulationthatisonlyone-twentieththesizeofmynativecountry,
Excerptedfrom ‘TheWesternElitefromaChinesePerspective’ byPuzhongYaoAmericanAffairs.Winter2017/VolI,No4. 16 MorestoriesofhisstudiesandtheUSathttp://ajourneytothewest.co.uk/
competition,whiletough,islessintimidating.Forexample,aboutoneintenapplicants getsintoOxbridgeintheUK,andStanfordandHarvardacceptaboutoneintwenty-five applicants.ButinHebei,myProvinceinChina,onlyoneinfifteenhundredapplicants getsintoPekingorTsinghuaUniversity.
Still,Ifoundithardtobelievehowmucheasiereverythingbecame.Iscoredfirst nationwideintheGCSE(highschool)mathexam,andmyphotowasprintedina nationalnewspaper.IwasadmittedintoTrinityCollege,UniversityofCambridge,once thehomeofSirIsaacNewton,FrancisBacon,andPrinceCharles,whereIstudied economics,afieldthathasbecomeincreasinglymathematicalsincethe1970s.My Britishclassmates'behaviordemonstratedanevengreaterherdmentalitythanwhatis oftenmockedinAmericanMBAs.Forexample,outofthethirteeneconomistsinmyyear atTrinity,twelvewouldjoininvestmentbanks,andfiveofuswenttoworkforGoldman Sachs.
Whocanblamehimforfleeing?The gaokao, whichgrantsaccesstoundergraduatestudy,isthe culminationofatwelve-yeareducationalmarathonandthemostsignificantaffairinChineselife. On gaokao day,roadandairtrafficaredivertedandmillionsofrelativesbesiegeschoolgates. Insidetheexaminationroom,personality,charm,communityservice,interviewpreparation,and athleticaccomplishmentcountfornothing.Allthatmattersisansweringquestionslikethese:
6.Writing
Description:Somemenseethingsastheyareandsaywhy?Idreamthingsthatnever wereandsay,“Whynot?”Writean800-wordessayaboutyourthoughtsonthesewords ofGeorgeBernardShaw.
7.Reasoning
Description:DuringWWII,USandBritishmilitaryforcesresearchedthedistributionof bulletholesonbatteredcombataircrafttoupgradetheirprotectivecapability.Most scientistsagreedthattheupgradeshouldfocusonareaswiththemostbulletholes,but Ward,astatistician,prevailedoverthem,notingthatattentionshouldbepaidtotheparts withfewerbulletholessinceifthosepartsweredamaged,theplaneswouldhavea smallerchanceofreturninghome.However,hisstatisticswereignored.Later investigationprovedWard’stheorieswere,infact,correct.Pleasewriteanessaybased onthisinformation.
WhentheEducationMinistryproposedlimitinghomework, jianfu,parentsobjected,“The governmentusedtoeducateourchildren,butnowtheydon’twanttoshouldertheresponsibility, sothey’rethrowingitbackontous!”Theyinsistedthattheirchildrenwereperfectlycapableof handlingheavierworkloadsandwaxednostalgicfor‘theninetieswhenthestatesupported studentsworkingdayandnight,’andCharleneTan17 questionededucatorsaboutthis.One headmasterexplainedthatmanyparentswhohadmissedhighereducation“Putalltheirhopesin theirchildanddevotedalltheirenergiestothechildbecausethechild’slearning,school promotion,andchoiceofcareerdeterminethefateoftheentirefamily”.Saidanother,“Aslong asachildiswillingtolearn,parentsarewillingtospenduptoseventypercentofthefamily budgethelpingthem”.
SaysXiongXuan’an,whowasthe zhuàngyuán in2017,“Peoplelikemearefrommiddle-class families.Wedon’thavetoworryaboutfoodorclothes.Ourparentsareeducated.Wewereborn inbigcitieslikeBeijing.Wesimplygotbettereducationalresourcesthantherest.Studentsfrom otherplacesandruralareasarenotabletogetthesebenefits.Itmademylearningpatheasier, andthetopscorersnowadays,generallyspeaking,comefromupper-classfamiliesandaregood atstudying”.
Meanwhile,findingthatchildreninimpoverishedGuizhouProvincewerecomingtoschoolon emptystomachs,theMinistrybuiltcanteensandprovidedfundstobuyproducedirectlyfrom poorlocalfarmers,withwhichtopreparefifteenmillionfreelunches.Itaddedmonthlystipends fortwomillionpoor18 studentsandfocusedonbuildingtheirconfidenceineducationasawayto lifttheirfamiliesoutofpoverty.Provincialadministratorscalledonexpertadvicefromteachers likeZhangYan,astarprincipalinZunyiCity,“I’vefocusedmyplanoncoachingteachersin poverty-strickenareasratherthangivinglecturesatruralschools”.Respectforteachersishigh: inpublic,peoplebowandaddressthemas laoshi, atitleimplyingastatushigherthanour ‘professor’.
TheProvincerelocatedtwomillionpoorpeoplefrominhospitable,mountainousregionsinto newurbanhomesandenrolledtheir130,000childrenin1,600nearbyschools.By2021,itwill completethreehundrednurseriesandjuniorhighschoolsandrelocateafurtherfifty-thousand children.Therelocatedchildren,whoarealreadytestingaswellasaverageEUchildren,are takingartificialintelligencecourses.
Aspartofthecampaigntoimprovenationalequalityby2035theEducationMinistry,overurban parents’objections,pushedcityschoolstoadmitmigrantchildrentotheirlocal gaokao exams andprovideuniversityplacesforthem.By2019,eightypercentofmigrantchildrenwere enrolledincityschools,andninetypercentwerereceivingfinancialsupportthatwillcontinue throughuniversity.
ThoughtheMinistryhasdoubledsupportforruraleducationsince2015,childrenfrom
LearningfromShanghai:LessonsonAchievingEducationalSuccess.byCharleneTan.2013 17 Theirfamiliesareofficiallyenrolledinthegovernment’santi-povertycampaign. 18
underdevelopedareaswerestillstrugglingtowinplacesinmajoruniversitiesso,in2018, countryschoolsbeganraisingteachers’paytomatchlocalofficials’,limitingprimaryclasssize toforty-fiveandemployingatleasttenseniormusic,finearts,andphysicaleducationteachers foreverythousandchildren.TheMinistrygavethemscholarshipsandfavorableentrypoliciesto seventy-fivenationaluniversitiesandin2019,recruitedpromisingcityteacherstorelocateto impoverishedareasofAnhui,Henan,Shaanxi,andGansuProvinces.ItpromotedthemtoChief Teachersatruralschoolsandencouragingthemtoexploretheirownideasforlifting instructionalquality.By2020,theruraldistancefromnationalacademicaverageshadnarrowed saysAndreasSchleicher,headoftheOECD’seducationaltesting,“Eveninruralareasandin disadvantagedenvironments,youseearemarkableperformance”.
TheEducationMinistryisresponsibleforhalfamillionschools,fifteenmillionteachers,and two-hundredsixty-millionschoolchildrenwhospeakthirty-fivelanguages,andfiftymillionare disadvantaged.In1979,toleverageitsmeagerbudget,theMinistryofferedurbanitesapact: spaceyourchildren,andwewillinvestthesavingsinbetterschooling.Throughoutthe1980s, mediaurgedcouplestohave‘later,longer,fewer,better’childrenandtheUrbanFamilyPlanning Program,theso-called‘one-childpolicy,’sawparentsandgrandparentsfocustheirtimeand resourcesoneducatingagenerationoflittleprincesandprincesses.
Respondingtothisinfluxofresources,Shanghaiteacherspledged,“Therearenostudentswho cannotbetaughtwell,onlyteacherswhocannotteachwell”.Theyrethought,retested,and rewrotetheirtextbooksandsharedtheirdiscoveriesinlate-nightfacultysessionsandfoundthat mostfailuresstemmedfromtoo-widegapsininstructionalsequences.Theybrokeeachlesson intosmaller,carefullyspaced,tightlycoupledstepsandpermittedclassestoadvanceonlywhen everychilddemonstratedmasteryofeachstep.
Findingthattheirapproachrequiredmeticulouspreparationandmoreskillfulclassmanagement, theShanghaiEducationDepartmentlimitedthemtofifteenhours’classroominstructioneach week,sotheycouldspendtimeobservingexemplaryinstructors,sharingobservationswith colleagues,experimenting,refininglessonplans,andpublishingtheirfindingsineducation journals.
Whentheyapplyforapromotion,theEducationDepartmentinvitesprofessorsofeducation, masterteachersfromacrossthecity,parents,andcitizenstoobservetheir‘publiclesson.’Only SeniorTeachers–curriculuminnovatorswithoutstandingtestresultswhoareexpertchild counselorsandhaveledresearch–canapplyforadministrativerolesand,tounderlinethe importanceoftheirwork,thecityprovidesitstwothousandschoolprincipalswithlimousines, personaldrivers,andregularsabbaticalsabroad.
In2009,ShanghaiparticipatedinPISA,theinternationaltestoffifteen-year-oldchildren’smath, science,andreadingconductedbytheOrganizationforEconomicCooperationand
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Development.TheOECDreported19,“Mathematicsscoresforthetopperformer,Shanghai, indicateanequivalenttoovertwoyearsofformalschoolingaheadofthoseobservedin Massachusetts,astrong-performingUSState”.
WhenShanghaidrewfurtheraheadinthe201220,criticsaccusedthecityofcheating,ofrote learning,ofexcludingdisadvantagedchildren,andofsubjectingpupilstoinhumanepressure,but theOECDresponded21,”OnlytwopercentofAmericanandthreepercentofEuropeanfifteenyear-oldsreachthehighestlevelofmathperformance,demonstratingthattheycan conceptualize,generalize,andusemathbasedontheirinvestigationsandapplytheirknowledge innovelcontexts.InShanghai,it’soverthirtypercent…We’vetested22 twelveChinese provincesandeveninsomeimpoverishedareasfoundperformanceclosetotheOECDworld average”.
By2015,evenpoorChinesechildrenwereoutperformingWesternyoungstersintaskslike managingbankaccounts,understandingfinancialrisksandresponsibilities,estimatingincome taxanddiscerningfraud,yettheyusedrote23 memorizationlessthanWesternchildren.Their dispositionimprovedwithsubjectmasteryand,whentheOECDasked24 iftheyfelthappyat school,eighty-sixpercentofchildrenagreed,25 asdidseventy-ninepercentoftheirAmerican cousins.
OneUSeducator26 observed,“Acoupleofdecadesago,Shanghai’sschoolsystemwasplagued bythesameproblemswe’refacing.Thereweresignificantdisparitiesbetweentheachievement levelsofnativechildrenandthechildrenofmigrantfamilies,andoveralleducationallevelswere low.Today,thebestinternationalmeasuresshowthatShanghaihasthehighestlevelsof educationalexcellenceandequityintheWorld,andtheirfifteen-year-oldsarethreegradelevels aheadofkidsinMassachusetts,ourhighestperformingstate”.AndShanghai’sschoolsrankonly fifthnationallyin gaokao results.
Shanghaitopsglobalstateschoolrankings,ChrisCook,FT,December82010. 19
ProgramforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA)Results.2012. “Amongthe34OECDcountries,theUnitedStates 20 performedbelowaverageinmathematicsin2012andisranked27th.Performanceinreadingandsciencearebothclosetothe OECDaverage".
ChinashinesinPISAexams 21
AretheChinesecheatinginPISA,orarewecheatingourselves?OECDEducationToday.December10,2013 22
LessonsfromPISAoutcomes.AndreasSchleicher,OECDObserverNo297Q42013 23
ReadytoLearn:Students’ Engagement,Drive,andSelf-Beliefs.Vol.IIOECD2013.Ch.1 24
25
Seventy-ninepercentofAmericanyoungstersagreed.
WendyKopp,founderofTeachforAmerica,tograduates.May1,2014 26
In2006,justnineChineseuniversities ranked amongtheWorld’stopfivehundred,andnone reachedthetoponehundred.Twelveyearslater,thereweresixty-twointhetopfivehundred, threeinthetopten,andone,Tsinghua, ranked firstininengineeringandcomputerscience.By 2020,forty-sixpercentofeighteen-year-oldswereatuniversity27 andethnicminorities,which compriseninepercentofthepopulation,occupiedninepercentofundergraduatepositions.
Thoughweeagerlycompareheritabletraitslikeheight,appearance,andathleticability,we rarelycompareintelligence,yetweboastthatAmerica’sAshkenaziJews,onepercentofthe population,havewonfortypercentofourNobelPrizes.Chinesewomenareunambivalent.For millennia,theyhaverefusedtomarryunintelligentmen,’drybranches’,andthusculledtheir DNAfromthegenepool.SoancientisthisprocessthatRonUnz28 foundChineseintelligence almostimmunetosocio-economicfactors.HealthySwissarefiftytimesricherandreceivetwice theschoolingofill-nourishedruralChinesechildrenwhohavecarriedaheavydiseaseburdenfor generations,yetChineseIQsareconsistentlyhigher,“ThereportedChinesePISAscoresarefar abovethoseoftheUnitedStatesandnearlyeveryEuropeancountry,manyofwhicharealmost totallyurbanizedandhaveincomestentimesthatofChina.Itisalmostunimaginablethatany non-EastAsianpopulationofruralvillagerswithannualincomesinthe$1,000rangewouldhave testedIQsverycloseto100[theUSmedian].WewouldcertainlyexpectChinesenumbersto risefurtherasthecountrycontinuestodevelop.Still,mypointisthatEastAsianIQsseemto possessauniquelyhighfloorcomparedwiththoseofanyotherpopulation”.
Whatdoesthatmeaninpractice?
SeventypercentofushaveIQsbetween85-115:wearesmartenoughtoleadhappy,productive lives.FivepercentofusIQsareabove125aresmartenoughformedicalschool,butonlyoneof usoutoftwohundred,withanIQof140,canhandleaPh.D.intheoreticalphysics.Andonein tenthousandhave160IQsandcandogroundbreakingworkinanydiscipline.
TheUS,withanaverageIQof100,hasthirty-sixthousandofthesesuper-geniuseswhileChina, withfourtimesmorepeopleandanationalIQof105,hasthreehundredthousand29.Anatoly Karlinpredicts30 thatacombinationoftheFlynneffect31,povertyeliminationandimprovedrural educationandnutritionwillliftthenationalIQaveragetoShanghai’s108,thusdoublingthepool ofsuper-geniuses.SincevirtuallyallChinesesuper-geniusesworkforthegovernment,itisnot surprisingthatHenryKissinger32 concluded,“TheChinesearesmarterthanus”.
27
ThefigureintheUSisforty-onepercent.
28 TheEastAsianExceptiontoSocio-EconomicIQInfluences.RonUnz.TheAmericanConservative,July18,2012
29 BecauseIQisdistributedlogarithmically,andChinahasfourtimesmorepeople.
30 ThroughAGlassCeilingDarkly:RacialIQDisparitiesandtheWealthofNationsANATOLYKARLIN • APRIL16,2012
31 TheFlynnEffectisthesubstantial,sustainedincreaseinintelligencetestscoresmeasuredacrosstheWorldinthe20thcentury: whenthenewtestsubjectstaketheoldertests,inalmosteverycase,theiraveragescoresaresignificantlyabovetheearliernorm of100.
32
Nixon'sChinaGame.PBS.January31,2000
***
EvenbetterthanIQforpredicting33 academicsuccessisworkingmemory34 andthereChinese childrenhaveanotheradvantage.BasicliteracyinChinesedemandsaworkingmemorycapable ofhandlingatleastthreethousandcharacters,andmasteryrequirestheuseofcontextual variablestoextracttheirmeaningfrommillionsofpossiblecombinations.Theimplicationsof becomeclearifwecompareouroldreadingprimer, FunwithDickandJane, withtheirs.The ThreeCharacterClassic teachesthethreethousandbasiccharactersalongwithConfucian history,filialpiety,publicmorality,and,ofcourse,theimportanceofstudy–andgrandparents35 stilldelighttohearthree-year-oldsreciteitfrommemory.
Idonotexpectyoutoreaditall,butrathertoobservetheculture’sapproachtoliteracyand moraleducation:
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“Children'sworkingmemoryskillsatfiveyearsofagewerethebestpredictorofreading,spelling,andmathoutcomessix 33 yearslater.Bycontrast,IQaccountedforasmallerportionofuniquevariancetoreadingandmathskillsandwasnotasignificant predictorofspellingperformance".InvestigatingthepredictiverolesofworkingmemoryandIQinacademicattainment. AllowayTP,AllowayRG.JExpChildPsychol.2010May;106(1):20-9.
AnalogoustocomputerRAM;workingmemoryisthepartofshort-termmemorydevotedtoimmediateconsciousperceptual 34 andlinguisticprocessing.
Google ‘BabyGeniusRecitesSanZiJing’ 35
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friendlinessonthepartofelderbrothers,respectfulnessonthepartofyoungerbrothers, o Ų ė Ẃ U w Çẁ precedencebetweeneldersandyoungsters,asbetweenfriendandfriend, Ϊ Ğ Ŷ Ẃ ₆Ğ ίẁ respectonthepartofthesovereign,loyaltyonthepartofthesubject.
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Thesetenobligationsarecommontoallmen.
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Intheeducationoftheyoung,thereshouldbeexplanationandelucidation, Įĕќ Ẃ q Æ ẁ carefulteachingoftheinterpretationsofcommentators,anddueattentiontoparagraphsand sentences.
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Hewhowrote”TheGreatLearning”wasthephilosopherTsêng.
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Whenthe”ClassicofFilialPiety”ismastered,andthe”FourBooks”areknownbyheart.
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Thenextstepisthe”SixClassics”,whichmaynowbestudied.
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The”BooksofPoetry”,of”History”,andof”Changes”,the”RitesoftheChouDynasty”,the ”BookofRites”,andthe”SpringandAutumnAnnals”, � b Ẃ vÿ•ẁ arecalledtheSixClassics,whichshouldbecarefullyexplainedandanalyzed.
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thearbitramentofspearandshieldsprevailed;andperipateticpoliticianswereheldinhigh esteem.
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theChoudynastyoftheYü-wenfamily,withtheCh’idynastyoftheKaofamily.
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Atlength,Ch’ungChêngdiedontheCoalHill.
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TheLiaoTartarsandtheChinTartarsalltooktheImperialtitle.
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TheYüans(Mongols)destroyedtheChinTartarsandputanendtotheHouseofSung.
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TheygovernedtheMiddleKingdom,andalsothewildtribesofthenorthandwest;
đ F Ẃ > јŕẁ afterninetyyearstheirmandatewasexhausted.
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ThenT’aiTsuarose,hisdynastybeingknownasTaMing.
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Hetookashisyear-titleHungWuandfixedhiscapitalatChin-ling(Nanking).
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Atlength,undertheemperorCh’êngTsu,amovewasmadetoSwallowCity(Peking).
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Therewereseventeenreignsinall,downtoandincludingCh’ungChêng.
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Theholdonthepeoplewasrelaxed,andrebelssprangupthickasforests.
�ķέ Ẃ Ø Ć ªẁ ThencameLiCh’uang,andtheImperialregaliaweredestroyed.
R ț Ẃ ô Ž ‹ẁ
ThefounderoftheCh’ingorPuredynastyrespondedtotheglorioussummons;
� ^ Ẃ (rẁ hetranquilizedthefourquarters(N,S,E,W),andachievedthefinalsettlementoftheempire.
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TheTwenty-twoDynasticHistoriesareallembracedintheabove.
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Theycontainexamplesofgoodandbadgovernment,whencemaybelearnttheprinciplesof prosperityanddecay.
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Dothisinthemorning;dothisintheevening.
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Ofold,ConfuciustookHasiangT’oforhisteacher.
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Theinspiredmenandsagesofoldstudieddiligentlynevertheless.
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Chao,PresidentoftheCouncil,studiedtheLutextofthe”LunYü”.
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He,whenalreadyanofficial,studied,andmoreoverwithdiligence.
θ ₫ Ū Ẃ ⁷η Ùẁ
Oneopenedoutrushesandplaitedthemtogether;anotherscrapedtabletsofbamboo.
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Thesemenhadnobooks,buttheyknewhowtomakeaneffort.
u κ�Ẃ ̌ĵ Ģẁ
Onetiedhisheadtothebeamabovehim;anotherprickedhisthighwithanawl.
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Theywerenottaught,buttoiledhardoftheirownaccord.
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Thenwehaveonewhoputfirefliesinabag,andagainanotherwhousedthewhiteglarefrom snow.
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Althoughtheirfamilieswerepoor,thesemenstudiedunceasingly.
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Again,therewasonewhocarriedfuel,andanotherwhousedhornsaspegs.
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Althoughtheytoiledwiththeirbodies,theywereneverthelessremarkablefortheirapplication.
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SuLao-ch’üan,attheageoftwenty-seven,
� B ů Ẃ ∆ νẁ atlastbegantoshowhisenergyanddevotehimselftothestudyofbooks.
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Then,whenalreadypasttheage,hedeeplyregrettedhisdelay.
76 Ẃ Ŋ Ö �ẁ
Youlittleboysshouldtakethoughtbetimes.
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ThentherewasLiangHao,whoattheageofeighty-two,
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madehisrepliesinthegreathallandcameoutfirstamongmanyscholars.
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Whenthuslatehehadsucceeded,allmenpronouncedhimaprodigy.
76 Ẃ Ŋ þẁ
Youlittleboysshouldmakeupyourmindstowork.
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Jungateightyearsofage,couldcomposepoetry.
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Pi,atsevenyearsofage,couldmakeanepigramon”wei-ch’i”.
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Theseyouthswerequickofapprehension,andpeopledeclaredthemtobeprodigies.
Ų P Ẃ v„ Vẁ
Youyounglearnersoughttoimitatethem.
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Ts’aiWên-chiwasabletojudgefromthesoundofapsaltery.
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HsiehTao-yünwasabletocomposeverses.
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Youboysoughttorouseyourselves.
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LiuYenoftheT’angdynasty,whenonlysevenyearsofage,
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wasrankedasan”inspiredchild”andwasappointedaCorrectorofTexts.
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He,althoughachild,wasalreadyinanofficialpost.
Ų P Ẃ ό W Āẁ
Youyounglearnersstrivetobringaboutalikeresult.
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Thosewhoworkwillalsosucceedashedid.
σ Ń � Ẃ Ą È ľẁ
Thedogkeepsguardbynight;thecockproclaimsthedawn.
ff P Ẃ ґ-$ẁ
Iffoolishlyyoudonotstudy,howcanyoubecomemen?
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Thesilkwormproducessilk,thebeemakeshoney.
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Ifmandoesnotlearn,heisnotequaltothebrutes.
Ų W P Ẃ Ż W cẁ
Learnwhileyoung,andwhengrownupapplywhatyouhavelearnt;
' Ā Ϊ Ẃ /ŷẁ influencingthesovereignabove;benefitingthepeoplebelow.
Ź q � Ẃ Ĺ ẁ Makeanameforyourselves,andglorifyyourfatherandmother, ñ i n Ẃ ₹ i Hẁ shedlustreonyourancestors,enrichyourposterity.
$ĺ; Ẃ ß � єẁ Menbequeathtotheirchildrencoffersofgold; ¿; Ẃ ⁴ bẁ ButIteachyouchildrenonlythisbook.
Ơ # Ã Ẃ M Ŝẁ Diligencehasitsreward;playhasnoadvantages, ť V ₅Ẃ Ŋ ό`ẁ Oh,beonyourguardandputforthallyourstrength.
3.Leadership
Theartofgovernanceliesinattractingmenofmoralintegrity,thekindwhoareonlydrawnto rulerswhodemonstratemoralintegrityintheirownlives.Andhowdorulersdemonstratemoral integrity? Bydoingtheirdutyandpracticingcompassion. Confucius.The DoctrineoftheMean
AshasbeenthecasesincethebirthofChrist,Chinaisgovernedbya Confucian justhierarchy thatisdesigned toweedoutsociopathsandrecruitable,compassionatepeoplewillingto sacrificetheirlivesinservicetothepeople.
Soitisnotsurprisingthat,insteadofviewingtheStateasintrusive,untrustworthy,and threatening,theChineseseethemselvesbelongingtoafamily-stateandviewtheirpoliticiansas familypatriarchs. Undersuchleadership,they value collectiveoverindividualwellbeing,the futureoverthepresent,pragmatismaboveideology,andoutcomesoverpromises–a valuesystem thatprovidessocialcohesionandhasmadeChinatherichest,strongestnationonearthformost ofitsexistence.
Today,inplaceoftheEmperor,morallyoutstandingpeopleguidethenation’sdestiny:the ninety-threemillionCommunistPartymemberswhose codeofconductresemblesRotary International’s:service,integrity,worldunderstanding,goodwill,andpeace.They havesworn36 “Tobearthepeople’shardshipsfirstandenjoytheircomfortslast,” despitethefactthat membershipinthePartyis nomoreprofitable37 thaninRotaryInternational’s,andadmissionis morerestrictive.
Duringthethree-yearapplicationprocess,candidatesexplaintheirmotivesforapplying;attend weeklyclassesinPartyhistoryandideology;volunteerforlocalchores;listtheirshortcomings; detailtheirfamilies’personal,financial,andpoliticalinformation;earnrecommendationsfrom twoPartymembers;andsupplycharacterreferencesfromtwonon-relativeswhoguaranteetheir moralintegrityforlife
From AdvicetoOfficials,byaneleventh-centurychancellor,FanZhongyan,afamousaltruist.
36 EconomicReturnstoCommunistPartyMembership:EvidencefromUrbanChineseTwins.HongbinLi,PakWai,LiuJunsen, 37 ZhangNingMa.TheEconomicJournal.Vol.117.
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Most universitygraduates apply,butonly one-tenth gainadmission. “Iwasveryexcited,”said AllenLin38,atwenty-three-year-oldcollegeseniorwhocreditshisadmissiontohishighgrades, servicetostudentgovernment,andassistancetoclassmates,“JoiningthePartyisnoteasy–ofthe fortystudentsinmyclass,onlyfivewereadmitted”. “Ittookmetwoyears,”saidanother graduate,“Therewereseventy-eightpeopleandmypartybranchonlyrecruitedthree.Iwanted tojoinbecauseitisreallyrare,asmallgroupofpeople,andbecauseIhaveadeepfaithinthe Party”. YetthePeople’sDailyregularlylaments39 theshortageofyouthfulaltruistsandquoted onedisillusionedapplicant,“Manystudentmembershavelittlerigorandonlyaveryshallow understandingofPartydiscipline.IwastaughtwhenIwasyoungthatthePartyrepresentsjustice andthatcadresaremorededicatedintheirjobs,butIfoundthatstudentsjoinbecausetheywant toworkforastate-ownedcompanyorbecomeanofficial”.
Fortypercentarewomen,one-thirdare‘exemplaryfarmers,herdsmen,andfishermen,’one quarteriswhite-collarworkers,one-sixthretirees,one-eighthcivilservants,one-tenthareethnic minorities40 . Betweenthem,memberscontributeabilliondollarsinannualduesandbillionsof volunteerhours,usuallyconductingsurveysonrainySundayafternoons. Theydeclaretheir membershiponjobapplicationsbecauseprivatefirmsappreciatetheParty’sthoroughvetting. Thoughone-tenthwillbecomeofficials,professors,generals,CEOs,orcelebrities, most will simply mobilizesupportfornewpoliciesorvolunteerinemergencies.
Theirabilitytomobilizeisimpressive.In2000,China’sapplicationtojointhe WorldTrade Organizationtriggeredpublicdemonstrationssincemembershipwoulddisadvantage agriculture41,underminecherishedindustrialpolicies42,anddestroyelevenmillionjobs.
Forthefirsttime,thePartyinvitedexemplarycapitaliststojoin43 itsranksandtaughtthemthe FiveUnifiers:unifiedunderstandingsothateveryoneknowswhyChinaneedstheWTO;unified policysothateveryoneunderstandsthelocalproblemsWTOmembershipcause;unified planningtocoordinatedifferentinterestsinapplyingWTOprovisionsnationally;unified directionsothatleaderstakedirectionfromthenextunitabove;unifiedactionsothat,once consensusisreached,everyoneateverylevelsimultaneouslyappliestheirenergytosolving WTO-relatedproblems.Thecapitalistscommittedtohiringdisplacedworkers,whichswayed popularopinion,andChinajoinedtheWTO.
ThePartyisequallyimpressiveinlocalemergencies.Onenightin2010,aShanghaihigh-rise firekilledfifty-eightpeople.Beforedawn,membershadcoordinatedtwenty-fivefirestations,a
MembershipintheCommunistPartyofChina:WhoisBeingAdmittedandHow?|JSTORDaily.By:R.W.McMorrow 38 December19,2015
39
40
ChinesestudentsflocktojointheCommunistParty.TheTelegraph.MalcolmMoore,August9,2013.
EthnicminoritiesmakeupatwelfthofChina’spopulation.
42
41 Policiesthatadvancedcountriesthemselvesusedduringtheirdevelopmentphases.
43
WTOrulesprohibitthemfromsubsidizingdomesticfoodproduction,evenforlocalconsumption.
Therearecurrentlythirty-onebillionairesintheNPC,whoseaveragewealthis$3.35billion.
hundredfiretrucks,andathousandfirefightersalongwithpolice,hospitals,finance,insurance, housing,donations,counseling,criminalinvestigators,andschools.Forty-eighthourslater,stateownedinsurerscompensatedfamiliesforlostpropertyandwrote$250,000checksforeach death.Tendayslater,ShanghaimayorHanZhengconfessed,“Ourpoorsupervisionofthe constructionindustrycausedthefire”.Heimplementednewbuildingcodes,firedordemoted thirtyofficials,andindictedtwenty-two,mostofwhomwenttoprison,twoforsixteenyears. ThecontrastwithLondon’s GrenfellTowerfireisstark44
TheParty’sprincipleresponsibility,however,isthenation’sfuture.Its2015report45,abbreviated here,revealsprioritiesrarelydiscussedintheWest[emphasisadded]:
1. SustainabilityLedbyScienceandTechnology:theoverridingmissionofearly-stage socialismisliberatinganddevelopingtheforcesofproduction.Socialismrequiresa minimalfoundationofmaterialandtechnologicaldevelopment,soscienceand technology'sdeterminingeffectneedstobefullyunderstood.Weshouldrecognizethe strategicimportanceofscienceandtechnologyinallocatingscarceresources.
Thefirstresponderstothe2020CoronavirusepidemicfromoutsideWuhanwere48,000Partyvolunteers–mostlyhealth 44 specialists.
BulletinofaconferenceonChina’seconomyfromtheCommunistPartyCentralCommittee,December2015.Quotedin A 45 TheoryofChina’sMiracle byChengEnfuandDingXiaoqin.
2. OrientingProductiontoImprovingOrdinaryPeople’sLivelihood:the principalcontradictioninsocialismatitsearlieststageisbetweenpeople’sincreasing materialandculturalneedsandthebackwardnessofsocialproduction.Thiscanonlybe overcomebythespeedy,steadydevelopmentofproductivecapacities–socialism's primarytaskinitsinitialphases.Improvingpeople’slivelihoodsisanendlesstask,and newchallengescontinuouslyemerge…Weshouldrealisticallyassesstheeffectsofour actionsonlivingstandardsandensurethatpublicservicescreateareliablesocialsafety net.Ourobjectivemustbeasocietyinwhichallpeoplecontributetothesatisfactionof humanneedstotheextenttheyareablewhileenjoyingaccesstothematerial,social,and spiritualresourcestheyneedforthefulldevelopmentoftheirhumanpotentialinaccord withtheneedsofsustainability46 .
3. PublicOwnershipTakesPrecedenceinNationalPropertyRights:The institutionalguaranteeforallChinesepeopleisthattheywillsharethefruitsof development…Thisprinciplehighlightsafundamentaldifferencebetweenthesocialist economyandthemoderncapitalisteconomicsystem,inwhichprivateownershipis dominant.Weshouldlearnfrompasterrorsofstate-sectorreformthatallowedanarrow elitetoamasshugefortunesbymisdirectingfunds.Thecollectiveandcooperativemodel ofChinesevillageeconomiesneedsfurtherinvestment.Newpoliciesmustbeintroduced toenhancethevitality,competitiveness,andriskmanagementofthepubliceconomy47 .
4. ThePrimacyofLaborintheDistributionofWealth.Inanycapitalist economy,wagelaborersarepaidonlyfortheirlaborpowerexpenditure–notforthevalue ofthecommoditiestheyproduce.Undertheseconditions,thespecificwageaworker earnsisassociatedwiththeirpositionandperformance…Thedistributionofwealthin ourChinesesocialisteconomymustbeguidedbytheneedsoflabor,notcapital.Wemust striveagainstexploitationandpolarization,bridgetheincomegap,andincreaseincome forallcitizenscoincidentwitheconomicgrowthandlaborproductivity.Itisvitalto establishasound,scientificmechanismfordeterminingwagelevelsandameansfor regularwageincreases48 .
5. MarketPrinciplesSteeredbytheState.Theanarchiccharacterofthe capitalistmarketcombinedwithindividualcapitalists’drivetoinnovatetoreducelabor costsleadstoperiodiccrisesofoverproductioninwhichworkerssuffermost…The government’sresponsibilityiskeepingmacroeconomicpolicysteady,strengthening publicservices,guaranteeingfaircompetition,reinforcingmarketsupervision,promoting collectiveprosperity,andrectifying–orcompensatingfor–marketfailures.
6. SpeedyDevelopmentwithHighPerformance:Alowgrowthratewith insufficientresourceuseinhibitsfullemployment,wealthaccumulation,andpublic welfare.Ahighergrowthratewithextensiveratherthanintensiveresourceutilizationis equallydetrimentaltoecologicalsustainabilityanddistributivejustice.Weneeda
Everyonenowhasahome,anincome,plentyoffoodandclothes,education,safestreets,healthinsurance,andold-agecare.
47 Inequalityhasfalleneachyear.PublicownershipisthehighestintheWorld.
48 Realwagescontinuetodoubleeverydecade.
46
dialecticalanalysis49 ofindicesbasedonthegrossdomesticproduct,GDP.
7. BalancedDevelopmentwithStructuralCoordination:Wemustabandonthe persistentmisconceptionthat,ifweeliminateeconomicsurpluscausedbyadministrative intervention,excessproductioncapacity,andproductsurplusformedbymarketization canbebalancedautomaticallywithoutgovernmentintervention.Thisneoliberalfallacy anditsconsequencesexplainthelargestructuralexcesscapacityintheeconomyandgo againstthespiritofChinesesocialism.
8. EconomicSovereigntyandOpenness:Afinalprincipleistoopenthe economytotradeandinvestmentbecauseitisbeneficialtoeconomicgrowthathomeand abroad,optimizingtheallocationofresourcesandimprovinginteractionsbetween industryandtechnology.However,developingcountriesshoulddevoteparticularcareto theirstrategiesandtacticswhenopeninguptodevelopedcountries,giventherisksand uncertaintiesinherentinsuchanunequalrelationship.
Criticsmaycarpaboutitspervasivepresence,butthePartykeepsitspromises.By2021,the centennialofitsfounding,everyoneinChina’slowestincomebracketwillownahomeandhave aguaranteedincome,plentyoffoodandclothes,safestreets,healthinsurance,apensionandold agecareer.Theirchildrenwillgraduatehighschoolthreeyearsaheadofoursandlivelonger healthierlives.
Inadditiontothe moraluprightnessrequiredforPartymembership,officials mustdemonstrate extraordinaryintelligence,competence,andself-discipline.Theyearntheirpositionsina relentlesscompetitionthatbeginsinprimaryschoolandendswhen–outofeightmillionannual universitygraduates–thebrightestapplyforthecivilservice.Thetopthirtythousandscorers spendweeksininterviewstodemonstratetheircapacitytolearnandsolveproblemsusinglogic, intuition,creativity,experience,andwisdom.Thetwenty-seventhousandwhosucceed(most withIQsabove140)willearn theirfirstpromotions aftertheyhavelivedinpoverty-stricken villagesandraisedlocalincomesbyfiftypercent
byHengXiao50
Myadventurebeganwithaphonecalllateonesummernight.Itwasmyboss,thedeputy directorofthestate-fundedInstituteofInternationalStudies.Hehadsomeunexpected
Dialecticalanalysesprobethesignificanceandlimitationsofideasandvalues.Ifadialecticalanalysisissound,conclusions 49 willbe,too.
50 TheGobiDiaries,Part1,byHengXiao.http://www.sixthtone.com/news/623/gobi-diaries-1-why-communist-party-sent-medesert
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WhytheCommunistPartySentMetotheDesert
news.ThepersonneldepartmentofourAcademyhadselectedmeasacandidateforits GrassrootsServiceProgram(GSP)inoneofChina’smostunderdevelopedprovinces, locatedsome1,500milesfromwhereIwaslivinginBeijing.Beforehangingup,he gravelyinformedmethatallofmypeershadrefusedtojointheprogram–leavingme withlittlechoicebuttoaccepttheoffer.Whatfollowedwasanincrediblydifficult decisionforme.Asasophomoreresearcher,Ihadspentthepastyeardoingstaffwork insteadofacademicresearch,andIfearedImighthavefallenbehindmycolleagues. Afterconsultingmywife,weagreedthatmyboss'scallwastoinformmeofmy participationintheprogram,nottoaskmyopiniononthematter.Ireluctantlycalled backandacceptedhisoffer.Inhindsight,mostofus–the17researcherswhoaccepted GSPposts–wishedwehadneverreceivedthatcall.
TheGSP’sChinesenameis guazhi. Guazhi means“tohangyourposition,”inthe wayonehangsacoat,anditisacommonphraseamongChina’sstate-sponsoredentities, includingresearchinstitutesliketheoneIwaspartof.Itinvolvestemporarilymovingto anewpositionforatleastayear,whileyouroldjobisguaranteeduponyourreturn.At thetime,itwascommonpracticeforyoungChinaCommunistParty(CCP)membersto takeonthisresponsibilityatsomepoint.Thistemporaryjobsometimeshasnorelationat alltothecadre’spreviousfieldofwork.Forexample,itwouldnotbeunusualfora researcheronUSforeignpolicytobeaskedtomanageruraldevelopmentintheGobi Desert.The guazhi programisbasedonthetraditionalChinesebeliefthatdifferent experiencesleadtorealknowledgeandmakeamancompetent.Initsmostradicalform duringtheCulturalRevolution,thistraditionalbeliefwasmanifestedasthe”Uptothe MountainsandDowntotheCountryside”movement.DuringtheCulturalRevolution, universitiesandcollegesinChinawereclosed,andurbanyouthweresenttopoor,remote ruralareasto,inthewordsofMaoZedong,”learnfromordinarypeople”.Althoughfar removedfromthemodern-dayGSP,theintentionissimilar:namely,anotionthatthe mostthorougheducationcomesfromdiversifiedexperiences…
Localofficialswerewaitingforusattheairportwhenwelandedatour destinationonDecember1.Afterashortrestandadinnerfullofanimatedspeeches,we–the17exhaustedresearchers–weredispatchedtoournewhomesbytownofficials.Upon gettinginthecar,IwastoldthatIwouldbeworkingalmost13milesfromtheurbanarea. Duringourdrivealongtheruggedcountryroad,Ihadagoodtalkwithoneofmyfuture colleagues,thetown’sPartycommittee'svice-secretary.Atonepoint,heaskedmea strangequestion,“Secretary,wherewillyouliveinthecity?Willthemunicipal governmentrentyouanapartment?”Itseemedthatmyfuturecolleaguesdidnoteven knowIwasrequiredtolivewhereIworked.Ibegantorealizethattherewouldbeno bedroom,nobathroom,andnonicefurniturewaitingforme.Itwasimmediatelyapparent uponarrivingatthetownhallthatIhadbeenrightinmypremonitions,whichdidnot makemehappyatall.Therewasnobreakfastordinnerprovided,andIwasn’tallowedto cookintheoffice.Therewasnohotwaterandnoheatingatnight,despitetemperatures ofminus20degreesCelsius.IlaterreflectedthattheoutdoortoiletIhadnoticedupon enteringwastheleastofmyworriescomparedwiththeotherproblems.Ontheplusside, myofficewasbright”.
AsHengXiao rises–fromsectionchief,deputydivisionchief,divisionchief,deputydirectorand directorofgeneraloffice,vice-minister,minister,deputy-stateleadertostateleader–his demonstrationoftheConfucianvirtues–compassion,righteousness,propriety,wisdom,and fidelity–willbeincreasinglyscrutinized. ZhaoBingBing51,a mid-levelofficialin Liaoning ProvinceexplainedtheprocesstoDanielBell:
Iwaspromotedin2004throughmydepartment’sinternalcompetition(30percenton writtenexamresults,30percentoninterviewsandpublicspeaking,30percentonpublic opinionofmywork,and10percentoneducation,seniority,andmycurrentposition)and becametheyoungestdeputydivisionchief.In2009,LiaoningProvince (pop.44million) announcedanopenselectionofofficialsinthenationalmedia.Sixtycandidatesmetthe qualifications,thetopfiveofwhomwereinvitedforfurtherinterviews.Basedontheir testscores(40percent)andinterviewresults(60percent),thetopthreewerethen appraised.TheLiaoningProvinceorganizationaldepartmentsentfourappraiserswho spentawholedaycheckingmypreviousrecords.Eightyofmycolleagueswereaskedto vote–morethanthirtyofwhomwereaskedtotalkwiththeappraisersaboutmymerits andshortcomings–andtheysubmittedtheappraisalresulttotheprovincialStanding CommitteeoftheCCPforreview.
Inprinciple,thepersonwhoscoredthehighestandwhoseappraisalswerenot problematicwouldbepromoted.However,becausemyuniversitymajor,work experience,andpreviousperformancewerethebestfitfortheposition,Iwasfinally appointeddepartmentchiefoftheLiaoningProvincialForeignAffairsOfficeeven thoughmyoverallscorewassecond-best[thegovernmentdiscriminatespositivelyin promotingwomen–ed].Beforetheofficialappointment,therewasaseven-daypublic noticeperiodduringwhichanybodycouldreporttotheorganizationdepartmentconcerns aboutmypromotion.Ididn’tspendanymoneyduringmythreepromotions;allIdidwas studyandworkhardanddomybesttobeagoodperson.
In2013,thankstoanexchangeprogram,IworkedtemporarilyintheCCP InternationalDepartment.Thetemporaryexchangesystemoffersopportunitiestolearn aboutdifferentissuesindifferentregionsandareaslikegovernmentandSOEs.Ina famousquote,ChairmanMaosaid,“Oncethepoliticallineshavebeenclearlydefined, thedecisivefactorwillbethecadres[trainedspecialists]”.So,theCCPhighlyvalues organizationalconstructionandtheselectionandappointmentofspecialists.Thereisa specialdepartmentmanagingthiswork,TheOrganizationDepartment,establishedin 1924,andMaowasitsfirstleader.Thedepartmentismainlyresponsibleforthemacromanagementoftheleadersandthestaff(teambuilding),includingthemanagement system,regulationsandlaws,humanresourcesystemreforms—planning,research,and direction,aswellasproposingsuggestionsontheleadershipchangeandthe (re)appointmentofcadres.Also,ithastheresponsibilityoftrainingandsupervising
51
DanielBellandZhaoBingBing, TheChinaModel
cadres.Thecadreselectioncriteriaare:apersonmusthave‘bothabilityandmoral integrityandthelattershouldbeprioritized’.Theevaluationofmoralintegrityfocuses mostlyonloyaltytotheParty,servicetothepeople,self-discipline,andintegrity.Based ondifferentlevelsandpositions,theemphasesofevaluationarealsodifferent.For intermediateandseniorofficials,thefocusisontheirpersistenceinfaithandideals, politicalstance,andcoordinationwiththecentralParty.High-levelcadresaremeasured againstgreatpoliticians,and,amongthem,experienceinmultiplepositionsisvery important.
Thoughtheirperquisites–overseaseducationforoffspringwhoflunkthe gaokao–improveas theyrise,salariesareniggardly:thePresident’ssalaryissixty-sixthousanddollars52 Thetrack recordsofthetoponethousandpoliticians,availableonline,areimpressive.Mostbegan their careersinthelatesixtiesasmanuallaborers indirt-poorvillages.After doublingtheincomesof thosetheyserved,theywerepromotedtorunhugeprovinces;Fortune500 53,Universitiesand spaceprograms. Theyspentsabbaticalsonthe leafy,lake-studdedcampusof TheAcademyof Governance, earned PhDs,mettheWorld’sleadingthinkers,critiquedseniorofficials'policies, andstudiedatHarvard,Stanford,Oxford,Cambridge,ortheUniversityofTokyo.
ChinaishometomoreFortune500companiesthananycountry.Mostarestate-owned.
Afterdeductingincometax,socialinsurance,occupationalpension,andhousingprovidentfund,enoughtopurchaseahome 52 andacarandsupportafamilyoffive. 53
4.WhatNext?
Chinaisjustgettingstarted.Itsgoalsfor2021(endingpoverty),2030(endingill-health),2035 (endinginequality)and2049(leadingtheworldtowardsacommondestinyforallmankind)are ambitious.
Ifyouwantknowmore, WhyChinaLeadstheWorld,fromwhichthesechaptersareexcerpted.
Andifyouwanttofollowthestoryasitunfolds,subscribeto HereComesChina!,theweekly newsletter.
