China in Ten Words

China in Ten Words is a collection of essays by Chinese novelist Yu Hua. Originally published in French in 2010, the book was translated into Chinese and published in Taiwan in 2011; it was also translated into English by Allan H. Barr and published in the United States the same year. As a celebrated contemporary Chinese author, Yu Hua draws upon his personal experiences and observations to offer a unique perspective on modern China’s complex realities. The book, which belongs to the genre of cultural and social commentary, explores 10 Chinese words and phrases which encapsulate the nation’s recent history and societal changes. Each chapter focuses on a specific word, such as “people,” “leader,” “revolution,” and “disparity,” providing (sometimes satirical) analysis of China’s political, economic, and cultural landscape. Through these 10 words, Yu Hua paints a portrait of a country grappling with the contradictions and challenges of rapid modernization and globalization.

This study guide refers to the 2011 Knopf Doubleday e-book English language edition translated by Allan H. Barr.

Content Warning: This book contains descriptions of violence, including executions and suicides.

Summary

In the introduction, Yu Hua reflects on his experiences as a young dentist in China during the late 1970s, using them as a starting point to explore the rapid changes and underlying issues in modern Chinese society. He recounts how he administered vaccinations with reusable needles which caused pain and bleeding, and he expresses remorse for not realizing sooner the suffering that the needles caused others. This realization shaped his perspective as a writer, leading him to believe that understanding the pain of others is essential to comprehending life and the act of writing. Yu Hua emphasizes that his own pain is inextricably linked to the pain of China, and he aims to trace the country’s current problems back to their roots, even if doing so causes discomfort. Drawing on Confucian teachings, he suggests that adversity can strengthen individuals and nations, while ease and comfort may lead to decline. Through the lens of 10 carefully chosen words, Yu Hua seeks to distill the complexities and contradictions of contemporary China into a concise narrative which combines observation, analysis, and personal anecdotes, ultimately aiming to provide clarity and understanding amidst the country’s rapid transformation.

In the first essay, Yu Hua explores the complex meaning and evolution of the term “the people” in modern Chinese history, interweaving personal anecdotes, historical analysis, and reflections on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. He traces the shifting significance of this ubiquitous yet often invisible phrase, from its close association with Mao during the Cultural Revolution to its fragmentation and dilution in the post-Tiananmen era of rapid economic growth. Yu Hua identifies the 1989 protests as a watershed moment, marking the exhaustion of accumulated political passions and the swift replacement of the desire for change with a passion for getting rich. He describes the exhilarating sense of unity and shared purpose that prevailed among the people during the protests, contrasting it with the erasure of the events from official media and public memory in the aftermath. Despite this enforced forgetting, Yu Hua asserts that the true meaning of “the people” was seared into his consciousness during a pivotal moment in late May 1989, when he encountered an awe-inspiring gathering of unarmed citizens standing firm in their conviction to block soldiers and tanks with their bodies alone.

In the second essay, Yu Hua reflects on the legacy and enduring influence of Mao Zedong. He shares anecdotes about his own childhood during the Cultural Revolution along with social and political commentary. Yu Hua paints a picture of Mao’s godlike status and ubiquitous presence in Chinese life, from his omnipresent images and quotations to the fervent reverence bordering on religious worship with which he was widely regarded. Yu Hua argues that while Mao’s legacy within China remains complex and contested, particularly in light of the dramatic transformations of the post-Mao era, his international stature as a third world revolutionary icon seems largely undiminished. Moreover, he suggests that a resurgence of nostalgia for Mao’s leadership both within and beyond China reflects a deeper global yearning for radical change and resistance to perceived oppression in an age of crisis.

In the third essay, Yu Hua recounts his early experiences with reading during the Cultural Revolution, a time when books were scarce and heavily censored. He divides his reading journey into four phases: The first involves reading the few remaining books in the town library; the second revolves around secretly sharing incomplete copies of prohibited works by foreign and Chinese authors; the third focuses on reading scandalous and sexually explicit big-character posters, as well as discovering a book on human anatomy; and the fourth begins after the Cultural Revolution, when previously banned books become widely available. Throughout his account, Yu Hua reflects on the profound impact that reading has had on his life, from the creative ways he and his friends sought access to literature to the emotional connections he feels with great works across time and cultures. He also shares a childhood memory of finding solace in a hospital morgue, which he later connects to a line from a Heinrich Heine poem.

In the fourth essay, Yu Hua reflects on his journey from dentistry to writing. He recounts his early attempts at writing, from the big-character posters he created as a child to his first play as a teenager, and the challenges and risks associated with writing during this period. Yu Hua describes his dissatisfaction with his career as a dentist and his determination to secure a position at the local cultural center, which led him to dedicate himself to writing short stories. A turning point came when he was invited to Beijing to revise a story for publication, an experience that ultimately allowed him to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional writer. In response to a question about the prevalence of violence in his early stories, Yu Hua offers a personal reflection on how the traumatic experiences of his childhood–particularly the public executions he witnessed–shaped his worldview and found expression in his writing. He recounts a pivotal nightmare which forced him to confront the psychological toll of his fixation on violence, leading him to change his writing style.

In the fifth essay, Yu Hua reflects on the changing perception and influence of the writer Lu Xun in China, drawing parallels to his own experiences and the way Henrik Ibsen is viewed in Norway. He recounts how Lu Xun’s works were used as political tools during the Cultural Revolution, with the phrase “Mr. Lu Xun says” becoming a catchphrase representing eternal correctness (99). As a student, Yu Hua found Lu Xun’s writings incomprehensible but recognized the power of invoking his name to win arguments. After the Cultural Revolution, Lu Xun’s reputation shifted: Some honored his legacy while others criticized his personal life and exploited his commercial value. Yu Hua’s own perception of Lu Xun evolved from initial dislike to newfound appreciation upon re-reading his works in 1996. He emphasizes the importance of encountering an author at the right moment in one’s life and approaching literature with an open and critical mind.

In the sixth essay, Yu Hua explores the concept of revolution and its impact on modern Chinese society. Drawing on a wide range of historical events, personal anecdotes, and contemporary examples, Yu Hua argues that the revolutionary spirit has persisted in various forms throughout China’s recent history, from the turbulent years of the Cultural Revolution to the country’s stunning economic transformation. He argues that a lack of political transparency has fueled rapid economic growth. At the same time, he emphasizes the human costs and unintended consequences of this approach.

In the seventh essay, Yu Hua examines the profound transformations that swept through China over the past few decades, focusing on the central theme of disparity. Through a series of anecdotes and observations, he contrasts the repressive, materially-deprived era of the Cultural Revolution with the economic dynamism and social inequalities of contemporary China. Yu Hua illustrates the stark disparities that emerged in the wake of China’s rapid development, juxtaposing the opulent lifestyles of the wealthy with the abject poverty and desperation of those left behind. He highlights the indifference of some segments of society towards this inequality, as well as the discrepancy between China’s status as an economic powerhouse and its relatively low per capita income.

In the eighth essay, Yu Hua explores the concept of “grassroots” in China, tracing its evolution through personal anecdotes and historical events. He highlights how individuals from humble backgrounds, such as “blood chiefs” and “grassroots kings,” have seized opportunities to amass wealth and power in China’s rapidly changing society. Yu Hua argues that this fearless entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force behind China’s economic miracle, but he also notes the precarious nature of such success: Many grassroots tycoons face dramatic downfalls due to criminal activities. Yu Hua also delves into the period of the Cultural Revolution, illustrating how political labels and fortunes could change overnight. Yu Hua ultimately concludes that both the Cultural Revolution and the economic reforms have provided unprecedented opportunities to seek redistribution of political and economic power, shaping the lives and aspirations of countless individuals at the bottom of society.

In the ninth essay, Yu Hua comments on “copycatting” in contemporary China, arguing that it has become a pervasive phenomenon which reflects the country’s complex and often contradictory development. He traces the origins and evolving meanings of the term, providing examples of its manifestations in various aspects of Chinese life, from consumer products and entertainment to politics and social interactions. Yu Hua attributes the rise of copycatting to China’s uneven progress since the 1980s, when rapid economic reforms coexisted with stagnant political change, leading to a society characterized by both conservatism and anarchism. He draws parallels between the current copycat trend and the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, noting that both represent a form of rebellion by the weak against the strong. He also discusses the emergence of a “copycat aristocracy” among China’s newly wealthy, as well as his personal experience as a “copycat dentist” in his youth. He presents copycatting as a multifaceted phenomenon which reflects both the progress and regression of Chinese society, challenging authority and monopoly while also blurring the lines between the authentic and the counterfeit.

In the 10th and final essay, Yu Hua explores the concept of “bamboozling” or “huyou,” tracing its evolution from a term describing physical unsteadiness to a pervasive cultural phenomenon encompassing a wide range of deceptive practices in contemporary Chinese society. Yu Hua illustrates how individuals, businesses, and even government entities engage in bragging, exaggeration, and outright fraud for personal gain, often with little regard for the consequences. He recounts the story of how comedian Zhao Benshan popularized the term through a skit about a crutch seller deceiving a healthy person, and he shares personal stories of his father “bamboozling” his mother into moving to a small town and his own childhood attempt to deceive his father, which resulted in an unnecessary appendectomy. Yu Hua also highlights instances of bamboozling in various aspects of society, such as false news stories, literary hype, entrepreneurial manipulation, and bureaucratic loopholes, arguing that the widespread acceptance of such practices points to a breakdown of social morality and principles. He warns that the normalization of bamboozling can harm individuals and society as a whole, since the bamboozler often falls victim to their own deceptions. He urges readers to reflect on the importance of honesty and integrity in the face of a culture that increasingly embraces deception as a way of life.