Comments on: Wild Swans and Chinese Seamstresses http://www.pekingduck.org/2003/07/wild-swans-and-chinese-seamstresses/ A peculiar hybrid of personal journal, dilettantish punditry, pseudo-philosophy and much more, from an Accidental Expat who has made his way from Hong Kong to Beijing to Taipei and finally back to Beijing for reasons that are still not entirely clear to him... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:21:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: richard http://www.pekingduck.org/2003/07/wild-swans-and-chinese-seamstresses/#comment-393 richard Wed, 23 Jul 2003 13:44:47 +0000 http://localhost/tpd/?p=328#comment-393 Interesting questions, Todd. Chinese Seamstress and Grass Soup were written in Chinese and translated into English -- and I can almost guarantee you they are not available in the PRC. Wild Swans was written in English and not sure if was translated. but it too would be banned in China without question. It portrays Mao as a frigging lunatic. Interesting questions, Todd. Chinese Seamstress and Grass Soup were written in Chinese and translated into English — and I can almost guarantee you they are not available in the PRC. Wild Swans was written in English and not sure if was translated. but it too would be banned in China without question. It portrays Mao as a frigging lunatic.

]]> By: Todd http://www.pekingduck.org/2003/07/wild-swans-and-chinese-seamstresses/#comment-392 Todd Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:42:25 +0000 http://localhost/tpd/?p=328#comment-392 Does anybody know if any of those books have been translated into Chinese (and published in China)? I've listened to one Chinese university student tell me in detail how the Gang of Four perpetrated the Cultural Revolution in Mao's name, but without his consent. I agree that it's a scary phenomenon, but I don't think it's odd. People are taught this story (aka history) at school, and of course they believe it - that is the power of propaganda, and it has been demonstrated before (Nazi Germany, for example). Does anybody know if any of those books have been translated into Chinese (and published in China)?

I’ve listened to one Chinese university student tell me in detail how the Gang of Four perpetrated the Cultural Revolution in Mao’s name, but without his consent. I agree that it’s a scary phenomenon, but I don’t think it’s odd. People are taught this story (aka history) at school, and of course they believe it - that is the power of propaganda, and it has been demonstrated before (Nazi Germany, for example).

]]> By: richard http://www.pekingduck.org/2003/07/wild-swans-and-chinese-seamstresses/#comment-391 richard Sat, 19 Jul 2003 01:53:30 +0000 http://localhost/tpd/?p=328#comment-391 The truly scary thing is that everybody there acknowledges the sickness of the Cultural Revolution and the rut China has been in from 1958 until 1976, and STILL they seem to compartmentalize Mao out of that picture, seeing him only as the great liberator. A very odd psychological phenomenon. The truly scary thing is that everybody there acknowledges the sickness of the Cultural Revolution and the rut China has been in from 1958 until 1976, and STILL they seem to compartmentalize Mao out of that picture, seeing him only as the great liberator. A very odd psychological phenomenon.

]]> By: petes http://www.pekingduck.org/2003/07/wild-swans-and-chinese-seamstresses/#comment-390 petes Fri, 18 Jul 2003 16:31:21 +0000 http://localhost/tpd/?p=328#comment-390 Thanks for the recommendations, Richard. I'm getting them from Amazon now. i went through the same "enlightening" process after returning from China. I got Dr Li's "Private Life of Chairman Mao" and was blown away by how sick and twisted he was, but mostly how he destroyed China. It still drives me insane, as you mentioned, how Mao is still mostly revered or put into a grand corner of Chinese history (in China). For some reason the Communist Party can't admit he was a ruthless dictator and tore the country apart without feeling that it will weaken their power. Probably would a little, and rightly so. (BTW, like the new design) Thanks for the recommendations, Richard. I’m getting them from Amazon now. i went through the same “enlightening” process after returning from China. I got Dr Li’s “Private Life of Chairman Mao” and was blown away by how sick and twisted he was, but mostly how he destroyed China.

It still drives me insane, as you mentioned, how Mao is still mostly revered or put into a grand corner of Chinese history (in China). For some reason the Communist Party can’t admit he was a ruthless dictator and tore the country apart without feeling that it will weaken their power. Probably would a little, and rightly so.

(BTW, like the new design)

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