China in Ten Words

To fully appreciate the historical context and themes explored in Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words, it is helpful to understand four key events and periods in modern Chinese history: The Great Leap Forward, The Great Chinese Famine, The Cultural Revolution, and The Reform and Opening Up period.

The Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) was an ambitious economic and social campaign launched by the Chinese Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong. The campaign aimed to transform China rapidly from an agrarian economy into a socialist society through the collectivization of agriculture and the development of industry. However, the Great Leap Forward’s unrealistic goals, coupled with poor planning and implementation, led to widespread economic disruption and a severe decline in agricultural output.

The failure of the Great Leap Forward directly contributed to the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961), one of the deadliest famines in human history. The famine claimed the lives of an estimated 15 to 55 million people; some scholars suggest even higher figures. The causes of the famine were complex, including the disruption of agricultural production, the diversion of resources to industry, and the government’s failure to respond effectively to the crisis. The Great Chinese Famine left an indelible mark on the nation’s collective memory and continues to shape public discourse and political decision-making in China.

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) was a sociopolitical movement which sought to purge Chinese society of perceived capitalist and traditional elements while reinforcing Mao Zedong’s ideology and cult of personality. The movement, which was characterized by mass mobilization, political persecution, and widespread violence, led to the destruction of cultural heritage, the disruption of education and social order, and the persecution of intellectuals, artists, and political opponents. The Cultural Revolution’s impact on Chinese society was profound and long-lasting, shaping the experiences and memories of an entire generation.

Following Mao’s death in 1976 and the end of the Cultural Revolution, China entered a new era known as the Reform and Opening Up period, which began in 1978 under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. This period marked a significant shift in China’s economic and social policies, as the country embraced market-oriented reforms, opened up to foreign investment and trade, and gradually moved away from strict central planning. The reforms led to rapid economic growth, the rise of a new entrepreneurial class, and the transformation of Chinese cities and society. However, the Reform and Opening Up period also brought new challenges, including widening income inequality, environmental degradation, and the erosion of traditional social structures.

In China in Ten Words, Yu Hua grapples with the profound impact of these historical events and periods on contemporary Chinese society. Drawing upon his own experiences and observations, Yu Hua explores how the legacies of these periods—especially the Cultural Revolution—continue to shape the lives, memories, and aspirations of ordinary Chinese citizens. He illuminates the complex and often contradictory nature of China’s recent history and its ongoing transformation. He examines how the traumas of the past, such as the suffering endured during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, continue to haunt the present, even as the country embraces the promises and challenges of modernization and globalization.