teaching about post-1949 china

[clay dube]

Let's use this area of the forum to share ideas on teaching about the People's Republic of China.

To start, some of your students may wonder what CIA documents look like and what sort of language do they use. The CIA recently declassified 70 estimates of China's military strength and policies. You can see the original documents at:

http://www.foia.cia.gov/search.asp?pageNumber=1&freqReqRecord=nic_china.txt

Students may be especially interested in the 1976 document, p. 10 which summarizes what the CIA considers China's main defense considerations. They might wish to draw up their own list of China's 21st century concerns. A sample:

"The Soviets will remain the main threat.

"The Chinese will not align themselves with other powers but pursue an independent stance."

[Edit by="Clay Dube on Oct 17, 11:10:32 AM"][/Edit]

[clay dube]

Having just observed Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and noting the passing of Zhao Ziyang, deposed leader of the Chinese Communist Party and a fellow who sympathized with Tiananmen protesters in 1989, I thought it appropriate to see what I might find about King on Chinese websites. There's quite a lot -- attached is a copy of MLK's most famous speech ("I have a dream", 1963) in Chinese. Those with students able to read Chinese might challenge them to find other such materials (e.g., the Gettysburg Address...). Students who can't read Chinese might be surprised at how much more young Chinese are likely to know about the US than we are about China.

[Anonymous]

Greetings Everyone,
It's been quite some time since I posted. I participated in the Asia Institute during the summer of 2003. I hope everyone is doing well. I am now teaching at Vaughn Middle School in Pacoima. We are a charter school and we are expanding into a high school. I am in the early stages of designing a 9th grade world geography/world culture course with a heavy emphasis on China. I am looking at materials on this site to help come up with ideas. I am hoping anybody can recommend any teaching materials they may have used or heard positive news about. I am particularly interested in any materials on China's nuclear and space programs. If anyone has anything please post back. Peace, Gene Astilla
P.S My school is also looking for qualified candidates to teach Chinese and Arabic, if you know anyone, please let me know!

[Anonymous]

When I read documents like these, I wish I was a 10th grade history teacher, or that I could have a Contemporary history elective at my school. I read the 1976 CIA document about China's military readiness, and I wondered how close the analysis was to reality. I don't doubt that China saw the Soviets as a bigger threat to their national security than any other nation. I wonder why many in our government and society label China as a threat to the United States, after a CIA report says that "Peking will prefer to use political diplomatic means rather than military pressures to gain its means."
Reading the documents made me wonder if the CIA feels the same way about China today. With all the current day talk about China's bullying of Taiwan and it's current attempt to purchase more sophisticated weaponry from the European Union, I would not be surprised that the CIA attitude towards China has changed from that of 1976. Perhaps someone knows more about this topic and would like to lead me to some resources or answers.

[Anonymous]

While reading some of these documents, I noticed something really interesting. All the documents created prior to Nixon's historic visit to China in February of 1972 label China as "Communist China." However, every document written after the visit of February 1972 labels China as just "China" or the PRC. I wonder if the term Communist was dropped because of the recognition of the People's Republic as the true China by the U.S. government and later, the United Nations or if the United States government recognized the rift between the Soviets and Chinese and decided to cozy up to China to have another potential ally against possible Soviet aggression. I read up one of the documents declassified in 1994 which showed that the United States was sharing intelligence information with the People's Republic of China about Soviet forces on China's borders in the 70's. To me it seems that the U.S. was trying to befriend China to limit the potential allies for Soviet Russia and further isolate the USSR.
A document I read also seemed to imply that in the talks between Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and Richard Nixon, both seemed to come to an agreement that the US's presence in the Pacific was necessary for stability in the region, especially in terms of Japan. Based on what I read it seems that without the US, Japan may have pursued to develop its own nuclear capability or seek to end its postwar non aggressive status.

[Anonymous]

On the UCLA Asia Institute, a speech by Jiao Guobiao on Censorship in China was posted and caught my attention. It appeared he presented the speech at the end of 2004; I wonder, after reading the article, if he is still teaching at Peking University, since it paints a realistic picture of media control in China.

The government of China has full control over what may and may not be published... via newspapers, the internet, radio and television. It uses a combination of direct edict and punishment to make sure people adhere to the restrictions. Guobiao was careful -- in his words -- to simply explain the restrictions; he refrains from making value judgements on the system. I assume that is to reduce the ire of the government officials in China.

I had wondered how a government could restrict the dissemination of information so thoroughly in a technologically-literate country. I can understand how it is controlled in North Korea, where people are too poor to have cell phones and computers that access information from around the world. But China has developed ways of censoring every kind of media.

Guobiao defined three different aspects of control. The government isolates China from the world; they do not permit journalists much entry into the country, and the leaders "convince" people (fear tactics are not unusual) that they shouldn't talk to the journalists once they do arrive in the country. Only hotels with a three star or higher rating are permitted to received international satellite services, so only the foreign visitors and wealthy travelers have a television link to the outside world.

Guobiao points out the much of the news that people in China hear about controversial issues comes from foreign news sources. The SARS problem was reported by Time Magazine, and much of the information that does come through is called "rumors" by the Chinese governmnet.

A second aspect of control is in the media personnel. General directors of media in China are government-apointed officials, so it is their intent to adhere to the demands of the government that put them in the job. Therefore, when the Central Propaganda Department (CPD) tells reporters they may not publish certain stories, the directors make sure the staff adheres to the demand. Every news item published has to go through four or more approvals, each of whom edit out anything that is "politicallly conscious and ...politically sensitive." The CPD calls routine meetings to discuss with editors what can and can not be disclosed, and there is a long list of prohibited words: democracy, freedom, liberty, human rights, etc.

Post publication, censorship continues. If a media outlet releases sensitive information, they may be reprimanded or replaced.

Finally, web access is severely controlled. Very few foreign publications or books are allowed into the country. Guobiao said that the Text is the only international news source available in the Beijing University library. Customs will hold books indefinitely if they don't want to let the books into the nation. Long distance telephone calls from China to other countries are very expensive, photocopy machines are restricted -- to control the spread of information. And the government has set strict control on web content. Guabiao cannot access most international website, even at his university, because they are blocked.

To those of us who are used to freedom of information, these restriction are incredible. They serve to keep the Communist government in control, reduce people's awareness of other options, and reduce the consolidating of people and ideas that might be anti-government. The government has, for decades, sought to isolate China from the outside world. Through its limitless power, the government seems to have been successful, for the most part.

The good thing about this control, is that the country is orderly, more than one billion people can live together is compact societies, there is a respect for the old, for education, for tradition. I wonder if the cost of that controlled society makes up for the restrictions on personal freedom.
Courtney

[Anonymous]

May 14, UCLA hosted a seminar on Islam in China that was information-packed and fascinating. China has the second largest concentration of Muslims in the world, second only to Egypt. About 20 million Muslims live in the country in about 5 or 6 regions. They are descendents of scientists, government officials and traders who came to China between the 7th and 14th centuries.

What I found to be interesting was that the Muslims do not proselytize; they do not try to convert others to Islam, but simply try to maintain their religious traditions within the adopted culture. I found this particularly interesting, especially when contrasted with the Christian/Catholic habit of trying to convert everyone. From that bit of information, the Islamic faith seems more peaceful, adaptive, and tolerant than does the Christian faith. It would be interest to discuss with students how history might have been different if Muslims, not Christians, had been in control in Europe in the first 1000 years C.E.

However, this notion of a peaceful, tolerant religion does not seem to mesh with what is happening in the Muslim nations in the Middle East today. What has changed? Is it only a few who are changing the image of the religion? Is the financial imbalance of power overwelming bringing Muslims to the edge of frustration? There is definitely more to study here.

[Anonymous]

At the Islam in China seminar (May 14, UCLA), Barbara Pillsbury defined the five pillars of Islam -- the five beliefs/habits that unite Muslims:
1) There is only one God: "Pure and True Teaching" is the foundation. True means one God, pure means don't eat pork.
2) Prayer: if possible, pray 5 times each day and go to the mosque on Friday.
3) Fast during the Holy month of Ramadan (sunrise to sunset). Remember the less fortunate and thank God.
4) Haj: during your life, try to take a pilgrimage to Mecca
5) Zakat - tithing and/or almsgiving.

These "requirements" in simple form seem similar to many other religions and, of themselves, wouldn't separate people of one faith from another. It is amazing, however, how people of different faiths have become "enemies" over the ages. It is more than the basic tenents of a religion that create such animosity that causes people to kill each other.

[Anonymous]

As we study China, I am so often struck by the two versions of the country that seem to reside side-by-side in my brain. First, I envision the beautiful, historical, artistic, advanced, awe-inspiring country that we study through history. Then, I think of the restrictive, rigid laws of Communist China today.

Perhaps I am experiencing what the rest of the world thinks of the U.S. They hold images of both the beautiful, rich land of opportunity as well as the paternalistic, controlling "big daddy" nation that is hoarding and controlling the world's resources.

I was struck by this at the Islam in China seminar at UCLA. In the Xinjiang region of Northwest China, there is a large population of Muslims. Historically, Muslims were the predominating culture of the region. The government was worried that the people of the region would demand independence from China, so they have established many policies that inhibit the leverage of the residents.

[Anonymous]

After the Chinese communist Party of Mao Zedong(1949), China became self sufficient in nearly all resources, and technologies though 30 years behind modern standards.
It was Deng Xiaoping (1976-) who radically reformed China. He encouraged international trade and foreign investment. The result has been phenomenal entry into world markets and booming economy.
China is emerging as a global power with an increasingly modern military.

[Anonymous]

Although Christianity forms a smallest percentage of the Chinese population,China has not freely allowed Christians to practice their faith. Only mainstream churches(registered) are allowed. There is still censoreship, and that is why we have many underground churches who operate illegally. Western countries like USA have been on Chinese neck on this matter.

[Anonymous]

The peoples Republic of China begins with Mao zedong and the revolution he led in 1949. He is therefore avery important figure in Chinese history. Here is his quotation before the communist revolution that I find very fascinating:
"China's 600 million people have two remarkable peculiarities; they are first of all poor, and secondly blank. That may seem like a bad thing, but it's really a good thing. People want change, want to do things, want revolution" (MaoZedong)

[Anonymous]

Chairman Mao was a punk rocker!!!

[Anonymous]

I made a post of this movie in the movie section too....To learn about the effects of the Cultural Revolution, one movie I would suggest is"From Mao to Mozart-Isaac Stern in China."
It discusses how anything western was forbidden. This inlcudes western art, such as music, literature, architecture, etc...And to teach about anything western was now illegal. To remedy this, groups of kids/students took up the call to rid China of these dissidents, which were the teachers.
Just imagine how we would fare if our students suddenly became gov't agents who were allowed to treat us however they saw fit for teaching subjects the gov't now deems inappropriate.
In the new edition of the movie, one of the characters is reinterviewed 25 years after the film was made. So he compares his original comments in the movie to how he feels now.

This movie is more suitable for high schoolers, maybe magnet middle schoolers. Yet as a teacher, there are parts of the movie suitable for all grades, like how the Chinese acrobats were able to keep the martial arts alive by utilizing style, moves and techniques into their acts to look like entertainment instead of defense.

[Anonymous]

I find the discussion between Mao and the scientist played by Gregory Peck in " The Chairman" to be thought provoking. If you are not familiar with it it is set during the "Cultural Revolution" and the conversation deals with issues of education. Did the Little Red Book teach thought or simply create fans who parrot what they are told.

Is there a connection to what we ae doing here in California, teaching to a test that requires no thought but determins if you are educated.

In China there is much intelectual thought since Mao but we see only what the western press shows us..is there really any real intelectual movement? Is there creativity of just a lot of work being done in an old and copied mold? And, does the countryside of China reflect the same as the cities?

[Author]

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