2.4 The Carp and the Dragon

<p>In this English translation version of my episode on education, a student, a teacher and a mother share their experiences of the Chinese education system. From surviving the pressure-cooker environment of high school to preparing for the daunting <em>Gaokao</em> exam. In China, it&#39;s widely believed that dedication and hard work guarantee success. And turn from a 🐟 into a 🐲... But does this still ring true in today&#39;s China?</p><p><br></p><p>🧑‍🎨📚 Find out who the &quot;literary Van Gogh&quot; is in the 🌟Chinese pop culture section🌟.</p><p><br></p><p>Follow my Chinese adventures and Chinese (literary) stars on Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/bijgininbeijingdepodcast?utm_medium=copy_link" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠@bijgininbeijingdepodcast⁠</a>.  </p><p> </p><p>In this episode: Jessica Sun (孙慧), Chen Chen, Catherine (张婧) en Chén Jiéhào (陈洁昊).</p><p><br></p><p>Want to find out more? ⤵️</p><p> </p><p>Listen:</p><ul> <li><em>Chinese Whispers: </em><a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcast/the-sacrifices-and-rewards-of-a-chinese-style-education/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠<em>The sacrifices and rewards of a Chinese-style education</em>⁠</a><em> (8 maart 2021). </em>Insightful conversation with an American mother whose son went to school in China and then Germany, and about different perspectives on creativity. </li></ul><ul> <li>On the ‘slacking’ subculture and the government response: <em>NPR Rough Translation, </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/1102281666/slackers-work-a-song-for-the-exhausted" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠<em>Slackers@Work: A Song for the Exhausted</em>⁠</a><em>. Wonderful, narrative episode featuring a blocked interview in a Chinese restaurant.</em></li> <li><em>The Economist, </em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yqc24TUzkhWGboMuOPg7u?si=mYGsgT2OTw6edDDRbU6O4g" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠<em>Drum Tower: A, B, Xi</em>⁠</a><em> (paywall</em>) on rising patriotism in Chinese education.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Read:</p><ul> <li><a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/08/17/chinas-defeated-youth" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠The Economist: China’s defeated youth⁠</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/08/17/why-are-chinas-young-people-so-disillusioned" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠The Economist: China’s economic malaise is causing disillusion among the young⁠</a></li> <li>Wikipedia-page of the book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Hymn_of_the_Tiger_Mother" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother⁠</a></li> <li>CSIS: <a href="https://www.csis.org/blogs/new-perspectives-asia/chinas-hukou-reform-2022-do-they-mean-it-time-0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠China’s Hukou Reform in 2022: Do They Mean it this Time?⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Watch:</p><p><strong>Documentary </strong><a href="https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1sZ4y1T7y1/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠<strong>Wang Yang &quot;China Gate&quot; (2011) </strong>⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p>Pop culture section:</p><ul> <li>Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Yan" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Mo Yan⁠</a></li> <li>Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Xiaobo" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Wang Xiaobo⁠</a></li> <li>Golden Age by Wang Xiaobo review – revolution in the bed – in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/16/golden-age-by-wang-xiaobo-review-revolution-in-the-bed" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠The Guardian⁠</a>.</li> <li>Trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lj99Uz1d50" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Three Body Problem⁠</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>Not in this section, but very important in Chinese literature:</p><ul> <li>Article on <a href="https://ltl-school.com/chinese-