Instructions For this mini-essay (approximately 600-700 words) on gender and family you need to have watched the two video lectures on men and family in Japan AND watched the video entitled Family Val

r e la tio nsh ip s a nd o blig atio ns b eca m e t h e m odel f o r a ll o th er s o cia l s tr u ctu re s.

W ors h ip pin g o ur a nce sto r is v e ry im porta nt.

F ilia l o bedie nce is m ore im porta nt t h an m y o w n f e elin gs.

O f c o urs e y o u s h ould lis te n t o y o ur p are nts . T hey'r e n eve r w ro ng.

B ut t h is c e ntu ry h as s e en t h e f a m ily u nder a ssa ult in C hin a a s n eve r b efo re . T he c o lla pse o f t h e o ld

i m peria l s tr u ctu re in 1 911 a nd t h e a rriv a l o f C om munis t C hin a in 1 949 s m ash ed m any t im e-h onore d

f a m ily c o des.

M en a re s u perio r t o w om en.

M en a re a lw ays in c h arg e o f t h in gs o uts id e t h e h om e.

A h usb and is m aste r o f h is w if e .

T hen f o r a m om ent, w it h t h e a dve nt o f t h e c o m mune, it e ve n s e em ed t h at t h e f a m ily it s e lf m ig ht b e

a bolis h ed. M ore r e ce ntly , t h e f a m ilie s h ad t o c o pe w it h t h e o ne c h ild p olic y, a p ie ce o f s o cia l

e ngin eerin g w hose c o nse quence s a re s till o nly t o b e g uesse d a t.

T o day, t h e f a m ily f a ce s r e new ed p re ssu re s f o r c h ange.

N ot a p la ce f o r d ece nt p eople .

Y o u s till a v ir g in ?

D ru gs a re v e ry s e rio us in S hanghai.

I c h ose h ero in f o r m y lif e .

I d on't g iv e a d am n w hat m y p are nts t h in k.

A nhui p ro vin ce in c e ntr a l C hin a. T he Z heng f a m ily is t y p ic a l o f t h is a re a. T hey a re f o ur g enera tio ns

l iv in g a lo ngsid e e ach o th er. T his h as a lw ays b een t h e id eal C hin ese f a m ily . T he m ore m em bers , t h e

m ore p ro sp ero us it 's t h ought t o b e. A lt h ough t h e a re a is s till r e la tiv e ly p oor, lif e h as c h anged

m ark e dly f o r t h e b ette r o ve r t h e p ast 2 0 y e ars . T he t r a ppin gs o f m odern lif e a re b egin nin g t o m ake t h em se lv e s f e lt . B ut in w ard ly , p easa nt f a rm in g f a m ilie s c o ntin ue t h e t r a dit io ns t h at t h eir f o rb ears

h ave f o llo w ed f o r c o untle ss g enera tio ns.

T he t h re e Z heng b ro th ers a nd t h eir w iv e s h elp e ach o th er in a ll t h eir c o m munal u nderta kin gs. T he

s tr e ngth o f t h e u nit e d f a m ily is v it a l t o t h eir liv e s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e t h re e b ro th ers a nd o ur f a m ilie s a re u nit e d. W hate ve r w e d o, w e d o it t o geth er. W hen p lo w in g o r

s p re adin g f e rtiliz e r, w e a lw ays h elp e ach o th er.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B eca use w e'r e u nit e d, o ur g ood r e puta tio n t r a ve ls f a r a nd w id e. E ve ry o ne k n ow s t h is a nd a dm ir e s u s.

I n t h e p ast, w e w ere h um ilia te d w hen w e d id n't u nit e . T his r u le a pplie s t o b oth f a m ily a nd s ta te --

f a m ilie s in su lt e d b y n eig hbors , c o untr ie s b ullie d b y o th er s ta te s.

T he p rim ary s c h ool d ay b egin s w it h d evo tio n t o t h e c o untr y. E duca tio n h as a lw ays b een c e ntr a l in t h e

p re para tio n o f f a m ily v a lu es. T o day's v a lu es v a ry lit tle f r o m t h e d is ta nt p ast. F o r t h e p ast h alf c e ntu ry ,

t h e o nly a ddit io ns h ave b een s o cia lis t.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

O ur g re ate st a im a nd d re am in lif e is t h e r e aliz a tio n o f c o m munis m . T o p ro duce h ealt h y c h ild re n, it is

e sse ntia l t o b uild s o cia lis m in o ur m oth erla nd.

T he p ast h as a lw ays b een a s im porta nt a s t h e p re se nt t o t h e C hin ese .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

C hild re n le arn a bout t h e h ard sh ip s t h eir a nce sto rs e xp erie nce d. T his p oem w as w rit te n d urin g T a ng

d yn asty 1 ,2 00 y e ars a go.

[ S IN G IN G IN C H IN ESE]

A noth er 1 ,0 00 y e ars b efo re t h e T a ng d yn asty , t h e s a ge, C onfu ciu s, la id o ut a s e t o f id eals t h at w as t o

p ro vid e t h e g lu e t h at w ould h old C hin ese s o cie ty t o geth er. C onfu cia n in str u ctio ns a bout a n

i n div id ual's d utie s a nd p osit io n in f a m ily a nd s o cie ty w ere s im ple a nd q uit e s p ecifi c-- t h e f a th er's lo ve

a nd t h e s o n's fi lia l p ie ty , t h e e ld er b ro th er's k in dness a nd t h e y o unger b ro th er's o bedie nce , t h e h usb and's d utif u ln ess a nd t h e w if e 's c o m plia nce . L ik e w is e , t h e f o ur v ir tu es a w om an s h ould

t r a dit io nally p osse ss w ere t o b e o bedie nt, b e g entle in s p eech , b e k in d lo okin g, a nd b e g ood a t

n eedle w ork a nd w eavin g.

A lt h ough t h e Z heng f a m ily k n ow lit tle a bout C onfu ciu s a nd h is t e ach in gs, t h ey e m body a nd f o llo w

t h ese u nco nsc io usly .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I 'm t h e e ld est, s o I s h ould b e t h eir m odel a nd lo ok a fte r t h em . W e s h ould b e c lo se .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e t w o s h ould lis te n t o o ur e ld est b ro th er. W e s h ould r e sp ect h im a nd d o w hat h e s a ys.

I lis te n t o a nd o bey b oth o f t h em . If I d o a nyth in g w ro ng, t h ey c a n s la p m e, a nd I d on't d are r e act.

F ir s t, w e h ave t o o bey o ur p are nts . If t h ey'r e n ot a t h om e, w e o bey o ur e ld est b ro th ers .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M en a re a lw ays in c h arg e o f t h in gs o uts id e t h e h om e. W om en s ta y a t h om e d oin g t h e c le anin g,

w ash in g, c o okin g, a nd o th er h ouse w ork , a s w ell a s f e edin g c h ic ke ns a nd b rin gin g u p c h ild re n.

W om en h ave t o o bey m en. B eca use t h ey h ave lo ng h air , t h ey h ave v e ry s h ort v is io n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A h usb and is m aste r o f h is w if e . A f a th er is m aste r o f h is s o ns. A nd a n e m pero r is m aste r o f a ll h is

s u bje cts . It m eans t h at a w if e h as t o o bey h er h usb and.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I n t h e v illa ge, m en a re s u perio r t o w om en. It 's a s s im ple a s t h at.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W om en r e ly o n t h eir p are nts b efo re m arria ge, r e ly o n t h eir h usb ands a fte r m arria ge, a nd r e ly o n t h eir

s o ns w hen t h eir h usb ands d ie .

T his t r a dit io nal e xte nded f a m ily w it h it s C onfu cia n id eals w as s o cia lly b eneficia l. It p ro duce d a s e cu re ,

s ta ble f a m ily w it h c o lle ctiv e r e sp onsib ilit y t h at e xte nded a ll t h e w ay u p t o t h e r u le r. T hese id eals w ere t r a nsm it te d a nd r e in fo rc e d t h ro ugh w rit in g.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T hese c h ara cte rs a re t o le ra nce , c o m pro m is e , m odesty , a nd h arm ony. T his is e ve ry o ne's a im . If w e

c a n a ch ie ve t h ese , w e'll a ll b e p erfe ct.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T hey g iv e p eople a g uid e a s t o h ow w e s h ould liv e . W e s h ould a ls o t e ach a nd t r a in o ur c h ild re n w it h

t h ese f o ur c h ara cte rs .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B ut it 's v e ry d iffi cu lt t o a ch ie ve t h ese id eals .

T hro ughout C hin ese h is to ry , b oys w ere f a vo re d o ve r g ir ls . M ore t h an 2 ,5 00 y e ars a go, t h e B ook o f

O des r e co rd ed, w hen a s o n is b orn , d re ss h im in fi ne c lo th , lie h im in b ed, a nd le t h im p la y w it h ja de.

W it h a d aughte r, w ra p h er in c ru de c lo th , lie h er o n t h e g ro und, a nd le t h er p la y w it h b ro ke n t ile s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hy is h avin g a s o n m ore im porta nt in t h e c o untr y sid e? B eca use s o ns c o ntin ue t h e f a m ily lin e. S ons

t a ke c a re o f u s w hen w e g et o ld .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

V illa ge g ir ls w ill b elo ng t o o th er f a m ilie s w hen t h ey g et m arrie d. A nd s h e t h en h as t o t a ke c a re o f h er

f u tu re h usb and's p are nts .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen I w as p re gnant, I r e ally w ante d a s o n, b ut I h ad a d aughte r. W hen h e c a m e b ack h om e, I t o ld

h im w e h ad a g ir l. H e p re te nd t h at h e w as p le ase d, b ut I k n ew in h is h eart h e w ante d a s o n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I n t h is a nd m any p arts o f r u ra l C hin a, t h e lo ca l o ne c h ild p olic y a llo w s a s e co nd c h ild if t h e fi rs t is a

g ir l. [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f t h e b aby h ad b een a noth er g ir l, w e'd h ave a bandoned h er a nd g one in to h id in g t o h ave a b oy. Y e ah,

r u n a w ay a nd h id den. W e'd h ave le t t h e a uth orit ie s p ull o ur h ouse d ow n, t a ke a ll o ur t h in gs. W e w ould

s till h ave w ante d a b oy. W hen m y s e co nd c h ild w as a s o n, I w as o ve r t h e m oon. T he s to ne in m y h eart

h ad fi nally d ro pped t o t h e fl oor. I w as s o h appy.

I n c it ie s a cro ss C hin a, s u ch a s h ere in f a st-g ro w in g S hanghai, h avin g s o ns is n o lo nger s o im porta nt

a n is su e. It 's 2 0 y e ars s in ce C hin a in tr o duce d it s o ne c h ild p olic y, a nd t h e fi rs t g enera tio n o f s in gle

c h ild re n is r e ach in g a dult h ood. T his h as p re se nte d t h e c o untr y w it h u niq ue p ro ble m s.

D u P in gyin g liv e s in a n a partm ent in t h e c e nte r o f S hanghai. S he h as r e ce ntly r e tir e d f r o m h er jo b a s

a s h op a ssis ta nt. H er o nly c h ild is W ang Y ih ao, n ow 1 8, t h e f o cu s o f D u P in gyin g's lif e .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e m ove d in to t h is fl at w hen t h e c h ild w as 1 5 m onth s o ld . W hen h e w as lit tle , t h re e o f u s s le pt in t t h e

s a m e b ed.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

N ow t h at h e's o ld er, t h e fl at is a b it c ra m ped. W hen h e w ants t o p ra ctic e s in gin g, w e a re n't a llo w ed t o

s p eak. W hen h e d oes h is r e co rd in g, w e c a n't m ake a ny n ois e a t a ll. E ve ry th in g's f o r h is f u tu re .

E ve ry th in g's f o r h im . W hen h is f a th er w ent t o t h e S ta te s, W ang Y ih ao w as o nly 1 0.

F a th er W ang W enya o w as a w ay f o r fi ve y e ars . T hey w ere d iffi cu lt t im es f o r m oth er a nd s o n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen I w as a p rim ary s tu dent, I w as a lit tle c o nce it e d a nd a lw ays h ad fi ghts . I w as n aughty a nd p la ye d

p ra ctic a l jo ke s. M y t e ach ers t h ought I w as a p ain in t h e n eck.

O n h is r e tu rn f r o m A m eric a , W ang W enya o s e t u p a h earin g a id b usin ess t h at s u pplie s m odern

e quip m ent a cro ss C hin a. In S hanghai, h e h as a c lin ic a lo ngsid e t h e e ar, n ose , a nd t h ro at h osp it a l. It 's

m odera te s u cce ss h as r e ce ntly a llo w ed h im t o b uy a n ew a partm ent o n t h e o uts k ir ts o f S hanghai.

W ang Y ih ao d oesn 't k n ow h ow lu cky h e is . T he n ew t h re e b edro om a partm ent n ot o nly g iv e s h is

p are nts a nd h im t h eir o w n b edro om s. H e h as a ls o b een g iv e n a r o om a s h is s tu dy a nd s tu dio . [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen I c a m e b ack f r o m A m eric a , I f e lt t h at I d id n't r e ally k n ow h im a ny lo nger. B efo re I le ft, w e w ere

v e ry c lo se . I u se d t o h ug a nd k is s h im . A nd h e w as r e ally h appy. W hen I r e tu rn ed, h e'd a lr e ady g ro w n

u p. t h at.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I w ante d t o h ug a nd k is s h im , b ut h e p ush ed m e a w ay.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I a sk e d h im t o w ork a nd s tu dy h ard , b ut h e ju st ig nore d m e. I r e ally f o und it d iffi cu lt t o t a ke .

M atte rs c a m e t o a h ead a s W ang Y ih ao's s c h oolin g e nded. E ve ry y e ar a cro ss C hin a, m illio ns o f

c h ild re n a nd p are nts a lik e e xp erie nce t h re e s tr e ssfu l d ays in e arly Ju ly . C hild re n s it t h eir v it a l

u niv e rs it y e ntr a nce e xa m in atio ns t h at w ill d ecid e t h eir f u tu re s. B ut t h is y e ar, o ne p ers o n w as m is sin g.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I t h in k t h e C hin ese e duca tio n s y ste m d oesn 't f o cu s o n t h e in div id ual. It t r e ats u s lik e a n a rm y. T he

g oal is t o s tu dy, g et in to u niv e rs it y , a nd g o t o w ork . It 's lik e t r a in in g a n a rm y t o g o t o w ar. S o I d id n't

t a ke t h e u niv e rs it y e ntr a nce e xa m . T he r e aso n w as s im ple . I lo ath e t h e C hin ese e duca tio n s y ste m .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I w as v e ry a ngry w hen h e d ecid ed n ot t o t a ke t h e e ntr a nce e xa m . I p ut a ll m y h opes in to h im , b ut h e

j u st d id n't d o w hat I w ante d h im t o .

W ang W enya o is e sp ecia lly u nhappy h is s o n d id n't e ve n t r y f o r u niv e rs it y . H e m is se d h is o w n c h ance

a s a r e su lt o f t h e C ult u ra l R evo lu tio n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T o b e h onest, I f e el a s t h ough I'v e lo st f a ce . I h ave f r ie nds a nd c o lle agues w hose c h ild re n a ll g o t o

u niv e rs it y , m y r e la tiv e s a nd t h eir c h ild re n t o o. B ut h e d id n't w ant t o t r y. N ow h e's e ve n g ot r e d h air

a nd w ears a n e arrin g. H ow c a n I n ot f e el a sh am ed?

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M y d ecis io n in n ot t a kin g u niv e rs it y e ntr a nce e xa m s w as c o m ple te ly m y o w n. I k n ow t h at it m ig ht h ave b een a b lo w t o m y p are nts , b ut I d id n't t a ke t h eir v ie w in to c o nsid era tio n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hat h e d id w as n ot a n a ct o f fi lia l p ie ty . H e ju st d id n't lis te n t o u s.

B ein g o bedie nt t o y o ur p are nts ' w is h es a nd s h ow in g fi lia l r e sp ect-- x ia o-- is t h e f o undatio n o f C hin ese

f a m ily lif e . T he o rig in al f o rm o f t h e c h ara cte r x ia o is r e ve alin g. It s h ow s a n o ld p ers o n b ein g

s u pporte d b y a c h ild o n w hom h e o r s h e le ans. T he o penin g s e ctio n o f t h e X ia o Jin g, t h e c a non o f fi lia l

p ie ty , w rit te n s o m e 2 ,0 00 y e ars a go s a ys, o ur v e ry b ody, h air , a nd s k in c o m e f r o m o ur p are nts , a nd

w e s h ould n ot d are t o h arm o r in ju re t h em in a ny w ay. T hat is h ow fi lia l p ie ty b egin s. H ere , e ve ry th in g

b elo ngs t o y o ur p are nts , a nd y o u a re e xp ecte d t o o bey w it h out q uestio n.

I n A nhui, t h e Z hengs' c o usin , Z hao X ia ohai is v is it in g. H is p are nts a re k e en t o s e e h im m arrie d, b ut

h e's h avin g d iffi cu lt y d ecid in g b etw een t w o g ir ls . H is f a m ily g iv e s a dvic e . P riv a cy is n ot a c o nce pt t h at

h as a rriv e d h ere y e t.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A re y o u g oin g t o lis te n t o y o ur m oth er?

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I d on't t h in k I h ave a c h oic e . I h ave t o lis te n t o h er. S he's a lr e ady s p ent lo ts o f m oney o n w eddin g

g if ts .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hic h o ne d o y o u p re fe r?

I r e ally d on't k n ow .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

O f c o urs e y o u s h ould lis te n t o y o ur p are nts . T hey'r e n eve r w ro ng. N eve r w ro ng.

T ra dit io nally , t h e p ers o nal lik in gs o f t h e c o uple h ave p la ye d lit tle r o le in t h e C hin ese m arria ge.

F a m ilie s m ake a rra ngem ents , a nd t h e c o uple d oes w hat t h ey'r e t o ld . T he Z heng w iv e s b la m e b ig c it y

t e m pta tio ns f o r X ia ohai's d ile m ma. [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

H e s till h as t o o bey h is m oth er. I a sk e d h im if h e's g oin g t o g et m arrie d. H e s a id t h ey'v e t o ld h im t o ,

b ut h e's n ot s u re h e w ants t o . I a sk e d h im o f t h e t w o h e lik e d. I a sk e d h im if h e p re fe rre d t h e c it y g ir l.

H e s a id t h e c it y g ir l m ig ht b e d iffi cu lt t o c o ntr o l. T he o ne f r o m t h e c o untr y sid e w ould b e e asie r a nd

m ore o bedie nt.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f X ia ohai h adn't g one t o t o w n, h e w ould a lr e ady h ave m arrie d, a nd p erh aps h ave a c h ild . T he c it y

h as m ore t e m pta tio ns t h an t h e c o untr y sid e.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B ut I d on't f e el a nyth in g f o r h er.

O nce y o u'r e m arrie d, y o ur p are nts w ill b e h appy. Y o u'll h ave a s o n, m ake s o m e m oney. T hen y o u w ill

b e h appy a s w ell.

M y p are nts a re f o rc in g m e.

I t d oesn 't m atte r if y o u'r e n ot fi lia l t o y o ur e ld ers . T he m ost im porta nt t h in g is w hat y o u f e el f o r e ach

o th er. O th erw is e , y o u'll k e ep fi ghtin g w ell a fte r y o u g et m arrie d. R em em ber, y o u'll b e w it h y o ur w if e

l o nger t h an y o ur p are nts .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f y o u'r e n ot fi lia l a nd lo ya l t o y o ur p are nts , w hat w ill t h at m ake o f y o u? Y o u w on't b e h um an

a nym ore . I

X ia ohai s e em s t o h ave f o rg otte n t h e le sso ns h e o nce r e ce iv e d a t h is g ra ndm oth er's f e et.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A t 9 3, s h e c a m e f r o m a t im e w hen g ir ls s till h ad t h eir f e et b ound.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W ang X ia o w as o nly s e ve n. H e w as a fi lia l s o n.

H er c a utio nary m ora l t a le s s till f a sc in ate t h e lit tle Z heng c h ild re n. T hey'r e t h e C hin ese e quiv a le nt o f A eso p's f a ble s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W ang X ia o n eeded fi sh s o up t o m ake h is m um b ette r. It w as w in te r, a nd t h e r iv e r w as f r o ze n o ve r. S o

h e la y d ow n t h e ic e a nd u se d h is b ody t o m elt a h ole . A b ig fi sh ju m ped o ut, a nd h e t o ok it h om e. C an

y o u d o t h at? H m ?

M ora l e duca tio n c o ntin ues a t s c h ool.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

3 0% o f t h e Z heng v illa ge is illit e ra te . T his is d ouble t h e n atio nal a ve ra ge b ut d ow n f r o m 8 0% w hen

n ew C hin a b egan 5 0 y e ars a go. V illa gers a re k e en t o h ave t h eir c h ild re n e duca te d. T hey b uilt a nd

f u nded t h is s c h ool. H ow eve r, f e w c o untr y c h ild re n c o ntin ue s c h oolin g b eyo nd 1 5.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen I r e ach ed s c h ool a ge, m um w ante d m e t o g o t o s c h ool. S o w hen d ad w as a w ay t o d ig t h e c a nal

w it h t h e c o m mune la bore rs , m um le t m e g o. W hen h e c a m e b ack a fte r a f e w m onth s, t h ey h ad a

h uge a rg um ent. H e b la m ed h er f o r le ttin g m e g o t o s c h ool.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hat's t h e p oin t o f g ir ls g oin g t o s c h ool, h e s h oute d. G ir ls s h ould s ta y a t h om e a nd w ork t h e fi eld s.

B ut o f c o urs e , h e s e nt a ll m y b ro th ers t o s c h ool

A fte r s c h ool, it 's g ra nny's t u rn t o s u perv is e h om ew ork .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

Y o u t w o s h ould c a ll L it tle B ean E ld er S is te r. Y o u s h ould a ll lis te n t o h er. H elp e ach o th er. D on't q uarre l

a m ongst y o urs e lv e s. A nd d on't fi ght w it h o th ers e it h er. A ll o f y o u s h ould lis te n t o w hat L it tle B ean

s a ys.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I k n ow , I k n ow . M om ma lis te ns t o M a M in g. M a M in g lis te ns t o t h ese t w o. B ut a ll o f t h em s h ould lis te n

t o m e. B ut y o u h ave t o lis te n t o m y e ld er b ro th er.

A fte r M ao f o unded n ew C hin a, h e f o rm ed p eople 's c o m munes in t h e c o untr y sid e a nd w ork u nit s in t h e

c it y . P e ople w ere e nco ura ged t o t r e at t h ese c o lle ctiv e s a s t h eir f a m ily . P e ople a te f r o m t h e b ig

p orrid ge p ot in c o m munal m ess h alls . F o r a p erio d, e ve n h ouse hold p ots a nd p ans w ere d estr o ye d.

F a m ilie s a ll b ut d is a ppeare d. In div id uals w ere n o lo nger r e sp onsib le t o t h eir f a m ily h eads, b eco m in g

a cco unta ble d ir e ctly t o t h e s ta te . B ut s in ce t h e D eng e ra , t h e s ta te h as b egun w it h dra w in g f r o m t h ese

e xp erim ents a nd r e sp onsib ilit ie s.

T he f a m ily is o nce a gain t h e b asic u nit o f a gric u lt u ra l p ro ductio n. A nd a s a r e su lt , C hin a h as

e xp erie nce d a m assiv e r is e in p ro ductiv it y .

H ere in F u jia n in s o uth C hin a, e xte nded f a m ilie s h ave a lw ays b een t h e n orm . M any C hin ese a cro ss t h e

g lo be o rig in ally h aile d f r o m t h is c o asta l r e gio n. It 's t h ere fo re lit tle w onder t h at w hen D eng X ia opin g

o pened C hin a's e co nom ic d oor, it w as t h ese p arts t h at b enefite d fi rs t. T heir r e la tiv e s a cro ss t h e w orld

r e sp onded b y in ve stin g h eavily in f a m ily b usin esse s.

J ia ngnan v illa ge, o uts id e Q uanzh ou h ouse s s o m e 5 00 p eople w ho a ll s h are t h e s a m e s u rn am e--

Z hiy a ng. Z hiy a ng F u xia o a nd h is f a m ily h onor t h eir a nce sto rs a t t h e v illa ge's n ew ly r e sto re d t e m ple . It

w as d estr o ye d d urin g t h e C ult u ra l R evo lu tio n, w hen t h e p ra ctic e o f w ors h ip w as c o ndem ned, a nd

s u ch p ra ctic e s w ere la bele d s p ir it u al s h ackle s t o e nsla ve t h e p eople .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen w e r e esta blis h ed t h is f a m ily t e m ple , o ur r e la tiv e s in In donesia d onate d o ve r $ 50,0 00 U S f o r it .

W e h ave o ve r 2 00 f a m ily m em bers in In donesia . C hin ese p eople h ave v e ry p atr io tic h earts , a nd t h ey

n eve r f o rg et t h eir b lo od c o nnectio ns w it h C hin a.

T he a lt a r h as t h e o rig in al Z hiy a ng a nce sto rs in p rid e o f p la ce s u rro unded b y t h e t a ble ts o n w hic h

s u cce ssiv e g enera tio ns a re n am ed. T he Z hiy a ngs h onor t h eir e xa lt e d a nce sto rs -- in t h ese c a se s,

s e nio r c o urt o ffi cia ls w ho m ig ht b e e xp ecte d s till t o b e p ow erfu l e nough t o c o nfe r g ood f o rtu ne o f t h e

f a m ily .

M any C hin ese b usin esse s a re r u n w it h in t h e f a m ily . A nd t h e Z hiy a ngs a re n o e xce ptio n. O ne o f t h e

b ro th ers r u ns t h eir c a rd board f a cto ry w it h t h e f o ur s is te rs in la w . A noth er t w o b ro th ers r u n t h e c a r

p arts b usin ess. O ve r t h e la st 2 0 y e ars , m illio ns h ave t u rn ed f r o m f a rm in g t o c re ate v illa ge in dustr ie s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE] M oney's n ot e ve ry th in g. It 's c o opera tio n b etw een b ro th ers t h at c o unts . O ur s is te rs in la w n eve r f a ll

o ut. T he w hole v illa ge k n ow s t h at t h is is a w onderfu l, h arm onio us f a m ily t h at s h are s e ve ry th in g. W e

h ope o ur y o unger g enera tio n c o ntin ues t h is b ehavio r.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M r. Z hiy a ng is t h e h ead o f h is f a m ily a nd t h e v illa ge le ader. H e's o ne o f f o ur b ro th ers in a n e xte nded

f a m ily t h at n um bers o ve r 3 0.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A s t h e e ld est b ro th er, I h ave t o t a ke c a re o f e ve ry th in g in t h e f a m ily . Y e ar a fte r y e ar, w e'v e b een

t o geth er. E ld er a nd y o unger m em bers o f t h e f a m ily a ll h ave m utu al r e sp ect f o r e ach o th er. W e h ave

a r e ally g ood r e puta tio n.

Q in gm in g, t h e p ure b rig htn ess f e stiv a l in e arly s p rin g, is s p ecia lly d edic a te d t o h onor d ece ase d f a m ily

m em bers . M ost C hin ese k n ow t h at t h ey h ave a d ebt t o t h eir p are nts t h at c a n n eve r b e d is c h arg ed

d urin g t h eir p are nts ' lif e tim e a nd, in f a ct, e xte nds in to d eath . A fte r a ll, y o u o w e t h em y o ur lif e .

I t 's t h e f a m ily 's d uty t o c le an t h e a nce sto rs ' g ra ve s it e a nd t o p ro vid e f o r t h em in t h e a fte rlif e .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W ors h ip in g o ur a nce sto rs is v e ry im porta nt. W e h ave t o r e m em ber t h at t h ey g ave u s e ve ry th in g w e

h ave .

W it h out t h ese s a crifi ce s, C hin ese b elie ve t h at t h eir a nce sto rs c o uld w ander a s b eggars o r h ungry

g hosts , b rin gin g m is fo rtu ne t o t h e f a m ily .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T he m ore p eople t h at s w eep t h e g ra ve s, t h e c le aner t h e g ra ve s a re , a nd t h e m ore r e sp ect t h e

a nce sto rs w ill r e ce iv e . A nd t h e w hole f a m ily w ill b e p ro sp ero us.

I t 's a n ew s e aso n in A nhui. T he w heat is h ig h, a nd a g ood h arv e st is e xp ecte d. F o r s o ns a nd

g ra ndso ns, f a ilu re t o p ro vid e a n a dequate f u nera l is s e en a s e sp ecia lly u nfilia l b ehavio r. T he Z heng

g ra ndso ns c h eck g re at g ra nny's c o ffi n, p re pare d a nd m ade r e ady s o m e 3 0 y e ars a go b y h er s o n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE] T his c o ffi n is in e xce lle nt c o ndit io n. W e d on't n eed t o p olis h it a gain a t a ll. N ow e ve ry b ody h as t o b e

c re m ate d. G ra ndm oth er is s o f r ig hte ned t h at s h e's g oin g t o b e b urn ed. W hat a re w e g oin g t o d o? W e

c a n o nly d eal w it h it w hen w e g et t h ere .

C hin a's p opula tio n is a gin g f a st. It h as d ouble d t o 1 .3 b illio n in t h e p ast 5 0 y e ars s in ce C hair m an M ao

t o ok p ow er. H e fi rs t e nco ura ged p eople t o p ro duce w it h s lo gans s u ch a s, m any p eople m eans g re ate r

s tr e ngth . A tte m pts t o r e duce t h e b ir th r a te b egan in e arn est 2 0 y e ars a go. C hin a h ad t o f e ed 2 0% o f

t h e p la net's p opula tio n w it h ju st 7 % o f t h e g lo be's a ra ble la nd. C hin a's o ne c h ild p olic y w as

i n tr o duce d.

A cro ss r u ra l C hin a, n o p olic y is m ore im porta nt. E ve ry w here o ne lo oks, p ro paganda s lo gans

e nco ura ge t h e a lm ost 1 b illio n p easa nts .

A t c lin ic s, w om en r e port e ve ry t h re e m onth s f o r p re gnancy c h ecks. S hould y o ur fi rs t c h ild b e a g ir l,

y o u m ust w ait f o ur y e ars b efo re t r y in g a gain f o r t h e p re cio us b oy. H ere , a s a cro ss m uch o f r u ra l

C hin a, m en a re g iv e n c o m puls o ry v a se cto m ie s a fte r t w o c h ild re n. T he a uth orit ie s a re fi rm a nd

r ig oro us in t h e p olic y's im ple m enta tio n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B ir th c o ntr o l is a b asic n atio nal p olic y. A nd in t h e c o untr y sid e, w e m ust c a rry it o ut s tr ic tly .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T ra dit io nally , w hen a f a m ily h as m any c h ild re n, it w ill b e c o nsid ere d a f a m ily o f g re at s tr e ngth . M any

c h ild re n a nd g ra ndch ild re n m ean p ro sp erit y a nd h appin ess. T o b e f r a nk, m ost p easa nts w ould lik e t o

h ave t w o c h ild re n, o ne b oy a nd o ne g ir l. T his w ould b e id eal. S om e e ve n w ant m ore t h an t w o. B ut if

w e u se p ro paganda a lo ne t o p ers u ade t h em , it w on't w ork . T hey w ill s p ir a l o ut o f c o ntr o l. T hat's w hy

w e n eed t o ugh p unis h m ent. F o r u s, b ir th c o ntr o l is t h e t o ughest jo b in t h e w orld .

I f a w om an a lr e ady h as t w o g ir ls , s h e'll h id e a w ay in o rd er t o h ave a t h ir d c h ild . S he'll le ave a

m essa ge f o r t h e o ffi cia ls . T a ke t h e o x. D em olis h t h e t h re e r o om s. A nd s h e w on't c o m e b ack u ntil s h e's

g iv e n b ir th t o a s o n.

B ut n ow t h e p olic y is v e ry s tr ic t. W e h ave c h ecku ps e ve ry o th er m onth . S o h ow c a n o ne g et p re gnant?

I t 's e asy t o h ope, b ut it 's n ot a llo w ed. H ow c a n o ne m anage t o g iv e b ir th t o a s o n. Y o u c a n s till r u n. B ut

i f y o u r u n a w ay, t h ey w ill lo ok u p y o ur p are nts a nd r e fu se t o f e ed t h em . T hey w on't r e le ase t h em if y o u d on't c o m e b ack. O f c o urs e , y o u w ill f e el p it y f o r y o ur p are nts a nd c o m e h om e.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M y c o usin h ad h er fi rs t c h ild . T hen s h e g ot p re gnant a gain , s ix m onth s g one. S he r a n a w ay, a nd t h ey

l o cke d h er f a th er u p, s o s h e h ad t o c o m e b ack. T hey o nly le t h im g o a fte r s h e h ad h ad a n a bortio n.

I n s o m e a re as, s e le ctiv e a bortio n a nd e ve n f e m ale in fa ntic id e a re k n ow n t o o ccu r. T his h as c a use d a

g ender im bala nce o f a bout 1 0% . M any y o ung m en t o day w ill n ot b e a ble t o fi nd a b rid e.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

S o f o r u s a t g ra ssro ots le ve l, w e c a rry o ut t h e o ne c h ild p olic y s tr ic tly a cco rd in g t o g ove rn m ent

r e gula tio ns. It 's v e ry s tr ic t. W e'r e n ot a llo w ed t o d o o th erw is e .

I n t h e e arly y e ars o f t h e s c h em e, it w asn 't n early a s s tr ic t, a nd p easa nts le arn ed t o w ork t h e s y ste m .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I h ave t w o k id s. T his o ne's a b oy. W e d id n't h ave a p erm it t o h ave h im , s o w e w ere fi ned a bout $ 130.

I t 's r a th er lik e p ayin g m oney t o b uy a s o n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I w as fi ned $ 200 a nd a n a cre o f la nd f o r m y s o n. Y o u'd b ette r s tu dy h ard s o y o u c a n e arn t h at m oney

b ack f o r m e o ne d ay.

X ia ohai h ad b ow ed t o t h e in evit a ble . N ot t o m arry h as a lw ays b een s e en a s u ndutif u l, s in ce t h e f a m ily

n am e w ould d ie o ut w it h out a n h eir . A lw ays in t h e b ack o f t h e C hin ese m in d a re t h e w ord s o f

C onfu ciu s' g re ate st f o llo w er, M enciu s. T here is n o c rim e g re ate r t h an b ein g w it h out a n h eir .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I 'm s u ppose d t o g et m arrie d b eca use I'm o ve r 2 0. M y p are nts w ant a d aughte r-in -la w s o t h ey c a n

h ave g ra ndso ns. I d id n't w ant t o m ake m y p are nts a ngry , s o I h ad t o a cce pt t h e g ir l f r o m t h e

c o untr y sid e, e ve n if , in m y h eart, I'm s till n ot t h rille d a bout it . I h ave t o p re te nd t h at I'm h appy.

I n 1 950, C hin a a bolis h ed w hat t h ey c a lle d t h e f e udal m arrie d s y ste m , a s w ell a s t h e s u pre m acy o f

m an o ve r w om an. T he n ew d em ocra tic s y ste m w as b ase d o n f r e e c h oic e o f p artn ers a nd e qual r ig hts

f o r b oth s e xe s. [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE] a nd

B ut h ere in A nhui, y o u w ould n't b elie ve it 5 0 y e ars o n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A v illa ge is n ot lik e a t o w n, w here p eople c a n m eet, t a lk , a nd f a ll in lo ve . In t h e v illa ge, y o u g et

m arrie d fi rs t, a nd t h en y o u s ta rt t o g et c lo se t o e ach o th er s lo w ly .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

O nce t h ey g et m arrie d, it 'll b e b ette r. V illa ge lif e is n ot a s c o nfu sin g a s t h e c it y . A fte r a w hile , s h e w ill

g et p re gnant. A nd o nce t h ere 's a c h ild , t h in gs w ill b e fi ne.

T he Z heng w om en h ave a ll b een t h ro ugh s im ila r a rra nged m arria ges.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A s a w om an, t h e m ost im porta nt t h in g is r e puta tio n. It d oesn 't m atte r h ow m any a rg um ents a nd

fi ghts s h e h as w it h h er h usb and, s h e m ust n eve r g et d iv o rc e d.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A fte r a w om an is d iv o rc e d, it 'll b e v e ry d iffi cu lt f o r h er t o r e m arry. P e ople w ill s a y t h at n o m an w ill

w ant h er a ny lo nger. S he's lik e w orn o ut s h oes o r d am aged g oods. W om en w ill n eve r e ve n t h in k

a bout d iv o rc e .

D iv o rc e d w om en h ave h is to ric a lly f o und it h ard t o s u rv iv e . V ery o fte n, t h eir o w n f a m ilie s w on't e ve n

t a ke t h em b ack.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

S he w ill d o e ve ry th in g s h e c a n n ot t o b e d iv o rc e d. O nce s h e's d iv o rc e d, h er r e puta tio n w ill b e r u in ed.

S he m ig ht c o m mit s u ic id e b y p ois o nin g o r h angin g h ers e lf.

I n t h e c it y , d iv o rc e a nd t h e p osit io n o f w om en is v ie w ed d iff ere ntly .

[ P H ONE R IN G IN G ]

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE] N in a L iu is t h e h um an r e so urc e s d ir e cto r f o r P e psi f o ods in C hin a. N in a d oesn 't e xa ctly e m body t h e

m eek a nd m ild w om an o f C hin a's p ast, m ere ly o bedie nt a nd g entle in s p eech . B ut t h en C hair m an

M ao t r ie d t o c h ange t h e p osit io n o f w om en, s a yin g t h at w om en h eld u p h alf t h e s k y. S he's a ls o

s o m ew hat o f a n ove lt y , a s in gle m oth er. S epara te d f r o m h er h usb and f o r m any y e ars , s h e's a w ait in g

h er o w n d iv o rc e .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I n t h e p ast, fi lia l p ie ty w as a m ust. W om en h ad t o f o llo w t h e t h re e o bedie nce s a nd t h e f o ur v ir tu es.

A nd c h ild re n h ad t o s h ow t h eir p are nts fi lia l p ie ty . B ut n ow , t h ese t h in gs h ave c h anged a lo t. T he id eal

f a m ily s h ould b e h appy t o geth er. I'v e g ot u se d t o liv in g a nd w ork in g a lo ne, b ut s o m etim es I f e el t h at

m y f a m ily is n ot r e ally c o m pete .

H er s o n, Z hengqin g, is in h is fi nal y e ar a t b oard in g s c h ool.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I s ta rt t o f e el r e ally h appy o n F rid ay m orn in gs b eca use Z hengqin g c o m es h om e in t h e e ve nin g a nd

s ta ys u ntil S unday e ve nin g. T hese a re t w o s p ecia l d ays I c a n s h are w it h m y s o n. It 's t h e h appie st t im e

o f m y w eek.

N in a h as a g re at p assio n f o r C hin ese c u lt u re a nd t r a dit io n, e sp ecia lly a ntiq ues.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A ny s p are t im e s h e h as, s h e u se s t h e h unt f o r b arg ain s w it h f r ie nds. B ut h er s o n d oesn 't s h are h er

i n te re sts .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M y s o n's fi lia l t o m e, b ut h e h as h is o w n o pin io ns, w hic h d oesn 't s h are w it h m e. I d o w orry s o m etim es

t h at h e m ig ht d is c a rd m any o f t h e b est C hin ese t r a dit io ns. H e's a lit tle t o o m uch lik e a n A m eric a n b oy

f o r m y lik in g.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

S om etim es, I w ill u se m y p ow er a s a m um t o f o rc e h im t o c o m e t o t h e a ntiq ue m ark e t o r P e kin g

o pera w it h m e. I w ant h im t o a ppre cia te C hin ese c u lt u re . B ut s o m ehow , I f e el t h at h e p re fe rs

h am burg ers a nd A m eric a n f a st f o od, a nd d is lik e s t r a dit io nal C hin ese n oodle s a nd d um plin gs. [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I 'm q uit e W este rn a m ongst t h ose in m y g enera tio n. I s till fi nd t h in gs lik e t h e a ntiq ue m ark e t a nd

P e kin g o pera q uit e s tr a nge. A nd I d on't w ant t o g o t o t h em n ow . O ne d ay w hen I'm o ld er, I m ig ht g ro w

t o lik e t h em . P e rh aps w hen I'm m um 's a ge, I'll g ra dually c o m e t o a ppre cia te t h ese t h in gs.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

P e rs o nally , I p re fe r W este rn t o C hin ese f o od, b eca use W este rn f o od s a ve s t im e. I d on't h ave t o s it

a ro und w it h a b unch o f p eople a nd c h at. W este rn f o od a ls o g iv e s m e a s e nse o f f r e edom , m odern it y ,

a nd in dependence . I t h in k t h at C hin a is b eco m in g m ore a nd m ore W este rn . It 's t u rn in g it s e lf f r o m a n

a ncie nt c iv iliz a tio n in to a m odern c o untr y.

I n t h e c it y , t h e o ne c h ild p olic y is w ell a cce pte d. M any y o ung c o uple s a re n ow adays c h oosin g n ot t o

h ave c h ild re n a t a ll.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I lo ve c h ild re n, b ut I c a n o nly h ave o ne, s o it 's a c o nflic t.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f t h e p olic y c h anges, a nd if I w ere t o h ave a n ext lif e , o r if I w as s till y o ung, I w ould lo ve t o h ave t h re e

o r f o ur c h ild re n. B ein g a m oth er is g re at.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B ut t o day's s in gle c h ild re n a re s tr o ng in div id uals . T hey w ant t o b e d iff ere nt f r o m o th ers in w hate ve r

t h ey d o. In o ur d ay, w e t r ie d t o b e t h e s a m e a s e ach o th er.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T hro ughout C hin ese h is to ry , it 's b een v e ry d iffi cu lt t o h ave a s tr o ng in div id ualit y . B ut I'm n ot

f r ig hte ned o f b ein g s h ot if I s tic k m y h ead o ut. I d on't c a re . I'll d o w hat I w ant. I d on't c a re if it 's r ig ht

o r w ro ng.

[ C LU B M USIC ]

H e's n ot a lo ne. T here 's a w hole g enera tio n o f y o ung C hin ese lik e h im o ut t h ere . W ang Y ih ao h as d ecid ed t o t r y a c a re er a s a r o ck a nd r o ll m usic ia n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M y s o n h as a v e ry s tr o ng p ers o nalit y . H e d oesn 't lis te n t o u s. O nce h e's m ade u p h is m in d, it 's n o u se

t r y in g t o c h ange it . H e'd r a th er b ash h is h ead a gain st t h e w all u ntil it b le eds.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

C hin ese s o cie ty h as a lw ays w ante d p eople t o b e a lik e . T here 's a s a yin g, s h oot t h e b ir d w hic h s tic ks it s

h ead o ut. W hen s o m eone h as d iff ere nt o pin io ns o r id eas, h e's b ound t o h ave a ll k in ds o f o bsta cle s in

h is w ay.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e'r e r e ally w orrie d a bout h is f u tu re . W e'v e g ot t h is o nly c h ild , a nd it w asn 't e asy b rin gin g h im u p.

W e'v e g iv e n h im e ve ry th in g h e n eeded. If t h is is w hat's c a lle d a n in div id ual p ers o nalit y , I p re fe r h e

h ad n o in div id ualit y .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I t h in k in t h is s o cie ty , if y o u'r e a p ers o n w it h h orn s o n y o ur h ead, it 's v e ry p ain fu l t o p olis h t h ose o ff .

B ut in t h is s o cie ty , m any p eople w it h h orn s h ave h ad t h em p olis h ed o ff , v e ry p ain fu lly p olis h ed o ff .

[ S IN G IN G IN C H IN ESE]

A t t h e lo ca l c lu b, W ang Y ih ao h angs o ut w it h m usic ia n f r ie nds K ik a a nd K o ko .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

Y o u'r e 1 0 y e ars o ld er t h an m e a nd s till n obody w ants t o m arry y o u.

W hy s h ould I fi nd s o m eone t o m arry m e?

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

G ettin g m arrie d t o n ot is n ot w hat's im porta nt. I t h in k m arria ge is lik e h appin ess. It 'll c o m e b y it s e lf. If

i t d oesn 't c o m e, b ein g s in gle d oesn 't r e ally m atte r. I t h in k t h e m ost im porta nt t h in g is t o liv e lif e t o

t h e f u ll. I'v e n eve r f e lt t h at I s h ould g et m arrie d o r o nly h ave s e x a fte r m arria ge. M y p are nts h ave

n eve r a cce pte d m e h avin g s e x b efo re m arria ge. [ S IN G IN G ]

H avin g d ro pped o ut o f s c h ool a nd r u n a w ay a t 1 7, K ik a s p ent s e ve n y e ars in t h e u nderw orld o f

S henzh en in s o uth C hin a. S he's s e en a nd e xp erie nce d lif e in t h e r a w .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I g re w u p o n m y o w n o n t h e s tr e ets . T he p ro ce ss o f g ro w in g u p h as b een t o ugh, f u ll o f s u ff erin g.

S he b eca m e s e rio usly h ooke d o n h ero in . S he w as f o und b y h er p are nts . T hey s e nt h er t o a

r e habilit a tio n c lin ic . B ut o ld h abit s d ie h ard .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen I w as a ddic te d f o r t h e s e co nd t im e, m y f a th er g ave m e a n o ptio n. T o c h oose h ero in o r h im . H e

s a id t h at if I c h ose h ero in , h e'd g et m e a ll I n eeded, b ut h e w ould c u t m e o ff f r o m t h e f a m ily . It w as a

g am ble f o r h im . H e g am ble d o n w heth er o r n ot h e u nders to od m e. I w as v e ry m ove d. O f c o urs e , I t o ld

h im , I w ant y o u. B ut t o b e h onest, I w as a ctu ally c ra vin g f o r h ero in . I d id n't w ant t o g iv e it u p. B ut I

t o ld h im , I w ant y o u. Y o u'r e m y d ad.

[ S IN G IN G IN C H IN ESE]

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I 'm w orrie d a bout h im , m ostly a bout d ru gs, g am blin g, a nd s e x. It 's v e ry s e rio us in S hanghai.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f I'd k n ow n t h at h e w ould g et in to r o ck a nd r o ll, I w ould n't h ave b ought h im t h e g uit a r in A m eric a . If I

t e ll m y f r ie nds t h at m y s o n is n ow r e d-h air e d a nd a r o ll a nd r o ll s in ger s in gin g in b ars , o ld er p eople

w ill t h in k, w hat? H e s in gs in b ars ? S uch r o tte n p la ce s. It 's n ot fi t f o r d ece nt p eople .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e'r e s o w orrie d a bout h im . A s p are nts , n obody k n ow s h ow m uch w e w orry. W e w orry t h at h e's

g ettin g in vo lv e d in b ad t h in gs, t a kin g d ru gs.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T hin kin g a bout t h e liv e s o f r o ck a nd r o ll m usic ia ns, I'm r e ally w orrie d. [ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I d on't c a re w hat t h ey t h in k. I d on't w ant t o b e p art o f t h e s y ste m . I w ant t o h ave m y o w n id eas a nd d o

w hat I w ant t o d o.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I 'v e s u ff ere d a lo t b rin gin g h im u p.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I t o ld h im , if y o u d on't h ave a g ood lif e , I'll d ie w it h u nclo se d e ye s. I o nly h ave t h is c h ild . I p ut m y

w hole lif e in to h im . W e h ave s u ch g re at h opes f o r h im .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f I d o w hate ve r t h ey lik e , a nd I'm c o m ple te ly o bedie nt t o t h em , I'm m ere ly a s la ve . I'm n ot a s o n. I'll

c e ase b ein g a n in div id ual a nym ore . I c a n't b e b oth ere d w hat t h ey t h in k a bout m e.

A h, d am n it .

H ave t o day's s e lf- o bse sse d o nly c h ild re n b egun t h e d estr u ctio n o f t h e fi lia l f a m ily ? H ow w ill t h is

g enera tio n o f in div id uals fi t in to t h e C onfu cia n n et o f f a m ily a nd s o cia l o blig atio ns? C are o f t h e a ged

h as a lw ays b een t h e r e sp onsib ilit y o f t h e f a m ily . T hese c h ild re n a re f a cin g h uge b urd ens. T hey w ill

h ave t o s u pport t w o p are nts a nd f o ur g ra ndpare nts . T his is c a lle d t h e o ne t w o f o ur t r a p. C an t h ey

s h ould er t h is in ve rte d p yra m id w it h out t h e s a fe ty n et t h at t h e s ta te u se d t o p ro vid e?

T hre e h ours d riv e w est o f S hanghai in N anxu n, t h ere is a n ew p henom enon in C hin a, t h e p riv a te o ld

a ge h om e. U ntil n ow , t h e s o cia lis t s ta te h as a lw ays h ouse d t h e a ged w ho h ave n o c h ild re n. S hen

B aow en a nd h is w if e h ave liv e d h ere f o r t w o y e ars .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T he C hin ese a lw ays lik e liv in g w it h t h eir c h ild re n. W hen m y c h ild re n le ft t o jo in t h e A rm y, a t t h e

b otto m o f o ur h earts , w e d id n't w ant t o le t t h em g o. B ut b eca use it w as f o r t h e c o untr y 's b enefit, w e

s u pporte d t h em . W e lo ve o ur c h ild re n. O f c o urs e w e w is h t h ey liv e d n eare r t o u s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T he S hens' fi ve c h ild re n a re s c a tte re d a cro ss t h e c o untr y. T hey f o und it im possib le t o h ouse t h eir p are nts a s d uty d ic ta te s. S o t h ey'v e c lu bbed t o geth er t o in sta ll t h em in t h e h om e.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

T he f a cilit ie s a nd s e rv ic e s h ere a re n ot t h at b ad, b ut fi rs t I c o uld n't e ve n im agin e m y p are nts h ere . I

f e el s o g uilt y . T hey h ave fi ve c h ild re n a nd y e t s till e nd u p in t h is o ld a ge h om e. It 's r e ally d iffi cu lt t o

a cce pt.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

F o ur g enera tio ns liv in g u nder o ne r o of w ould b e id eal, b ut it 's n ot p ossib le f o r u s.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I f e el g uilt y s o m etim es. I f e el a sh am ed. O n t h e o th er h and, I t h in k if I m ake a s u cce ss o f m y jo b, m y

p are nts w ill b e h appy. B ut I h ave m ix e d f e elin gs a bout it a ll.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

N ow w e'r e o ld . W e'r e lo nely . W hen w e'r e ill, w e m is s o ur c h ild re n a nd w is h t h ey w ere a ro und. A t le ast

w e h ave e ach o th er. S he t a ke s c a re o f m e, a nd I t a ke c a re h er. T here a re s o m e lo nely o ld p eople . L if e

i s t o ugher f o r t h em . B ut t h at's lif e .

I t 's s p rin g f e stiv a l, a t im e w hen C hin ese f a m ilie s t r a dit io nally c o m e t o geth er. P e ople t r a ve l t h e le ngth

a nd b re adth o f C hin a t o jo in in t h e c e le bra tio ns. A ll o ve r C hin a, t h e e quiv a le nt o f C hris tm as

d eco ra tio ns a re o ut in f o rc e .

F o r t h e Z heng f a m ily , it 's t h e h ig h p oin t o f a b usy y e ar. E la bora te p re para tio ns h ave b een u nder w ay

t o s e ve ra l w eeks. T hey f o llo w t h e t r a dit io ns y e ar in y e ar o ut, u nch angin g.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hen w e f a th er t o geth er f o r f e stiv e o cca sio ns lik e t h is , w e r e m em ber o ur a nce sto rs a nd t h e g ood

e xa m ple s t h ey'v e le ft u s. W e b urn in ce nse a nd p ra y f o r p eace , s e cu rit y , a nd h arm ony, a s w ell a s a

p ro sp ero us b usin ess. B urn in g p aper m oney is lik e b urn in g b ankn ote s. T he m ore y o u b urn , t h e m ore

y o u g iv e t o t h e g ods, t h e m ore t h ey'll p ro te ct y o u. T hen b usin ess w ill b e s e cu re . W hen y o ur b usin ess

i s d oin g w ell, y o u b urn s till m ore p aper m oney t o t h e g ods. If y o ur b usin ess is s la ck, it m ig ht b e

b eca use y o u d id n't b urn e nough, o r t h at y o u w ere n ot s in ce re .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE] T here 's s o m eth in g q uit e s p ecia l a bout liv in g in a b ig f a m ily t o geth er, h arm onio usly . It 's q uit e r a re

t h ese d ays.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

O ve r 3 0 f a m ily m em bers liv in g t o geth er a nd e atin g t o geth er. W e n eve r d iff ere ntia te w hat is t h eir s o r

o urs . A b ig f a m ily is b est. W e c a n't le t t h is d is a ppear, b eca use o ur d eep-r o ote d C hin ese t r a dit io n is

e ve ry th in g t o u s.

A s C hin a m arc h es in to t h e n ew c e ntu ry , t h e C hin ese f a m ily is f a cin g h uge c h alle nges. T he s ta bilit y o f

t h e C hin ese s ta te h as a lw ays b een b ase d o n t h e f a m ily . C an t h e s lo w p ace o f h arm onio us, t r a dit io nal

f a m ily a dapt t o t h e s p eed m odern lif e d ic ta te s? C an t h e y o ung o nlie s b uild a f u tu re t h at w ill s u pport

a ll t h eir e ld ers ? T he a nsw ers t o t h ese q uestio ns w ill d ecid e in p art h ow s u cce ssfu lly C hin a m ake s it s

t r a nsit io n in to a m odern s o cie ty .

I n A nhui, it 's a t im e o f m ix e d e m otio ns. G re at g ra nny Z heng h as d ie d. K now in g o f h er t e rro r o f b ein g

c re m ate d, h er f a m ily h as h astily b urie d h er in s e cre t.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

M um , I'v e c o m e t o w eed y o ur g ra ve . I'v e c o m e t o s a y h ello . It 's m e. M um a nd d ad, c a n y o u h ere m e?

W hen y o u d ie d, m um , w e d id n't d o e nough. W e d id n't g iv e y o u a p ro per s e nd o ff o r f u nera l.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W e a ll f e el s o a sh am ed. A s c h ild re n, w e f e el w e'v e le t y o u d ow n, m um .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

O h, m um . I'm s o s o rry. I f e el I'v e r e ally le t y o u d ow n.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

X ia ohai fi nally t ie s t h e k n ot. H is t h re e c o usin s w it n ess t h e d eed. A c ir c le h as b een c lo se d.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

W hy d id I a gre e t o t h e m arria ge? B eca use I'm a fi lia l s o n. I d id n't w ant t o m ake m y p are nts w orrie d

a nd a ngry. If I d id n't m arry t h is g ir l, I w ould h ave f a ce d u nhappy p are nts n ig ht a nd d ay. I w ante d t o b e w it h t h at t o w n g ir l, b ut m y p are nts s a id n o.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

B ein g w it h t h is p easa nt g ir l h as m ade m y p are nts h appy, b ut n ot m e. I d id n't h ave a c h oic e . T o m ake

t h em c o nte nt, I h ad t o g et m arrie d, f o r g ood o r f o r b ad.

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

I t h in k t h at fi lia l o bedie nce is m ore im porta nt t h an m y o w n f e elin gs. T his is d uty , a nd I c a n't e sc a pe it .

[ S PE A KIN G C H IN ESE]

A t t h is w eddin g, I a m t h e o nly o ne w ho is n ot h appy. B ut it d oesn 't r e ally m atte r. T he w hole f a m ily is

h appy, s o m y p ers o nal f e elin gs a re a s n oth in g.

[ M USIC P LA YIN G ]