China in Ten Words

Chinese writer Yu Hua reflects on Chinese culture and history in chapters grouped around 10 themes. He combines personal memories with public history and reflective thoughts. Published in 2010/2011 this is a fantastic portrait of the country's transformations over the last century.

We learn about the importance of big-character posters during the Cultural Revolution, and the starving for stories in a world that's limited to texts by Mao and Lu Xun. We learn about denunciation and self-criticism sessions in a culture where losing face is of substantial value, and 9-year olds send their teachers to the hospital as misbehavior and violence is legitimized by the revolution. We learn about the symoblism and open fights over official seals, and how the country's recent economic gains are produced by a government that shows no concern for individual lives. Since the Tiananmensquare massacre has supressed all internal voices for human rights, China seems to be driven only by making money. According to Hua, this economical progress and democratic regress has led to a breakdown of social morality. Modern China is a world where everything is pirated, everyone cons everyone, and fake news and scams are so common that they are socially accepted.

This book was first published in a French translation in 2010 and then published in Chinese in Taiwan in 2011. Naturally, this book is banned in China.