Thanks so much for taking your time to share this. Im constantly fascinated by China’s growth and advancement. But thanks to you, Im now fascinated by China’s long old rich history. Please keep up the good work
I am thinking of her grandfather and my own experience of China and I feel two things need to be mentioned and remembered. One is the famine of the sixties were not just the result of Mao's error but also the external environment of Western containment and embargo. The second is that China is the only country that had successfully developed a full sovereignty in all areas from Western domination. The independence of China is in my opinion what enable China to achieve today's status and this modernity came about with sacrifices........Great work from you.
well said! We say the 2nd 30-year cannot deny the 1st 30-year. We, the Chinese, have experienced the great pains in the last 100 so years. What makes today’s achievement? I do believe they are the full independence and the redistribution of land (land reform). Without these two factors it hardly achieve what we have achieved today. Nevertheless this is under the CPC leadership. It is a tough process in the human history for what we are today! When I was in the school I doubted the system. And now I cannot be so sure we, as a country, are on the right track through years struggles, strives and hard works.
@@robertlu2344 Mao would never have tolerated western businesses setting up shop in China. The only reason China developed so rapidly is that it discarded Mao's extremist ideals. So yes, you could say Mao prepared the way, because everyone could see that the way he ran the country was obviously wrong, and so they learned what not to do.
@@PracticaProphetica If you know that Chairman Mao has made mistakes, India does not have any of Chairman Mao's faults, not even a single one. India did not have the Great Leap Forward, India did not have the Cultural Revolution, and it did not destroy traditional culture. It did not resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea or resist U.S. aggression and aid Vietnam. India is not anti-Soviet, has no political movements, does not persecute intellectuals, etc. India is awesome. India has avoided all the mistakes of Chairman Mao. Therefore, India is perfect. why? The answer can only be that Indians are smarter than Chinese people, and Indian civilization is smarter than Chinese civilization. When it comes to reform and opening up specifically, every Indian leader is Deng Xiaoping Because Deng Xiaoping did not avoid even one of Chairman Mao's mistakes, let alone avoid all of Chairman Mao's mistakes. Therefore, every Indian leader is 100 million times smarter than Deng Xiaoping.
"前人种树，后人乘凉" - "The predecessors plant the trees, the descendants enjoy the shade." Appreciate foundation built by the past people, to enable we to enjoy what we have today...
There is an old Chinese story: a guy ate six buns and was still hungry, but after ate the seventh bun he became full, so he said to himself I should've just had the seventh bun that made me full . The moral of this story is that he wouldn't be full without the first six buns he ate. Sure China became more successful after Mao's death, but the industrial foundations that were established during Mao was like the first six buns, it enabled China's booming manufacturing after economic reform.
All my love and respect for your grandfather and all your family, and all the people, the working class worldwide, who fought and suffered for us to live like this. I'm in tears remembering my own grandfather who told me the same about happiness. Thank you so much, regards from Chile.
I've been learning mandarin over the past few months, but part of what I love is that more than just the language, I am learning about entire ancestries, struggles, political movements etc. that I never would have possibly been exposed to. I am very happy to have learned your grandfather's story, thank you.
This was so refreshing compared to the usual one-direction documentary about that period of struggle. It was truly beautiful to see things from your grandfather prospectives and being a foreigner living in China for so many years I think your work touched me deeply. Thank you for that :)
As a Chinese, I am also touched when grandfather telling the story of his mother. old generation had their suffering, we new generation also experienced different suffering. Life need to go on.
I’m a 22 year old student from Florida, USA and I have studied Chinese history and the accomplishments of the CPC. The Chinese people are one of the bravest and most determined In the world. And the PRC today stands head and shoulders as the most important project for the betterment and development of mankind. The Chinese people carry the fire of the human spirit in them. And they inspire billions of people around the world such as myself. Love and solidarity from the United States 🇺🇸🇨🇳
It is absolutely refreshing to see a young person like yourself trying to know more about your country's past, and in the process, appreciate how far your country has progressed despite the many challenges faced by the older generation in making China what it is today. Good job!
Your videos continue to illuminate Chinese history and culture. Especially for those in the West. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to journalism and modern cultural juxtaposition and thought. Your Grandad is a treasure.
Dear foreign friends, I am Chinese and I look forward to you not being blinded by the lies and information described by the West. You should go to China with your own eyes to understand the true historical facts, go to the Chinese library and among the Chinese people to take a look, ask the Chinese people, instead of blindly accepting deliberate lies fabricated by some people to slander China and Mao Zedong in the media of countries that do not understand China, especially in anti China news media. First of all, I would like to remind you that a large number of anti China, anti Mao Zedong, and anti Communist people, along with their ancestors, are bad people. They are all warlords, landlords, and evil gentry groups that were driven to Taiwan by the Chinese people. They enslaved and oppressed the Chinese people in China, and were defeated by the Chinese people. Mao Zedong led Chinese farmers and workers to resist the enslavement and oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China, and ultimately defeated the warlord group led by Chiang Kai shek, and established the People's Republic of China in 1949. Remember, the republic is a republic. Foreign friends, if you are interested in China, you must go to China to get to know it for yourself. Don't believe the western media. I can tell you directly that about 90% of the news you see on RUclips, Facebook and Twitter about the CPC and Mao Zedong are anti China and anti Communist Chinese who immigrated from Taiwan in the early days. They were fabricated by the followers of Chiang Kai shek in the Republic of China because they hate Mao Zedong for leading the Chinese people to defeat them. We look forward to your buying a bilingual edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Taobao. This book, which has been called the "people's bible" by the Chinese people, contains the speeches made by Mao Zedong in the national newspapers during the period from 1926 to 1949 when he led the Chinese people to wage the People's Democratic War against the warlord government of the Republic of China oppressing the Chinese people. The contents of the book, including the contents of the civil war between the CPC and the Government of the Republic of China, can clearly understand the real people's leader Mao Zedong and the history of the CPC from its establishment to today as the world's largest party. You know, China has always been suppressed and smeared by the West led by the United States. The trade war, technology war, etc. initiated by the United States against China are all part of the anti China movement. It is difficult for you to hear and see the correct historical facts about China and Mao Zedong in the media under the discourse hegemony controlled by the West. Mao Zedong holds the highest position in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is deeply loved and supported by the Chinese people because he saved them. However, on the contrary, Mao Zedong was also deeply hated by the warlords, landlords, and evil gentry of the Republic of China. During the government era led by Chiang Kai shek, about 95% of the Chinese people were slaves under the rule of Chiang Kai shek's warlord government. For generations, the Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by government organizations composed of warlords, bureaucrats, landlords, and some gangsters. The Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by these warlords and landlords, and their food and clothing were not covered. They were slaves for generations, begging and selling children and women along the streets, being driven to work by landlords, and having no land of their own. All the land was occupied by warlords and landlords under the rule of the government of the Republic of China. If you have been to India, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, Laos, you will see children begging on the streets, and in the era of the Republic of China, about 95% of Chinese people were like this. At the same time, there was also Japan's invasion and massacre of China. In such a criminal era, it was Mao Zedong who led the CPC, led poor workers and farmers, and led students and teachers to form a people's democratic revolutionary struggle against the oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China. In the end, the warlord government of the Republic of China was defeated. The number of these warlord landlords in China was about 8 million, and a large part of them fled to Taiwan. Then, they immigrated from Taiwan to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with many Chinese. The earliest Chinese immigrants to countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were mostly from Taiwan, and their ancestors were warlord landlords and their descendants. These people fabricated false history and lies in Western media, smearing and slandering China. This is the earliest Chinese, and also the terrifying voices about China that your ancestors or you often hear in Western media, mostly from these people. I look forward to you all maintaining a questioning attitude. If possible, please come to China to personally investigate and research, and do not believe any lies fabricated by the media. This is not history at all. Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people were no longer slaves, but became masters of the country. Mao Zedong did not enslave and oppress the Chinese people like the government of the Republic of China did, but instead allowed the Chinese people to go to school for free, receive medical treatment for free, and have housing for free. The people will no longer be displaced, the Chinese people will no longer be unable to afford medical care, and the Chinese people will no longer lose the right to access knowledge because they do not have the money to go to school. All of them will receive free education. Mao Zedong did everything for the Chinese people. Excuse me, Biden, can we provide free housing for the American people? Or use houses to turn people into mortgage slaves? Why do Chinese people love Mao Zedong so much? Because Mao Zedong loved the people more than his biological parents. During Mao Zedong's era, the people's government built houses and distributed them to the people for free, free of charge. People's education, free of charge, and free of charge, are all borne by the state. Everything is for the people. If such a people's leader is smeared and slandered by bad people, as a Chinese, even a foreigner, if your president loves you and your people so much, builds a house, gives it to you for free, reduces the burden of people's lives, provides free education, and does not charge any money... Would you not love it? Natural love. However, such a true people's leader, the People's Republic of China, which is now China, once appeared, and his name was Mao Zedong. However, it is no longer the case now. China has returned to the path of capitalism, and these welfare arrests have been stolen by capitalists. The Chinese people have become slaves to housing and high interest loans again...., I look forward to foreign friends who can learn about a human leader Mao Zedong with their hearts. Thank you all
As a 外国人 living in China, and as someone who wants to understand the country more, it’s always great to hear an insight that feels so authentic as yours. That applies to your 祖父 as well. You’re an inspiration! 非常感谢你 😀
Greetings from Taiwan. Just wanted to compliment on how good this video is! From content to cinematography, it is an excellent piece of work! You nailed it!
As someone who often surfs outside of the "wall", looking back the days when people was giving trashtalks to China on different platforms, I always reminded myself that the first and foremost thing for me to speak and write something about China is to be objective and have an independent thinking. As Chinese, I admit we do have problems on variour sectors of the society, but if that is the reason one wants to totally deny his Country, I have to say that kind of person is no better living in anywhere else outside China. What i am trying to say is that you always should first love the Country where you come from then you can have the qualification to criticize it. Never forget the root and blood.
@abintr0 Lol... As if not ignoring the problem means any problem will be magically resolved?!? Asking the right question helps to identify the real problem(s), and hopefully a good solution. But asking the wrong question often creates many unnecessary problems and wasteful efforts. What's more important is having wise and capable leadership and an established continuously improving work-in-progress system? 😊
I loved this personal story from your grandfather. I was a student in Wuhan in 1990, people seemed a bit reluctant to speak to us laowais back then, given recent events, so I never got to know too many local people. It was so nice to hear some Wuhan accent again. The city has changed so much since then! I hope more people can see and share similar personal stories. The way the west demonizes China as an enemy, if they could see these and realise we're all basically the same with the same hopes and feelings, then maybe there could be less hatred and "othering". Thanks for sharing!
When u hope more people can share personal story, those whose personal experience is contracty to Communists' narrative actually have to shut up. So no matter how the other side speak up based on true experience, the story is broken and not complete. More of that , it usually conveys a distorted picture, as if u see an elephant like a snake when u just grab its tail.
17:30 to 18:54 All my respect to your grandfather! A man of conviction, conscious and thankful of the effort of the Chinese people and the party. This is an inspiration for people like me, who has decided to devote his life to help to transform his country.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather's life experiences. This video provides a fair and rational commentary on his contributions to China's rise and the challenging times during China's struggles. Assessing historical figures, whether it be Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Mao Zedong, or Zhou Enlai, requires considering the historical context of their respective periods. My grandfather, a national capitalist, belonged to the political category of national industrial and commercial workers. After liberation, he faced criticism, lost his property, and passed away shortly thereafter at the age of 60. Before his death, he expressed to my father that he could see China developing and prospering, emphasizing that the well-being of the common people is the only hope for the nation's prosperity. This reflects the perspective of a national capitalist on the relationship between individual and national interests. My father, younger than your grandfather, graduated in aeronautical engineering, specializing in aircraft engines. While your grandfather earned 22 yuan a month, my father earned 72 yuan a month, consistently emphasizing the need to reciprocate the threefold salary granted to technical personnel compared to ordinary workers. He later received a national science and technology award in his role as one of the design engineers.
Incredible production. So interesting to see the CPC through the eyes of someone who feels he benefited so strongly from it. You both did a great job including historical and personal context, leading to a perspective I'm not sure I've seen before in popular media.
I almost stood up to give you a round of applause at the end - that was fantastic! You were missed, you hadn't uploaded videos in a while and you came back with this. Bravo! Your grandfather's story is fascinating, and so is your perspective on that entire era. There is an author and doctor called Han Suyin, and I've been compiling on my channel some of the interviews I've found of hers. Starting in the the 1960s she was telling the world this same perspective, that this revolution was an economic experiment that had succeeded, and that it would not have been possible without Mao. If it wasn't for Mao, China "would be still governed by the warlords, or be a puppet state of Russia, it would be worse than Latin America". "And that it was during this time that the people to whom Mao said "dare to speak! dare to think! dare to do!" began to dare". Truly a fascinating video -- thank you for sharing your granddad's views and history with us. Cheers!
Dear foreign friends, I am Chinese and I look forward to you not being blinded by the lies and information described by the West. You should go to China with your own eyes to understand the true historical facts, go to the Chinese library and among the Chinese people to take a look, ask the Chinese people, instead of blindly accepting deliberate lies fabricated by some people to slander China and Mao Zedong in the media of countries that do not understand China, especially in anti China news media. First of all, I would like to remind you that a large number of anti China, anti Mao Zedong, and anti Communist people, along with their ancestors, are bad people. They are all warlords, landlords, and evil gentry groups that were driven to Taiwan by the Chinese people. They enslaved and oppressed the Chinese people in China, and were defeated by the Chinese people. Mao Zedong led Chinese farmers and workers to resist the enslavement and oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China, and ultimately defeated the warlord group led by Chiang Kai shek, and established the People's Republic of China in 1949. Remember, the republic is a republic. Foreign friends, if you are interested in China, you must go to China to get to know it for yourself. Don't believe the western media. I can tell you directly that about 90% of the news you see on RUclips, Facebook and Twitter about the CPC and Mao Zedong are anti China and anti Communist Chinese who immigrated from Taiwan in the early days. They were fabricated by the followers of Chiang Kai shek in the Republic of China because they hate Mao Zedong for leading the Chinese people to defeat them. We look forward to your buying a bilingual edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Taobao. This book, which has been called the "people's bible" by the Chinese people, contains the speeches made by Mao Zedong in the national newspapers during the period from 1926 to 1949 when he led the Chinese people to wage the People's Democratic War against the warlord government of the Republic of China oppressing the Chinese people. The contents of the book, including the contents of the civil war between the CPC and the Government of the Republic of China, can clearly understand the real people's leader Mao Zedong and the history of the CPC from its establishment to today as the world's largest party. You know, China has always been suppressed and smeared by the West led by the United States. The trade war, technology war, etc. initiated by the United States against China are all part of the anti China movement. It is difficult for you to hear and see the correct historical facts about China and Mao Zedong in the media under the discourse hegemony controlled by the West. Mao Zedong holds the highest position in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is deeply loved and supported by the Chinese people because he saved them. However, on the contrary, Mao Zedong was also deeply hated by the warlords, landlords, and evil gentry of the Republic of China. During the government era led by Chiang Kai shek, about 95% of the Chinese people were slaves under the rule of Chiang Kai shek's warlord government. For generations, the Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by government organizations composed of warlords, bureaucrats, landlords, and some gangsters. The Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by these warlords and landlords, and their food and clothing were not covered. They were slaves for generations, begging and selling children and women along the streets, being driven to work by landlords, and having no land of their own. All the land was occupied by warlords and landlords under the rule of the government of the Republic of China. If you have been to India, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, Laos, you will see children begging on the streets, and in the era of the Republic of China, about 95% of Chinese people were like this. At the same time, there was also Japan's invasion and massacre of China. In such a criminal era, it was Mao Zedong who led the CPC, led poor workers and farmers, and led students and teachers to form a people's democratic revolutionary struggle against the oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China. In the end, the warlord government of the Republic of China was defeated. The number of these warlord landlords in China was about 8 million, and a large part of them fled to Taiwan. Then, they immigrated from Taiwan to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with many Chinese. The earliest Chinese immigrants to countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were mostly from Taiwan, and their ancestors were warlord landlords and their descendants. These people fabricated false history and lies in Western media, smearing and slandering China. This is the earliest Chinese, and also the terrifying voices about China that your ancestors or you often hear in Western media, mostly from these people. I look forward to you all maintaining a questioning attitude. If possible, please come to China to personally investigate and research, and do not believe any lies fabricated by the media. This is not history at all. Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people were no longer slaves, but became masters of the country. Mao Zedong did not enslave and oppress the Chinese people like the government of the Republic of China did, but instead allowed the Chinese people to go to school for free, receive medical treatment for free, and have housing for free. The people will no longer be displaced, the Chinese people will no longer be unable to afford medical care, and the Chinese people will no longer lose the right to access knowledge because they do not have the money to go to school. All of them will receive free education. Mao Zedong did everything for the Chinese people. Excuse me, Biden, can we provide free housing for the American people? Or use houses to turn people into mortgage slaves? Why do Chinese people love Mao Zedong so much? Because Mao Zedong loved the people more than his biological parents. During Mao Zedong's era, the people's government built houses and distributed them to the people for free, free of charge. People's education, free of charge, and free of charge, are all borne by the state. Everything is for the people. If such a people's leader is smeared and slandered by bad people, as a Chinese, even a foreigner, if your president loves you and your people so much, builds a house, gives it to you for free, reduces the burden of people's lives, provides free education, and does not charge any money... Would you not love it? Natural love. However, such a true people's leader, the People's Republic of China, which is now China, once appeared, and his name was Mao Zedong. However, it is no longer the case now. China has returned to the path of capitalism, and these welfare arrests have been stolen by capitalists. The Chinese people have become slaves to housing and high interest loans again...., I look forward to foreign friends who can learn about a human leader Mao Zedong with their hearts. Thank you all
@@ekaytan8904 I have been uploading to my channel a few of her interviews in french and in english that I've found online. Truly a brilliant, charming, eloquent thinker.
@@minlee5606. One generation stands on the shoulders of the last generation. That's how we progress and evolve. No generation is perfect. If not for Mao, China could not be what it is today. Sure, massive mistakes were made and untold sufferings endured as a consequence. How and what the next generation learned from it to make things better is what determines the future. That's where the foundational values of a people can contribute towards " improving" society and the quality of the civilization. In my opinion, China had the good fortune to have had the influence of a long lineage of sages from Lao Tzu to Chiang Tzu, Lei Tzu, Confucius, Mencius etc as well as foreign "masters" and Buddhas from Gautam Sidharta's lineage from India which laid very strong DNA/genetic foundations through to today's generation despite the Cultural Revolution etc. The West did not have the benefit of this long history and tradition, unfortunately. Hence, their " values" are different. I hope this partly answers your question. It'll require a lot more than this simplistically condensed explanation to fully answer your question. 🎉❤🎉
Thank you for this. The changes that your grandfather and others of his era have experienced, need to be recorded with empathy and care. These people contributed to one of the greatest human liberations of all times. Their sufferings and successes can be our light for the future. There is so much to learn before these fabulous people leave us. Keep up your good work.
Thank you for such an wonderful video. I am a Canadian, lower-working class person in their thirties, working and living in Canada. I greatly admire the CPC and the accomplishments of the Chinese people. To me, Mao is a brave hero and the CPC, as your grandfather said, liberated the working class of China from brutal imperialists like the Japanese and the British. However, things were not easy, and China's development was done amongst incredible difficult circumstances. At times, mistakes were made, common people suffered. However, without a doubt, China and Chinese people have greatly benefitted from the revolution and the leadership of the party. I honestly believe China has a bright future, as long as the US government doesn't try to interfere with China too much. Thank you for showing your grandfather's candid thoughts, as well as your own. This was wonderful to watch.
@ydw9527, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." ~ Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm not sure if the next quote is factual or not, "Deng Xiaoping said Mao Zedong is 70% good 30% bad." - meaning he made mistakes but he was good too. See it through Yin/Yang, not black or white. ☯ 🦉 Every past and present leader of China has made mistakes, made contributions, etc. to the development of China into what it is today. Although, not perfect, its leadership has done a lot for its 98%. Let the costal cities become rich first, and then focus on the hinterland.
@@ydw9527LOL Place the blame on 1 person and neglecting to view the entire picture of an 8 country invasion which led to Japan's atrocities and then a civil war, Korean war and then the embargo by US and its gang of thugs did not contribute a high percentage of the suffering of China and its people right? China couldn't even aquire things from outside their country because of this embargo! Are you truly this biased or do you lack critical thinking skills? The colonists left China in shambles and are still attacking and trying to cripple China as we speak! Refrain from commenting unless you can take in ALL FACTORS for critical thinking. Otherwise, you make yourself out to be a colonialist looking for opportunity to degrade a nation to implement neo-colonial expansion!
Such a humbling video. We can get political, argue about what could or should have been, but the chinese had it rough and endured it, in the end there is no place like home and life is far from perfect, our youth goes by so fast. 谢谢你， 新年快乐！
This was greatly done and leaves me wanting to know more. I wish you turned this into a series, by maybe delving deeper into some periods, or interviewing more people, etc
Superb video!!! Without a doubt, this was one of the best videos I’ve watched that gave a personal perspective of China during the period before, during, and after the cultural revolution. Your granddad‘s deep, wisdom, and knowledge of those times is evident. Also evident is your love for your granddad. Congratulations on an excellent video.
Wow, the production value of that video, more like film, was amazing! Your stories are so incredibly important in a world where most stories about China are geopolitically biased. I love and will support your work!
Excellent story, captivating images, and above all an insightful self-reflection and soul-searching. The contrast between the present generation and the one before last is so sharp that it's difficult for anyone to comprehend, let alone the young people immerged in senseless pursuit of material wealth. I wish more young people would spend some time to connect with their forbears and appreciate what they now have. There's a lot that the professional adults at the BBC, PBS and CCTV have to learn from this twenty-something 👍
A remarkable grandfather, a principled man and truly a son of the motherland. Very interesting and insightful videos about this great country. Surely your videos would have satisfied just about all questions and perspectives of this beautiful country and her people imbibed with good values and virtues.
Your grandad and most of the men and women of his generation gave you a beautiful prosperous country as an inheritance. Your family's story is so inspiring!
One of the best videos around!! It gives you an idea what China had to endure and just how far China has advanced. Amazing story!!! Keep up the good work!
without people like your grandfather who fought so hard in china's worst time, there will be no prosper china like today, i admired your grandfather really, he is a hero and also all those people who stays to make china a better place, thank you for this content, this is really a great one!
Beautifully projected, Thank you for sharing. To give back to the society that raised you, it’s what a responsible person would do. Advancement comes at a price, all things go thru a process and most processes are complicated. It’s heartening to know that the young Chinese like yourself are digging into the past and trying to understand this colossal history of China.
I personally salute your Grand Dad. He is true to his life, who hold the values, led his life for the betterment of everyone of you. It's equally true to many.
Siming Lan thank you for this portrayal of a great life, that of your Grandad; China today owes it's prosperity and enviable modernity to his generation's hard work and sacrifice.
That was the best video that I have seen on this channel. Your relationship with your grandad is remarkable and the way you linked that history to your today was elegantly done- nice one!!
This is a truly wonderful video. I learned a lot. As a Chinese-Canadian born and bred in Northern Ontario, I had no connection with China. Nevertheless, I have a growing understanding of China from the many times I've visited the country, and from the many stories from people like yourself. Thank you. Could I buy one of those cool walking sticks from your granddad? I'm 70 and my legs are starting to give out.
You’re from northern Ontario? No wonder you dislike the US! My first experience with anti-Americanism as a child occurred there while having dinner with my friend’s family who were decendants of the loyalists that fled the “colonies” to Canada after the American Revolution. That said, always good to see a familiar name.
What an amazing video. Hearing the history of your grandpa was just sad and incredible at the same time. Take care of him and your grandma too. Keep it up!
Hello from Calgary, Canada. I really enjoy your video's but also how well you articulate the cross-cutting themes and issues relating to China. Amazing work on your video! this is my favourite thus far because you are connecting your family and generational perspectives to help us learn more about the transformational change in China. Well done!
Nihao Lan, I'm so happy I came across your channel. I'm David, currently in Australia, and I was born in Hobart Tasmania, Australia. I lived in China for some years, married a Chinese Nationalist and we moved our life to Australia. That relationship is long over now. I love China very much, and I'm also extremely loyal to the CCP and their values, the Chinese culture, and China's values. I've travelled much of China, but I still have a lot to see and to experience. I mainly lived in Xiamen Fujian and Tangshan Hebei. It's great to see your videos. My adopted daughter works for the CCP and is the district manager of Sanming City in Fujian.
Official translation is CPC not CCP. Communist Party of China means the Communist Party around the world share the same creed, which is "Workingmen of all Countries unite! " from Karl Marx. It's not "China's" Communist Party.
This is a very good video! Looking at the perspective of a different generation will let you understand the difficulties people were facing at those times. This is probably one of the best video I have seen! Very insightful!
as a Wuhan grown-up, studied abroad and working outside of mainland, this echoes a lots of the memories and ideologies of mine, towards a lot of things. thank you for the work and best wishes to grandfather and all.
This was awesome on multiple levels. Ya granddads fascinating life story, CCP history with real people, ya granddad's loyalty to China and CCP, his concern about your martial status haha. This kind of content is why I'm subscribed
I don't think most people realize that the industrialization which China has gone through since 1978 happened very quickly. The western world took almost 200 years with it's industrial revolution. That gives you a lot of time to adapt. China did it in just a few decades. That included the migration of people from the countryside to the cities. That's an awful lot of change to absorb in just 30 or 40 years. But China did it. That last scene though shows you it doesn't matter what country you're from, when the younger generation is sitting around the dining table with the older generation the ultimate question is - "how come you're not married yet?"
China benefited from having the technology of the west imported into it, so of course, the development was more rapid. They didn't have to go from the steam engine and on... This rapid change has other consequences you didn't mention. Massive pollution, forced relocation, loss of lands without proper remuneration, breaking up of families (where the parents go off to work in the factories and the kids stay with the grandparents), horrible workers rights abuses (996, for example, working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week). I don't think the rapid change is worth the costs paid by humanity and nature.
@@PracticaProphetica1st of all, the west did not do the charity and they are for the profit and 2ndly what you discribed happened all over the world, in States, uk, Japan, etc. not just confined in China but at different times.
@@robertlu2344 Exactly. And that is my underlying point: all nations are affected by selfish humans, who use "generosity" as their excuse to do selfish business. I'm not trying to support any system of government. I'm arguing that selfishness affects everyone. China is not exempt.
@@avonzhang4635 I did do that. It's interesting history, and not just confined to England. So these were "common lands" that I gather nobody particularly owned (except the government) and the poor could farm on them if they wished. Then, to increase agricultural production, these lands were privatized. First of all, we should be clear that there are natural rights, and there are given rights. Given rights apply to your interaction with the world around you. These can be granted or taken away, depending on the decisions of governments. These decisions are supposed to be made "for the common good" of the nation. Natural rights are those that are built in to your nature. The right to breathe, the right to move, the right to think freely and act based on moral principles (your conscience, etc). Nobody can take those rights away without violating your nature, and robbing you of your humanity. In the case of the "enclosure" lands, well they were "given" rights, not natural. So they could be taken away. The only question is, did the government make this decision maliciously (i.e. to make lots of money and please their rich friends), or did they do it so that the land would be used more efficiently for the good of all the citizens? I don't have enough details to make that judgment. No matter what a government does, there will always be some people who are not happy about it, especially if it causes their lives to change. And by the way, the same problems are faced in China. The ownership and use of land has gone through many different phases and changes of law. In the past, although the people were given land to farm, that land could be taken away by the government for various reasons. Sometimes municipal governents could abuse this law, and take away the land for selfish reasons. So recently laws were made to make this more difficult, and to try and assure that the farmer was not left with nothing. I'm basing this on an article I read about "land use in China."
It's so clear how much love your grandfather has for you and family. I may have teared up watching him tear up over his remembrance of his mother. What a lovely man.
Thank you for this video. For me, as a Canadian in my 30s navigating my own complicated relationship with my country and the moral conviction and perspectives of those in my parents’ and grandparents’ generation, I appreciate how you let him speak his own words. Especially at the end where his views produce discouragement and anxiety for those of us trying to find our own way. I feel like the more I understand these earlier generations and remember that, while they feel right about their decisions and that, because they overcame pain and hardship, we should find contentment through taking a path already laid by them, we have our own circumstances today and we should navigate them with respect both for them and for ourselves. My early education positioned the CPC in a purely negative light, and your videos but especially this one provides helpful perspective in understanding the necessary nuances and identifying differing narratives. Also, your production/editing just gets better and better-fantastic work on not just the content but also the presentation!
Different positions have different views, from the literati and landlords, the Communist Party is bad, but from more ordinary people, the Communist Party is relatively good, and as an overseas Chinese there is also a little problem, because they are originally foreigners, if there is still spreading the atmosphere of discrimination in the region, standing in the perspective of the locals, you are coming over to sit on the sidelines, even if you are bullied or ruined today, as long as the welfare of the region is still there, there will be more of these people to come, you are considered a betrayer from blood to culture. Even if you are bullied or ruined today, as long as the welfare of my area is still there, there will be more such people coming. From the perspective of your compatriots, you have left the land where you were born and raised, and abandoned your blood relatives, and you are considered to be a betrayer from blood to culture, although the morality of the Chinese people makes it so that many of them won't say this sentence.
Great video, very heart warming. Your grandfather is typical of the soul and spirit that lives in China - the past pains struggles hopes and dreams realized and the wisdom to know the future lies in the young generation with the baton of opportunity passed to them.
Happy to see that you haven't forgotten your RUclips channel. Great storytelling again. As an oversea Chinese who no longer speaks the language, I'm glad that someone - from the inside - tells a human story that isn't driven by the political agenda of the western media (and vice versa by the CPC).
So glad to see another video from you! I was wondering when it's coming! I really appreciate your storytelling and the effort you put into filming this video. Your grandpa has a great story, he must be proud of you sharing it with the world!
Hi Lan, subscribed for a long time, just get to know you and me are from the same hometown. So familiar with your grandpa’s accent, touched me and get me back to some part of my memories. It is quite a controversial topic of this episode, but anyway you bring us a vivid and truly aspect of those days. It’s hard to believe your grandpa is over 90 years old, looks very healthy, best wishes.
Excellently crafted video. A large portion of the famine was avoidable, and plenty of blame can go to many government officials all the way at the top and down to the village level. Virtually every single family in China suffered during that period, and to an extent there is lingering resentment or at least sorrow and regret. Simultaneously, the context matters. They largely had good intentions. They wanted China to rapidly industrialize so that China can become strong and the Chinese people can prosper. They, the people and the party, zealously wanted this. They, with their insufficient scientific understanding, wanted more than nature could allow. They, with their ideologically naive and nascent administrative skill, wanted more than the people could provide. They failed and the people suffered. And they learned from their failure. And we continue to see the results. On this last point, there is a sobering study that I like to refer to, from the renowned Indian economist Amartya Sen: "Finally, it is important to note that despite the gigantic size of excess mortality in the Chinese famine, the extra mortality in India from regular deprivation in normal times vastly overshadows the former. Comparing India's death rate of 12 per thousand with China's of 7 per thousand, and applying that difference to the Indian population of 781 million in 1986, we get an estimate of excess normal mortality in India of 3.9 million per year. This implies that every eight years or so more people die in India because of its higher regular death rate than died in China in the gigantic famine of 1958-61. India seems to manage to fill its cupboard with more skeletons every eight years than China put there in its years of shame."
This is because China carried out land reform, while India still has landlords, and as time goes on, the landlords will acquire more land, and they will give priority to selling grain abroad at a high price before considering the Indians.
Thank you for sharing, and a very good point about the intensions of the CPC and its leadership, the naivity and lack of skills at that time. Communism is not only a political movment, also a science that as you learn, test, correct, and learn more, test more and correct more, repeat that until you get to the communism goal for entire humanity.
@@中国螃蟹哥true. Of the similar population of China and India, China is the largest food importer and India is the largest rice exporter in the world. The fact speaks itself.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, your grandfather is a true hero his tears speaks volumes of the past but his smiles surely point to a bright and wonderful future for China, blessings to you 🙏
Great story with so many lessons. Much respect to your grandpa and his generation. I'm twice your age, single and ok with that - but he makes a good point in the end. May your journey and wisdom cross paths at the right moment in your own life and wish you all the best. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!!!
If you ask the older generation, like my grandmother in-law, they love Mao. Your grandfather hinted at the same thing. He said he could get randomly beaten before Mao. Ask him how rich China was then. Do you think China would be the same without Mao, who laid the groundwork, and Xiaoping, who continued Mao's work? India took a different path. Where is it now? If the CPC hadn't taken over, China now would be more backwards than India, it wouldn't be the prosperous country it is now. And the great famine - do you know who solved it? Uncle Yuan - wholly a product of Mao's era. Communism destroyed the famines - famine was a regular occurance before the CPC took over, there was one big one after and now there are no more. It is only the people who don't have any experience with China before 1949 who seem to feel "complicated". Try just being proud. You have no idea how amazing China's continued development is. Yes, there were mistakes made - as your grandfather explained, but the people raised themselves from ignorance and absolute poverty. It's absolutely not the free market that made China prosperous - again, look at India (oh, India has corruption, etc - ok, well why doesn’t China have that corruption?). Just try being grateful.
The blueprint was first drawn by Sun Yat Sen, he wanted a unified china after it was broken by the opium wars and divided into territories controlled by warlords and foreign powers. Sun Yat Sen realized democracy would be difficult to settle in a country as diverse and big as china with a strong culture dating 5000 years, but he called for modernization, building hydroelectric dams and rail networks. When the CCP took over under Mao, he unified the country and brought peace, it was during the cold war and battles had to be fought to cement china's security, in such circumstances, Mao's big leap forward was perhaps too ambitious. When Deng took over he found a solid foundation and adjusted the economy allowing for the development, the harmony within chinese society helped this plan. It wasn't easy and it certainly came at a cost but overall what china did was outstanding and something every chinese should look back with pride and a lesson in hard work and sacrifice.
lol what do you mean by where is it now .... India had its own problem but you just cant compare China's lil bit of diversity with of India hundreds of different languages, different religions,1000 of minorities and majors kingdoms and empires still surviving under British but the important thing is that west only controlled some provinces of China in comparison entire Indian subcontinent was under British for 200 yrs but we still survived 3 wars with Pakistan and china and was able to stand up without killing and forcing our youth from that kind of mao regime..... and of economy we are lazy asf but we will surely catchup in 40 yrs which were wasted by our dumb socialist govt who denied captiaism till 90s and ah corruption it is bad we know but if you really want to know why its that bad ...Only thing I blame is pure politics play and India's steel bureaucracy just check out politics of 80s and 90s its even crazier the fiction and fantasy
As a German, coming from a culture where criticism is considered normal and even a form of sincere love and respect, I must say that to me the video did seem nuanced and overall gave a positive view of China and its history. It was obviously made with love for her family and appreciation for her roots. It didn't seem as harsh or critical to me as it apparently did to you.
@@Typhonnyx If base on religious and diversity China actually got more then India it currently still got 52 major ethnic there. Han ethnicity itself are made up of various difference ethnic combine. So blame diversity and religious actually just make it clear where India to push all into 1 racial which is Indian. The difference is China make effort integrating all while India done same too but fail due to bad kind of politic. It would fill up few book to explain it so search to compare if interested I done so. 2nd as much I would support Brits colony drag India down but truth is under separate princely state rule make not much difference due to cast system practice. Instead lower cast actually got more selection under Brits.
my parents entered Wuhan University just one year before culture revolutionary began. they met there and married after they graduated. they were both from poor pensant families, one in Jiangsu, the other in Sichuan, and became engineers after graduation. Our family visited Wuhan last year to celebrate their clasmates 50th -anniverary reunion. It should have taken place in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. My father remembered every place we passed by, although he hadnt been there since he left the school and tremendous changes happened during past 50 years. Wuhan is a beautiful city and we all like it very much.
Hi Siming. It’s great for you to talk and learn from your grandfather. Cherish the moments with grandparents. They bring a close perspective to history.
First time viewer here. I'm absolutely amazed by your video. What a honest and sensitve documentary. Congratulation. I'm from Brazil and it would be great if this video have portuguese subtitles so I can share with my friends and family.
It’s so inspiring to see such a video showcasing a man who has been through the PRC from its beginning to the present. It reveals the complexity and diversity behind Chinese society, especially as perceived by people of different generations. As a 30-something, well-educated person living in China, I used to be very angry at the system and had a lot of complaints. I still do, even now, but over the past years I have come to realize that I probably just stand for only a very small group, and my father’s and my grandfather’s generation, may have very different thoughts from mine, and this is because we experienced different stages of China and therefore have different views of history. Your video reminds us of these facts again: there is no country like China in the world, where older generations were born in abject poverty while younger generations live in affluence, and all of them are still living in the same land, at the same time.
This is an excellent video, showing a family story as they lived the history of the rapid changes in China. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in China. It also should serve as a lesson. Our grandparents and parents lived through interesting times no matter what country. We should take advantage of this experience and knowledge and make the effort to record their thoughts and experiences for future generations.
Glad to see your *grandma* and grandpa in the documentary! Nothing like a live testimony of someone that was there. I didn't know the situation in China before the revolution was that bad, with people jeopardizing others because of their condition. On other note, your dad bought his first camera as soon as your grandpa had returned home? What a sucess! He must've passed down the knowledge to you too on how to be successfull, because this documentary is very well produced!
I love your content. I must say you grandad does have a reflective language. He just doesn't use fancy words. Oftentimes we think great reasoning comes from verbosity and grandiloquence. Turns out it doesn't. Actually, getting your message across with everyday words and using old sayings like the one about the dog that won't leave her master because he's poor, is a great sign of wisdom. Grandad points out his truth beyond his own ego. He tells his story but he doesn't make it about him. His story is about the people he loved and the country he served.
Just started watching your videos. Very well done, and so far Ive watched 4 of your videos. Loved them all. Very informative and not political but mainly facts. And I respect your grandfather. What a great man. Thank you for all your videos.
This is the first of your many videos I watched and enjoyed the oral history of grandpa's amazing life journey. Unfortunately, what is almost always missing when recollecting Mao's period is the TOTAL ECONOMIC SANCTIONS imposed on the PRC by the US. The harmful and destructive effects of total economic sanctions can be seen today in places like Venezuela, North Korea. The tragic failures during this period was not all Mao's. The Mighty West have ensured we disremember the cruelties it imposed on hundreds of millions of already impoverished people.
I haven't deeply studied this, but a quick research shows that your crediting the USA as partly to blame for the famine may be incorrect. The famine took place from 1959-1961. The trade embargo was put in place when China joined the Korean war, in 1950. The UN joined this embargo, but ended it (so far as they were concerned) when the war ended in 1953. The USA kept up the embargo, but other nations did not, or at least, China was able to play on national disagreements between other nations to trade for what they wanted. There would have been 5 years from the end of the war, until the famine, wherein China could have formed trading connections it needed to make up for the lack of trade with America. So I'm not seeing the direct link to the famine with America's actions.
@@PracticaProphetica thank you for doing all the research. it is a really big topic to study and learn from our histry as humanbeings. if the past has not tought us anything, then it has no meaning to us. why even today, many western government are silent on Gaza? that tells you how the US's power of influrence. it was the same influrence when Mao was the leader in China, but direct embargo, but collective mute to the CPC at the world stage at that time.
@@PracticaPropheticait is a combination of misjudgements, misdoing, the sanctions of the west and the famines. It is a collective decisions not only by Mao though he played pivotal roles. It is a painful mistake as well as the latter cultural revolution. Nevertheless, we say the 2nd 30-year cannot deny the 1st 30- year. The fundamental achievements after 1949 are the fully sovereignty independence and the redistribution of land( land reform) and these are the foundation of today’s achievemnts.
@@robertlu2344 It's possible to obtain sovereignty without bloody revolutions. Look at previous British colonies like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Also India obtained its independence from England without a war, thanks in a large part to the influence and teachings of Gandhi, who worked to restrain their natural desire for revenge. We humans tend to think that carnal force is the greatest power. But there are other means, which are more peaceful. They may require patience and time, and suffering, but they also work, and they have an advantage of instilling good principles in the people.
What a wonderful gift to create this touching video with your grandfather. As an American with no family connection to China, I've had the opportunity to visit China several times for work, but the country is still such a mystery. This video not only shed some light on a part of China's history that is still shrouded to the rest of the world, but did so in a touching, authentic way.
Sorry to hear your grandpa's mother died of severe starvation during the famine causing her to have refeeding syndrome. But I like the wise words, A son would never leave his mother even when she's ugly and a dog will never leave it's owner even when he/she is poor.. thank you!! ❤❤
Thank you I needed that. I hope China continues to learn and grow. We in the US seem to be throwing it all away. It was wonderful to see your grandfather explain the 60s from his perspective. Pleas try to spend as much time as you can with your grandparents as you can it may help you understand so much. When they pass you will miss not spending that time with them. I am old enough that I have lost my parents and many other elder friends. I enjoyed their stories and now have the memories.
Thank you, Lan Siming. This is so valuable. I teach at Seneca College in Toronto a course called CUL610: China and the World. it's not being offered this semester but will likely returni n the summer semester and wouldl ike your permission to share this and a couple other videos with my students.
Ni hau! You saidi"...... you are limited to what you know" . How right you are, but you are young and knowledge expands with experience (I hope that doesn't sound patronizing). And, knowledge tends to rearrange your perspective of how you view life or situations. I think you are doing a pretty good job. I love the description of your grandfather, whose DIY around the house is astonishing. He looks amazing for his age, I'm 77 and he looks like a boy!
This is a brilliantly made video detailing firsthand the messy mix of benefits and absolute suffering that someone could experience in the PRC at that time. Your granddad telling you to find a husband was icing on the cake. And thank you for the subtitles they help with learning Chinese a ton. 请继续做这些好棒的视频！
Thanks so much for taking your time to share this. Im constantly fascinated by China’s growth and advancement. But thanks to you, Im now fascinated by China’s long old rich history. Please keep up the good work
thank you :)😊❤️
I am thinking of her grandfather and my own experience of China and I feel two things need to be mentioned and remembered. One is the famine of the sixties were not just the result of Mao's error but also the external environment of Western containment and embargo. The second is that China is the only country that had successfully developed a full sovereignty in all areas from Western domination. The independence of China is in my opinion what enable China to achieve today's status and this modernity came about with sacrifices........Great work from you.
well said! We say the 2nd 30-year cannot deny the 1st 30-year. We, the Chinese, have experienced the great pains in the last 100 so years. What makes today’s achievement? I do believe they are the full independence and the redistribution of land (land reform). Without these two factors it hardly achieve what we have achieved today. Nevertheless this is under the CPC leadership. It is a tough process in the human history for what we are today! When I was in the school I doubted the system. And now I cannot be so sure we, as a country, are on the right track through years struggles, strives and hard works.
@@robertlu2344 我相信，无论他现在是不是走在正确的道路上，他终究会走在正确的道路上。为什么？
因为大家都在问：中国是不是走在正确的道路上？问的人越多，思考的越多，中国的道路才会越正确。
因为不论从哪方面来看，现在和当下的中国都是过去的中国和历史的中国无法比拟的。人们怀念大唐，但人们也明白，大唐远没有现在的中国繁荣，单就科技和教育，大唐的人们都是无法想象的。
@@无心轨迹 此一时彼一时。不能拿今天和1000多年前的大唐比。没有可比性。只是中国人的一种情怀。其它同意！
@@robertlu2344 Mao would never have tolerated western businesses setting up shop in China. The only reason China developed so rapidly is that it discarded Mao's extremist ideals.
So yes, you could say Mao prepared the way, because everyone could see that the way he ran the country was obviously wrong, and so they learned what not to do.
@@PracticaProphetica If you know that Chairman Mao has made mistakes, India does not have any of Chairman Mao's faults, not even a single one. India did not have the Great Leap Forward, India did not have the Cultural Revolution, and it did not destroy traditional culture. It did not resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea or resist U.S. aggression and aid Vietnam. India is not anti-Soviet, has no political movements, does not persecute intellectuals, etc.
India is awesome. India has avoided all the mistakes of Chairman Mao. Therefore, India is perfect.
why? The answer can only be that Indians are smarter than Chinese people, and Indian civilization is smarter than Chinese civilization.
When it comes to reform and opening up specifically, every Indian leader is Deng Xiaoping
Because Deng Xiaoping did not avoid even one of Chairman Mao's mistakes, let alone avoid all of Chairman Mao's mistakes. Therefore, every Indian leader is 100 million times smarter than Deng Xiaoping.
"前人种树，后人乘凉" - "The predecessors plant the trees, the descendants enjoy the shade." Appreciate foundation built by the past people, to enable we to enjoy what we have today...
一代人吃了两代人的苦。打了几代人的仗。
" 前人 砍树，後人 晒太陽 "。
而 現在 是 "人人 種树，大家 吃飽 就在 果树下 乘凉。"
其实，"人不为已'' 实在是 "天誅地滅"，而 現在， 人人 丰衣足食，就是 因为 人人 可以 为 自已。
@@middalai6611没有那二十年，怎么可能那么快完成工业化，并且拥有核武，这些才是八十年代之后经济快速发展的基石，所以说中国的发展不能复制，中国人心理都清楚，发展快是因为地基打的好，别的国家能出有这种觉悟的人，我看很难，就是我也没有这种觉悟。不扯其他的，光是把世界最大农业国转变为世界最大工业国就已经是很无敌了
There is an old Chinese story: a guy ate six buns and was still hungry, but after ate the seventh bun he became full, so he said to himself I should've just had the seventh bun that made me full . The moral of this story is that he wouldn't be full without
the first six buns he ate. Sure China became more successful after Mao's death, but the industrial foundations that were established during Mao was like the first six buns, it enabled China's booming manufacturing after economic reform.
儒家思想文化？
应该是：
动物不为己 天诛地灭
All my love and respect for your grandfather and all your family, and all the people, the working class worldwide, who fought and suffered for us to live like this. I'm in tears remembering my own grandfather who told me the same about happiness.
Thank you so much, regards from Chile.
I've been learning mandarin over the past few months, but part of what I love is that more than just the language, I am learning about entire ancestries, struggles, political movements etc. that I never would have possibly been exposed to. I am very happy to have learned your grandfather's story, thank you.
This was so refreshing compared to the usual one-direction documentary about that period of struggle. It was truly beautiful to see things from your grandfather prospectives and being a foreigner living in China for so many years I think your work touched me deeply. Thank you for that :)
As a Chinese, I am also touched when grandfather telling the story of his mother. old generation had their suffering, we new generation also experienced different suffering. Life need to go on.
I’m a 22 year old student from Florida, USA and I have studied Chinese history and the accomplishments of the CPC. The Chinese people are one of the bravest and most determined In the world. And the PRC today stands head and shoulders as the most important project for the betterment and development of mankind. The Chinese people carry the fire of the human spirit in them. And they inspire billions of people around the world such as myself. Love and solidarity from the United States 🇺🇸🇨🇳
Is this sarcasm?
It is absolutely refreshing to see a young person like yourself trying to know more about your country's past, and in the process, appreciate how far your country has progressed despite the many challenges faced by the older generation in making China what it is today. Good job!
This is a gorgeous documentary, I don’t even just want to call it a video. What a wonderful way of honoring your grandfather and his experiences!
Your videos continue to illuminate Chinese history and culture. Especially for those in the West. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to journalism and modern cultural juxtaposition and thought. Your Grandad is a treasure.
Dear foreign friends, I am Chinese and I look forward to you not being blinded by the lies and information described by the West. You should go to China with your own eyes to understand the true historical facts, go to the Chinese library and among the Chinese people to take a look, ask the Chinese people, instead of blindly accepting deliberate lies fabricated by some people to slander China and Mao Zedong in the media of countries that do not understand China, especially in anti China news media. First of all, I would like to remind you that a large number of anti China, anti Mao Zedong, and anti Communist people, along with their ancestors, are bad people. They are all warlords, landlords, and evil gentry groups that were driven to Taiwan by the Chinese people. They enslaved and oppressed the Chinese people in China, and were defeated by the Chinese people. Mao Zedong led Chinese farmers and workers to resist the enslavement and oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China, and ultimately defeated the warlord group led by Chiang Kai shek, and established the People's Republic of China in 1949. Remember, the republic is a republic. Foreign friends, if you are interested in China, you must go to China to get to know it for yourself. Don't believe the western media. I can tell you directly that about 90% of the news you see on RUclips, Facebook and Twitter about the CPC and Mao Zedong are anti China and anti Communist Chinese who immigrated from Taiwan in the early days. They were fabricated by the followers of Chiang Kai shek in the Republic of China because they hate Mao Zedong for leading the Chinese people to defeat them. We look forward to your buying a bilingual edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Taobao. This book, which has been called the "people's bible" by the Chinese people, contains the speeches made by Mao Zedong in the national newspapers during the period from 1926 to 1949 when he led the Chinese people to wage the People's Democratic War against the warlord government of the Republic of China oppressing the Chinese people. The contents of the book, including the contents of the civil war between the CPC and the Government of the Republic of China, can clearly understand the real people's leader Mao Zedong and the history of the CPC from its establishment to today as the world's largest party. You know, China has always been suppressed and smeared by the West led by the United States. The trade war, technology war, etc. initiated by the United States against China are all part of the anti China movement. It is difficult for you to hear and see the correct historical facts about China and Mao Zedong in the media under the discourse hegemony controlled by the West. Mao Zedong holds the highest position in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is deeply loved and supported by the Chinese people because he saved them. However, on the contrary, Mao Zedong was also deeply hated by the warlords, landlords, and evil gentry of the Republic of China. During the government era led by Chiang Kai shek, about 95% of the Chinese people were slaves under the rule of Chiang Kai shek's warlord government. For generations, the Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by government organizations composed of warlords, bureaucrats, landlords, and some gangsters. The Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by these warlords and landlords, and their food and clothing were not covered. They were slaves for generations, begging and selling children and women along the streets, being driven to work by landlords, and having no land of their own. All the land was occupied by warlords and landlords under the rule of the government of the Republic of China. If you have been to India, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, Laos, you will see children begging on the streets, and in the era of the Republic of China, about 95% of Chinese people were like this. At the same time, there was also Japan's invasion and massacre of China. In such a criminal era, it was Mao Zedong who led the CPC, led poor workers and farmers, and led students and teachers to form a people's democratic revolutionary struggle against the oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China. In the end, the warlord government of the Republic of China was defeated. The number of these warlord landlords in China was about 8 million, and a large part of them fled to Taiwan. Then, they immigrated from Taiwan to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with many Chinese. The earliest Chinese immigrants to countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were mostly from Taiwan, and their ancestors were warlord landlords and their descendants. These people fabricated false history and lies in Western media, smearing and slandering China. This is the earliest Chinese, and also the terrifying voices about China that your ancestors or you often hear in Western media, mostly from these people. I look forward to you all maintaining a questioning attitude. If possible, please come to China to personally investigate and research, and do not believe any lies fabricated by the media. This is not history at all. Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people were no longer slaves, but became masters of the country. Mao Zedong did not enslave and oppress the Chinese people like the government of the Republic of China did, but instead allowed the Chinese people to go to school for free, receive medical treatment for free, and have housing for free. The people will no longer be displaced, the Chinese people will no longer be unable to afford medical care, and the Chinese people will no longer lose the right to access knowledge because they do not have the money to go to school. All of them will receive free education. Mao Zedong did everything for the Chinese people. Excuse me, Biden, can we provide free housing for the American people? Or use houses to turn people into mortgage slaves? Why do Chinese people love Mao Zedong so much? Because Mao Zedong loved the people more than his biological parents. During Mao Zedong's era, the people's government built houses and distributed them to the people for free, free of charge. People's education, free of charge, and free of charge, are all borne by the state. Everything is for the people. If such a people's leader is smeared and slandered by bad people, as a Chinese, even a foreigner, if your president loves you and your people so much, builds a house, gives it to you for free, reduces the burden of people's lives, provides free education, and does not charge any money... Would you not love it? Natural love. However, such a true people's leader, the People's Republic of China, which is now China, once appeared, and his name was Mao Zedong. However, it is no longer the case now. China has returned to the path of capitalism, and these welfare arrests have been stolen by capitalists. The Chinese people have become slaves to housing and high interest loans again...., I look forward to foreign friends who can learn about a human leader Mao Zedong with their hearts. Thank you all
As a 外国人 living in China, and as someone who wants to understand the country more, it’s always great to hear an insight that feels so authentic as yours. That applies to your 祖父 as well.
You’re an inspiration!
非常感谢你 😀
She has taught us, all Chinese, whether we're from Taiwan, the Mainland, or overseas abroad, a great lesson in China's history of the last 8 decades..
Greetings from Taiwan. Just wanted to compliment on how good this video is! From content to cinematography, it is an excellent piece of work! You nailed it!
As someone who often surfs outside of the "wall", looking back the days when people was giving trashtalks to China on different platforms, I always reminded myself that the first and foremost thing for me to speak and write something about China is to be objective and have an independent thinking. As Chinese, I admit we do have problems on variour sectors of the society, but if that is the reason one wants to totally deny his Country, I have to say that kind of person is no better living in anywhere else outside China. What i am trying to say is that you always should first love the Country where you come from then you can have the qualification to criticize it. Never forget the root and blood.
Well said, and thank you for sharing the important insight as well.
Joe Biden once said, you cannot love your country only when you win.
是的，作为一个中国人，我知道共产党的种种问题，也知道当下中国经济不太好，可是如果有人对我说这个国家的坏话，而这些话是我根据生活经验明显知道不是事实的，我会对这样的谣言感到愤怒。
@abintr0
Lol... As if not ignoring the problem means any problem will be magically resolved?!?
Asking the right question helps to identify the real problem(s), and hopefully a good solution.
But asking the wrong question often creates many unnecessary problems and wasteful efforts.
What's more important is having wise and capable leadership and an established continuously improving work-in-progress system? 😊
seems like an oxymoron surely, if you always love that country then you don't have objective thinking
I loved this personal story from your grandfather. I was a student in Wuhan in 1990, people seemed a bit reluctant to speak to us laowais back then, given recent events, so I never got to know too many local people. It was so nice to hear some Wuhan accent again. The city has changed so much since then! I hope more people can see and share similar personal stories. The way the west demonizes China as an enemy, if they could see these and realise we're all basically the same with the same hopes and feelings, then maybe there could be less hatred and "othering". Thanks for sharing!
You can't be friends with different ideologies
That may be true, but u don't need to hate them
When u hope more people can share personal story, those whose personal experience is contracty to Communists' narrative actually have to shut up. So no matter how the other side speak up based on true experience, the story is broken and not complete. More of that , it usually conveys a distorted picture, as if u see an elephant like a snake when u just grab its tail.
17:30 to 18:54 All my respect to your grandfather! A man of conviction, conscious and thankful of the effort of the Chinese people and the party. This is an inspiration for people like me, who has decided to devote his life to help to transform his country.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather's life experiences. This video provides a fair and rational commentary on his contributions to China's rise and the challenging times during China's struggles. Assessing historical figures, whether it be Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Mao Zedong, or Zhou Enlai, requires considering the historical context of their respective periods. My grandfather, a national capitalist, belonged to the political category of national industrial and commercial workers. After liberation, he faced criticism, lost his property, and passed away shortly thereafter at the age of 60. Before his death, he expressed to my father that he could see China developing and prospering, emphasizing that the well-being of the common people is the only hope for the nation's prosperity. This reflects the perspective of a national capitalist on the relationship between individual and national interests. My father, younger than your grandfather, graduated in aeronautical engineering, specializing in aircraft engines. While your grandfather earned 22 yuan a month, my father earned 72 yuan a month, consistently emphasizing the need to reciprocate the threefold salary granted to technical personnel compared to ordinary workers. He later received a national science and technology award in his role as one of the design engineers.
真正的民族资本家都是有家国情怀的，有民族大义的，他们不会非黑即白地去看待那段历史。
你父亲真是伟大的技术专家，中国正是有千千万万个这样的普通人，才有了今天的繁荣。
厉害，获得中国科学技术奖的都是人中龙凤，应该是知名度很高的人物。
向您的父亲致敬❤
Incredible production. So interesting to see the CPC through the eyes of someone who feels he benefited so strongly from it. You both did a great job including historical and personal context, leading to a perspective I'm not sure I've seen before in popular media.
I almost stood up to give you a round of applause at the end - that was fantastic! You were missed, you hadn't uploaded videos in a while and you came back with this. Bravo!
Your grandfather's story is fascinating, and so is your perspective on that entire era.
There is an author and doctor called Han Suyin, and I've been compiling on my channel some of the interviews I've found of hers. Starting in the the 1960s she was telling the world this same perspective, that this revolution was an economic experiment that had succeeded, and that it would not have been possible without Mao. If it wasn't for Mao, China "would be still governed by the warlords, or be a puppet state of Russia, it would be worse than Latin America". "And that it was during this time that the people to whom Mao said "dare to speak! dare to think! dare to do!" began to dare".
Truly a fascinating video -- thank you for sharing your granddad's views and history with us. Cheers!
Dear foreign friends, I am Chinese and I look forward to you not being blinded by the lies and information described by the West. You should go to China with your own eyes to understand the true historical facts, go to the Chinese library and among the Chinese people to take a look, ask the Chinese people, instead of blindly accepting deliberate lies fabricated by some people to slander China and Mao Zedong in the media of countries that do not understand China, especially in anti China news media. First of all, I would like to remind you that a large number of anti China, anti Mao Zedong, and anti Communist people, along with their ancestors, are bad people. They are all warlords, landlords, and evil gentry groups that were driven to Taiwan by the Chinese people. They enslaved and oppressed the Chinese people in China, and were defeated by the Chinese people. Mao Zedong led Chinese farmers and workers to resist the enslavement and oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China, and ultimately defeated the warlord group led by Chiang Kai shek, and established the People's Republic of China in 1949. Remember, the republic is a republic. Foreign friends, if you are interested in China, you must go to China to get to know it for yourself. Don't believe the western media. I can tell you directly that about 90% of the news you see on RUclips, Facebook and Twitter about the CPC and Mao Zedong are anti China and anti Communist Chinese who immigrated from Taiwan in the early days. They were fabricated by the followers of Chiang Kai shek in the Republic of China because they hate Mao Zedong for leading the Chinese people to defeat them. We look forward to your buying a bilingual edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Taobao. This book, which has been called the "people's bible" by the Chinese people, contains the speeches made by Mao Zedong in the national newspapers during the period from 1926 to 1949 when he led the Chinese people to wage the People's Democratic War against the warlord government of the Republic of China oppressing the Chinese people. The contents of the book, including the contents of the civil war between the CPC and the Government of the Republic of China, can clearly understand the real people's leader Mao Zedong and the history of the CPC from its establishment to today as the world's largest party. You know, China has always been suppressed and smeared by the West led by the United States. The trade war, technology war, etc. initiated by the United States against China are all part of the anti China movement. It is difficult for you to hear and see the correct historical facts about China and Mao Zedong in the media under the discourse hegemony controlled by the West. Mao Zedong holds the highest position in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is deeply loved and supported by the Chinese people because he saved them. However, on the contrary, Mao Zedong was also deeply hated by the warlords, landlords, and evil gentry of the Republic of China. During the government era led by Chiang Kai shek, about 95% of the Chinese people were slaves under the rule of Chiang Kai shek's warlord government. For generations, the Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by government organizations composed of warlords, bureaucrats, landlords, and some gangsters. The Chinese people were enslaved and oppressed by these warlords and landlords, and their food and clothing were not covered. They were slaves for generations, begging and selling children and women along the streets, being driven to work by landlords, and having no land of their own. All the land was occupied by warlords and landlords under the rule of the government of the Republic of China. If you have been to India, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, Laos, you will see children begging on the streets, and in the era of the Republic of China, about 95% of Chinese people were like this. At the same time, there was also Japan's invasion and massacre of China. In such a criminal era, it was Mao Zedong who led the CPC, led poor workers and farmers, and led students and teachers to form a people's democratic revolutionary struggle against the oppression of the warlord government of the Republic of China. In the end, the warlord government of the Republic of China was defeated. The number of these warlord landlords in China was about 8 million, and a large part of them fled to Taiwan. Then, they immigrated from Taiwan to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with many Chinese. The earliest Chinese immigrants to countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were mostly from Taiwan, and their ancestors were warlord landlords and their descendants. These people fabricated false history and lies in Western media, smearing and slandering China. This is the earliest Chinese, and also the terrifying voices about China that your ancestors or you often hear in Western media, mostly from these people. I look forward to you all maintaining a questioning attitude. If possible, please come to China to personally investigate and research, and do not believe any lies fabricated by the media. This is not history at all. Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people were no longer slaves, but became masters of the country. Mao Zedong did not enslave and oppress the Chinese people like the government of the Republic of China did, but instead allowed the Chinese people to go to school for free, receive medical treatment for free, and have housing for free. The people will no longer be displaced, the Chinese people will no longer be unable to afford medical care, and the Chinese people will no longer lose the right to access knowledge because they do not have the money to go to school. All of them will receive free education. Mao Zedong did everything for the Chinese people. Excuse me, Biden, can we provide free housing for the American people? Or use houses to turn people into mortgage slaves? Why do Chinese people love Mao Zedong so much? Because Mao Zedong loved the people more than his biological parents. During Mao Zedong's era, the people's government built houses and distributed them to the people for free, free of charge. People's education, free of charge, and free of charge, are all borne by the state. Everything is for the people. If such a people's leader is smeared and slandered by bad people, as a Chinese, even a foreigner, if your president loves you and your people so much, builds a house, gives it to you for free, reduces the burden of people's lives, provides free education, and does not charge any money... Would you not love it? Natural love. However, such a true people's leader, the People's Republic of China, which is now China, once appeared, and his name was Mao Zedong. However, it is no longer the case now. China has returned to the path of capitalism, and these welfare arrests have been stolen by capitalists. The Chinese people have become slaves to housing and high interest loans again...., I look forward to foreign friends who can learn about a human leader Mao Zedong with their hearts. Thank you all
I have most of Han Suyin’s books. Just starting but like to see more online sources. She grew
Ew up in Chongjing of old. Great video🇹🇱😊
@@ekaytan8904 I have been uploading to my channel a few of her interviews in french and in english that I've found online. Truly a brilliant, charming, eloquent thinker.
To those Mao worshipers, I only have one question, that is: what China would be like today, if Mao had lived a few years longer than Deng Xio Ping?
@@minlee5606. One generation stands on the shoulders of the last generation. That's how we progress and evolve. No generation is perfect. If not for Mao, China could not be what it is today. Sure, massive mistakes were made and untold sufferings endured as a consequence. How and what the next generation learned from it to make things better is what determines the future. That's where the foundational values of a people can contribute towards " improving" society and the quality of the civilization. In my opinion, China had the good fortune to have had the influence of a long lineage of sages from Lao Tzu to Chiang Tzu, Lei Tzu, Confucius, Mencius etc as well as foreign "masters" and Buddhas from Gautam Sidharta's lineage from India which laid very strong DNA/genetic foundations through to today's generation despite the Cultural Revolution etc.
The West did not have the benefit of this long history and tradition, unfortunately. Hence, their " values" are different.
I hope this partly answers your question. It'll require a lot more than this simplistically condensed explanation to fully answer your question. 🎉❤🎉
If all the young Chinese are as thoughtful as you, China will definitely emerge as the No.1 nation in the world. Keep up your good work. 加油。
Thank you for this. The changes that your grandfather and others of his era have experienced, need to be recorded with empathy and care. These people contributed to one of the greatest human liberations of all times. Their sufferings and successes can be our light for the future. There is so much to learn before these fabulous people leave us. Keep up your good work.
Thank you for such an wonderful video. I am a Canadian, lower-working class person in their thirties, working and living in Canada. I greatly admire the CPC and the accomplishments of the Chinese people. To me, Mao is a brave hero and the CPC, as your grandfather said, liberated the working class of China from brutal imperialists like the Japanese and the British. However, things were not easy, and China's development was done amongst incredible difficult circumstances. At times, mistakes were made, common people suffered. However, without a doubt, China and Chinese people have greatly benefitted from the revolution and the leadership of the party. I honestly believe China has a bright future, as long as the US government doesn't try to interfere with China too much. Thank you for showing your grandfather's candid thoughts, as well as your own. This was wonderful to watch.
I'm Canadian too and I share your sentiments. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🕊
Are you kidding me? Mao is a hero? Did you know how many people die from 1959 to 1962? And who's responsibiloty is?
@ydw9527, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes."
~ Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm not sure if the next quote is factual or not, "Deng Xiaoping said Mao Zedong is 70% good 30% bad." - meaning he made mistakes but he was good too. See it through Yin/Yang, not black or white. ☯ 🦉 Every past and present leader of China has made mistakes, made contributions, etc. to the development of China into what it is today. Although, not perfect, its leadership has done a lot for its 98%. Let the costal cities become rich first, and then focus on the hinterland.
@@ydw9527LOL Place the blame on 1 person and neglecting to view the entire picture of an 8 country invasion which led to Japan's atrocities and then a civil war, Korean war and then the embargo by US and its gang of thugs did not contribute a high percentage of the suffering of China and its people right? China couldn't even aquire things from outside their country because of this embargo! Are you truly this biased or do you lack critical thinking skills? The colonists left China in shambles and are still attacking and trying to cripple China as we speak! Refrain from commenting unless you can take in ALL FACTORS for critical thinking. Otherwise, you make yourself out to be a colonialist looking for opportunity to degrade a nation to implement neo-colonial expansion!
I'm not even sure the US has the power to interfere in China at this point. Maybe 20 years ago.
Such a humbling video.
We can get political, argue about what could or should have been, but the chinese had it rough and endured it, in the end there is no place like home and life is far from perfect, our youth goes by so fast.
谢谢你， 新年快乐！
This was greatly done and leaves me wanting to know more. I wish you turned this into a series, by maybe delving deeper into some periods, or interviewing more people, etc
Superb video!!!
Without a doubt, this was one of the best videos I’ve watched that gave a personal perspective of China during the period before, during, and after the cultural revolution. Your granddad‘s deep, wisdom, and knowledge of those times is evident. Also evident is your love for your granddad.
Congratulations on an excellent video.
Wow, the production value of that video, more like film, was amazing! Your stories are so incredibly important in a world where most stories about China are geopolitically biased. I love and will support your work!
Excellent story, captivating images, and above all an insightful self-reflection and soul-searching. The contrast between the present generation and the one before last is so sharp that it's difficult for anyone to comprehend, let alone the young people immerged in senseless pursuit of material wealth. I wish more young people would spend some time to connect with their forbears and appreciate what they now have. There's a lot that the professional adults at the BBC, PBS and CCTV have to learn from this twenty-something 👍
Well said
A remarkable grandfather, a principled man and truly a son of the motherland. Very interesting and insightful videos about this great country. Surely your videos would have satisfied just about all questions and perspectives of this beautiful country and her people imbibed with good values and virtues.
Your grandad and most of the men and women of his generation gave you a beautiful prosperous country as an inheritance. Your family's story is so inspiring!
Great documentary, a journalist, an interviewee with a rich personal experience which in a large scale combined with the history of the country👍
One of the best videos around!! It gives you an idea what China had to endure and just how far China has advanced. Amazing story!!! Keep up the good work!
without people like your grandfather who fought so hard in china's worst time, there will be no prosper china like today, i admired your grandfather really, he is a hero and also all those people who stays to make china a better place, thank you for this content, this is really a great one!
Beautifully projected, Thank you for sharing. To give back to the society that raised you, it’s what a responsible person would do. Advancement comes at a price, all things go thru a process and most processes are complicated. It’s heartening to know that the young Chinese like yourself are digging into the past and trying to understand this colossal history of China.
I personally salute your Grand Dad. He is true to his life, who hold the values, led his life for the betterment of everyone of you. It's equally true to many.
我也是生活在广东的湖北人。80后。过去的事，听说了很多。确实是这样的。你是幸运的，非常幸运的。
You're getting so good at this. Keep it up
Thank you😊 Happy new year!x
Siming Lan thank you for this portrayal of a great life, that of your Grandad; China today owes it's prosperity and enviable modernity to his generation's hard work and sacrifice.
Thanks keep up the good work
A high quality episode. I am from Wuhan and living in the Bay Area in the US. I can relate Siming’s family in this program so much to my own.
That was the best video that I have seen on this channel. Your relationship with your grandad is remarkable and the way you linked that history to your today was elegantly done- nice one!!
Very well documented. We need more documentary like yours.
Keep it up. I am 100% supporting your work.
Fantastic episode. Your grandparents are wonderful, I’m so touched 🥰
This is a truly wonderful video. I learned a lot.
As a Chinese-Canadian born and bred in Northern Ontario, I had no connection with China. Nevertheless, I have a growing understanding of China from the many times I've visited the country, and from the many stories from people like yourself.
Thank you.
Could I buy one of those cool walking sticks from your granddad? I'm 70 and my legs are starting to give out.
You’re from northern Ontario? No wonder you dislike the US!
My first experience with anti-Americanism as a child occurred there while having dinner with my friend’s family who were decendants of the loyalists that fled the “colonies” to Canada after the American Revolution.
That said, always good to see a familiar name.
Such pure channel❤
What an amazing video. Hearing the history of your grandpa was just sad and incredible at the same time. Take care of him and your grandma too. Keep it up!
Hello from Calgary, Canada. I really enjoy your video's but also how well you articulate the cross-cutting themes and issues relating to China. Amazing work on your video! this is my favourite thus far because you are connecting your family and generational perspectives to help us learn more about the transformational change in China. Well done!
Nihao Lan, I'm so happy I came across your channel. I'm David, currently in Australia, and I was born in Hobart Tasmania, Australia. I lived in China for some years, married a Chinese Nationalist and we moved our life to Australia. That relationship is long over now. I love China very much, and I'm also extremely loyal to the CCP and their values, the Chinese culture, and China's values. I've travelled much of China, but I still have a lot to see and to experience. I mainly lived in Xiamen Fujian and Tangshan Hebei. It's great to see your videos. My adopted daughter works for the CCP and is the district manager of Sanming City in Fujian.
Official translation is CPC not CCP. Communist Party of China means the Communist Party around the world share the same creed, which is "Workingmen of all Countries unite! " from Karl Marx. It's not "China's" Communist Party.
wish you sir and your family all well
建议不要泄漏个人具体的工作😂
This is a very good video! Looking at the perspective of a different generation will let you understand the difficulties people were facing at those times.
This is probably one of the best video I have seen! Very insightful!
as a Wuhan grown-up, studied abroad and working outside of mainland, this echoes a lots of the memories and ideologies of mine, towards a lot of things. thank you for the work and best wishes to grandfather and all.
This was awesome on multiple levels. Ya granddads fascinating life story, CCP history with real people, ya granddad's loyalty to China and CCP, his concern about your martial status haha. This kind of content is why I'm subscribed
Are you using the the wrong acronym on purpose?
I don't think most people realize that the industrialization which China has gone through since 1978 happened very quickly. The western world took almost 200 years with it's industrial revolution. That gives you a lot of time to adapt. China did it in just a few decades. That included the migration of people from the countryside to the cities. That's an awful lot of change to absorb in just 30 or 40 years. But China did it. That last scene though shows you it doesn't matter what country you're from, when the younger generation is sitting around the dining table with the older generation the ultimate question is - "how come you're not married yet?"
China benefited from having the technology of the west imported into it, so of course, the development was more rapid. They didn't have to go from the steam engine and on...
This rapid change has other consequences you didn't mention. Massive pollution, forced relocation, loss of lands without proper remuneration, breaking up of families (where the parents go off to work in the factories and the kids stay with the grandparents), horrible workers rights abuses (996, for example, working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week). I don't think the rapid change is worth the costs paid by humanity and nature.
@@PracticaProphetica1st of all, the west did not do the charity and they are for the profit and 2ndly what you discribed happened all over the world, in States, uk, Japan, etc. not just confined in China but at different times.
@@robertlu2344 Exactly. And that is my underlying point: all nations are affected by selfish humans, who use "generosity" as their excuse to do selfish business. I'm not trying to support any system of government. I'm arguing that selfishness affects everyone. China is not exempt.
@@PracticaProphetica You can learn about the British enclosure movement..
@@avonzhang4635 I did do that. It's interesting history, and not just confined to England. So these were "common lands" that I gather nobody particularly owned (except the government) and the poor could farm on them if they wished. Then, to increase agricultural production, these lands were privatized.
First of all, we should be clear that there are natural rights, and there are given rights. Given rights apply to your interaction with the world around you. These can be granted or taken away, depending on the decisions of governments. These decisions are supposed to be made "for the common good" of the nation.
Natural rights are those that are built in to your nature. The right to breathe, the right to move, the right to think freely and act based on moral principles (your conscience, etc). Nobody can take those rights away without violating your nature, and robbing you of your humanity.
In the case of the "enclosure" lands, well they were "given" rights, not natural. So they could be taken away. The only question is, did the government make this decision maliciously (i.e. to make lots of money and please their rich friends), or did they do it so that the land would be used more efficiently for the good of all the citizens? I don't have enough details to make that judgment. No matter what a government does, there will always be some people who are not happy about it, especially if it causes their lives to change.
And by the way, the same problems are faced in China. The ownership and use of land has gone through many different phases and changes of law. In the past, although the people were given land to farm, that land could be taken away by the government for various reasons. Sometimes municipal governents could abuse this law, and take away the land for selfish reasons. So recently laws were made to make this more difficult, and to try and assure that the farmer was not left with nothing. I'm basing this on an article I read about "land use in China."
It's so clear how much love your grandfather has for you and family. I may have teared up watching him tear up over his remembrance of his mother. What a lovely man.
This was a great story. Thank you Siming Lan.
Thank you for this video. For me, as a Canadian in my 30s navigating my own complicated relationship with my country and the moral conviction and perspectives of those in my parents’ and grandparents’ generation, I appreciate how you let him speak his own words. Especially at the end where his views produce discouragement and anxiety for those of us trying to find our own way.
I feel like the more I understand these earlier generations and remember that, while they feel right about their decisions and that, because they overcame pain and hardship, we should find contentment through taking a path already laid by them, we have our own circumstances today and we should navigate them with respect both for them and for ourselves.
My early education positioned the CPC in a purely negative light, and your videos but especially this one provides helpful perspective in understanding the necessary nuances and identifying differing narratives.
Also, your production/editing just gets better and better-fantastic work on not just the content but also the presentation!
Different positions have different views, from the literati and landlords, the Communist Party is bad, but from more ordinary people, the Communist Party is relatively good, and as an overseas Chinese there is also a little problem, because they are originally foreigners, if there is still spreading the atmosphere of discrimination in the region, standing in the perspective of the locals, you are coming over to sit on the sidelines, even if you are bullied or ruined today, as long as the welfare of the region is still there, there will be more of these people to come, you are considered a betrayer from blood to culture. Even if you are bullied or ruined today, as long as the welfare of my area is still there, there will be more such people coming. From the perspective of your compatriots, you have left the land where you were born and raised, and abandoned your blood relatives, and you are considered to be a betrayer from blood to culture, although the morality of the Chinese people makes it so that many of them won't say this sentence.
我对真实反应自己生活的这片土地的内容充满热情，很高兴看到博主的此类视频
博主很专注于中国真实的样子和建国后的中国是如何一路走来的，这个和温铁军的很多研究和著作一致，他团队的《八次危机：中国的真实经验 1949-2009》叙述了这段历史，推荐博主看看，RUclips上就能找到他的新中国十次周期性经济危机讲解的视频，个人觉得温没有刻板的政治倾向思想也很开阔
Great video, very heart warming. Your grandfather is typical of the soul and spirit that lives in China - the past pains struggles hopes and dreams realized and the wisdom to know the future lies in the young generation with the baton of opportunity passed to them.
Happy to see that you haven't forgotten your RUclips channel. Great storytelling again. As an oversea Chinese who no longer speaks the language, I'm glad that someone - from the inside - tells a human story that isn't driven by the political agenda of the western media (and vice versa by the CPC).
Absolutely incredible！I learned a lot even as a Chinese! Thank you for making such a wonderful video.
well done. thank you for all of your videos. i really appreciate your honest thoughts and well spoken commentary of your experiences. Happy 2024!
So glad to see another video from you! I was wondering when it's coming! I really appreciate your storytelling and the effort you put into filming this video. Your grandpa has a great story, he must be proud of you sharing it with the world!
Unity, hardworking, high expectancy, consistent, persistent what makes china today. ‘’Magnificent“ Dream come true
Hi Lan, subscribed for a long time, just get to know you and me are from the same hometown. So familiar with your grandpa’s accent, touched me and get me back to some part of my memories. It is quite a controversial topic of this episode, but anyway you bring us a vivid and truly aspect of those days. It’s hard to believe your grandpa is over 90 years old, looks very healthy, best wishes.
This video is EXTREMELY precious. Everyone should be learning from this. Thank you.
Thanks Siming. Lovely job educating about Chinese history.
Excellently crafted video.
A large portion of the famine was avoidable, and plenty of blame can go to many government officials all the way at the top and down to the village level. Virtually every single family in China suffered during that period, and to an extent there is lingering resentment or at least sorrow and regret. Simultaneously, the context matters. They largely had good intentions. They wanted China to rapidly industrialize so that China can become strong and the Chinese people can prosper. They, the people and the party, zealously wanted this. They, with their insufficient scientific understanding, wanted more than nature could allow. They, with their ideologically naive and nascent administrative skill, wanted more than the people could provide. They failed and the people suffered. And they learned from their failure. And we continue to see the results.
On this last point, there is a sobering study that I like to refer to, from the renowned Indian economist Amartya Sen:
"Finally, it is important to note that despite the gigantic size of excess mortality in the Chinese famine, the extra mortality in India from regular deprivation in normal times vastly overshadows the former. Comparing India's death rate of 12 per thousand with China's of 7 per thousand, and applying that difference to the Indian population of 781 million in 1986, we get an estimate of excess normal mortality in India of 3.9 million per year. This implies that every eight years or so more people die in India because of its higher regular death rate than died in China in the gigantic famine of 1958-61. India seems to manage to fill its cupboard with more skeletons every eight years than China put there in its years of shame."
This is because China carried out land reform, while India still has landlords, and as time goes on, the landlords will acquire more land, and they will give priority to selling grain abroad at a high price before considering the Indians.
Thank you for sharing this. 🦉
Thank you for sharing, and a very good point about the intensions of the CPC and its leadership, the naivity and lack of skills at that time. Communism is not only a political movment, also a science that as you learn, test, correct, and learn more, test more and correct more, repeat that until you get to the communism goal for entire humanity.
@@中国螃蟹哥true. Of the similar population of China and India, China is the largest food importer and India is the largest rice exporter in the world. The fact speaks itself.
No mention of american/western sanctions to keep China down?
从你爷爷口中说出那句“希望我们的子孙都过得好” ，忍不住眼泪掉下来。或许他们那代人在年轻时候拼搏的动力，就是未来子孙们能够过得好，过得有自信尊严。@siming lan 你的影片制作得很好。谢谢你。
非常非常伟大的视频，我也从我的爷爷辈了解了很多革命的事情，他和你的爷爷很想，但是他所处的位置更加底层。我的祖上是乞丐，我小时候住在农村，但是我现在在北京上大学，我真的能深刻感受到国家的深刻变革，这是所有无产阶级和农民阶级不断努力的结果。
Happy New Year. Hope you will find more time to make more videos. Your grandfather looks great at 90!!! Love from Canada.
Hello Siming, such a beautiful and thoughtful video. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for another beautiful production. Informative, touching and inspiring. Thank you.
Thank you for this. I thought grandad does have reflective language. I really enjoyed listening to his perspective.
The dinner table scene was a great addition, I saw a comment praising your progress and I completely agree.
老爷子很正派啊，我们家也一样。我爷爷奶奶都是1936年入党的老党员，冒着生命危险干过革命。我的外公外婆是地主+小资本家，但他们都很支持共产党。尤其是外公外婆，土地被没收工厂被国营，一度觉得天塌了。但后来他们发现国家是一视同仁并没有针对自己，是为了大家一起好，就很支持。
正派，指她的爷爷是工人贵族😅
在毛时代，工人和农民实际上就像清朝的八旗子弟和汉人的关系。
从农民手里收公粮养活工人，极限压榨农民，甚至三提五统收到九十年代才算停。
她爷爷为什么不恨毛时代？因为她爷爷和你爷爷一样都是那个时代的既得利益者，八旗子弟难道会恨清朝吗？
改革开放不过相当于清朝灭亡，八旗子弟出旗为民了而已。
在毛时代，工人和农民事实上已经形成了“生殖隔离”。只有娶不到老婆的工人才会考虑娶农民，经常会有丑八怪甚至残疾的工人娶漂亮的农民的情况出现。
现在的农民后代没有不恨那个年代的，我和你们都无关，因为我家不是双方的任何一方，我爷爷是老师。
包括现在把人分成三六九等的户口制度，都是那个年代的封建残余。当时就是靠着户口制度，把城里人变成了贵族，而农村人变成了农奴。
三年大饥荒时期饿死的几乎都是农民，但他们明明生产粮食，结果自己的粮食全都被抢走喂养城里人。
当时的人很多都很正派的，为了一个虚无缥缈的理想而无私奉献。就算到死也没有发现很多事情被欺骗了。尤其是所谓的三年自然灾害，为了获得外国的支持，把自己的人民都饿死了。
你的外公外婆地主资本家还支持共产党，不太正常吧。你的妈妈还有你妈妈的兄弟姐妹，他们能考大学吗？他们有工作吗？
共产党把土地把工厂都没收了，有没有把国家搞好？搞好了也就算了，搞得一塌糊涂，民不聊生。到改革开放才回到正确的道路上来。改革开放嘛，就是回到解放前啊。
@@trisoil 他的家族这是已经被驯化了，三十年的洗脑宣传，当你沉浸在那种宣传环境里的时候也很难不受影响。
每个时代都有既得利益者，不是吗？人的屁股决定脑袋，这是人类文明当前发展水平局限性的额体现。美国人打压中国真是为了什么民主自由吗？他怎么不去打压沙特新加坡？诸葛亮两千年前就写出师表了，师出有名这个概念不是什么新鲜的。@@개고기수프
Thank you for a beautiful and well communicated video, just an absolute pleasure and joy to watch.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, your grandfather is a true hero his tears speaks volumes of the past but his smiles surely point to a bright and wonderful future for China, blessings to you 🙏
Great story with so many lessons. Much respect to your grandpa and his generation. I'm twice your age, single and ok with that - but he makes a good point in the end. May your journey and wisdom cross paths at the right moment in your own life and wish you all the best. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!!!
If you ask the older generation, like my grandmother in-law, they love Mao. Your grandfather hinted at the same thing. He said he could get randomly beaten before Mao. Ask him how rich China was then. Do you think China would be the same without Mao, who laid the groundwork, and Xiaoping, who continued Mao's work? India took a different path. Where is it now? If the CPC hadn't taken over, China now would be more backwards than India, it wouldn't be the prosperous country it is now. And the great famine - do you know who solved it? Uncle Yuan - wholly a product of Mao's era. Communism destroyed the famines - famine was a regular occurance before the CPC took over, there was one big one after and now there are no more. It is only the people who don't have any experience with China before 1949 who seem to feel "complicated". Try just being proud. You have no idea how amazing China's continued development is. Yes, there were mistakes made - as your grandfather explained, but the people raised themselves from ignorance and absolute poverty. It's absolutely not the free market that made China prosperous - again, look at India (oh, India has corruption, etc - ok, well why doesn’t China have that corruption?). Just try being grateful.
The blueprint was first drawn by Sun Yat Sen, he wanted a unified china after it was broken by the opium wars and divided into territories controlled by warlords and foreign powers. Sun Yat Sen realized democracy would be difficult to settle in a country as diverse and big as china with a strong culture dating 5000 years, but he called for modernization, building hydroelectric dams and rail networks. When the CCP took over under Mao, he unified the country and brought peace, it was during the cold war and battles had to be fought to cement china's security, in such circumstances, Mao's big leap forward was perhaps too ambitious. When Deng took over he found a solid foundation and adjusted the economy allowing for the development, the harmony within chinese society helped this plan. It wasn't easy and it certainly came at a cost but overall what china did was outstanding and something every chinese should look back with pride and a lesson in hard work and sacrifice.
lol what do you mean by where is it now .... India had its own problem but you just cant compare China's lil bit of diversity with of India hundreds of different languages, different religions,1000 of minorities and majors kingdoms and empires still surviving under British but the important thing is that west only controlled some provinces of China in comparison entire Indian subcontinent was under British for 200 yrs but we still survived 3 wars with Pakistan and china and was able to stand up without killing and forcing our youth from that kind of mao regime..... and of economy we are lazy asf but we will surely catchup in 40 yrs which were wasted by our dumb socialist govt who denied captiaism till 90s and ah corruption it is bad we know but if you really want to know why its that bad ...Only thing I blame is pure politics play and India's steel bureaucracy just check out politics of 80s and 90s its even crazier the fiction and fantasy
@@Typhonnyx you do know that India GDP are very close to China even up to the 90s right.
As a German, coming from a culture where criticism is considered normal and even a form of sincere love and respect, I must say that to me the video did seem nuanced and overall gave a positive view of China and its history. It was obviously made with love for her family and appreciation for her roots. It didn't seem as harsh or critical to me as it apparently did to you.
@@Typhonnyx If base on religious and diversity China actually got more then India it currently still got 52 major ethnic there. Han ethnicity itself are made up of various difference ethnic combine.
So blame diversity and religious actually just make it clear where India to push all into 1 racial which is Indian.
The difference is China make effort integrating all while India done same too but fail due to bad kind of politic. It would fill up few book to explain it so search to compare if interested I done so.
2nd as much I would support Brits colony drag India down but truth is under separate princely state rule make not much difference due to cast system practice. Instead lower cast actually got more selection under Brits.
Love your videos
my parents entered Wuhan University just one year before culture revolutionary began. they met there and married after they graduated. they were both from poor pensant families, one in Jiangsu, the other in Sichuan, and became engineers after graduation. Our family visited Wuhan last year to celebrate their clasmates 50th -anniverary reunion. It should have taken place in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. My father remembered every place we passed by, although he hadnt been there since he left the school and tremendous changes happened during past 50 years. Wuhan is a beautiful city and we all like it very much.
Hi Siming. It’s great for you to talk and learn from your grandfather. Cherish the moments with grandparents. They bring a close perspective to history.
你终于更新视频了，喜欢你这种冷静客观的看待问题的视角和态度，不捧不黑
First time viewer here. I'm absolutely amazed by your video. What a honest and sensitve documentary. Congratulation. I'm from Brazil and it would be great if this video have portuguese subtitles so I can share with my friends and family.
This is so important - I hope more people get to see this nuanced representation of what China was and is. Thank you for the lovely video.
I really enjoyed this video thankyou for making it.
It’s so inspiring to see such a video showcasing a man who has been through the PRC from its beginning to the present. It reveals the complexity and diversity behind Chinese society, especially as perceived by people of different generations.
As a 30-something, well-educated person living in China, I used to be very angry at the system and had a lot of complaints. I still do, even now, but over the past years I have come to realize that I probably just stand for only a very small group, and my father’s and my grandfather’s generation, may have very different thoughts from mine, and this is because we experienced different stages of China and therefore have different views of history.
Your video reminds us of these facts again: there is no country like China in the world, where older generations were born in abject poverty while younger generations live in affluence, and all of them are still living in the same land, at the same time.
This is an excellent video, showing a family story as they lived the history of the rapid changes in China. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in China. It also should serve as a lesson. Our grandparents and parents lived through interesting times no matter what country. We should take advantage of this experience and knowledge and make the effort to record their thoughts and experiences for future generations.
Glad to see your *grandma* and grandpa in the documentary! Nothing like a live testimony of someone that was there. I didn't know the situation in China before the revolution was that bad, with people jeopardizing others because of their condition.
On other note, your dad bought his first camera as soon as your grandpa had returned home? What a sucess! He must've passed down the knowledge to you too on how to be successfull, because this documentary is very well produced!
A very enlightening presentation, thank you. ❤
Your grandfather seems like such a kind and positive person, I hope he has another 50 years left in him, the world needs people like him still!
I love your content. I must say you grandad does have a reflective language. He just doesn't use fancy words. Oftentimes we think great reasoning comes from verbosity and grandiloquence. Turns out it doesn't. Actually, getting your message across with everyday words and using old sayings like the one about the dog that won't leave her master because he's poor, is a great sign of wisdom. Grandad points out his truth beyond his own ego. He tells his story but he doesn't make it about him. His story is about the people he loved and the country he served.
Just started watching your videos. Very well done, and so far Ive watched 4 of your videos. Loved them all. Very informative and not political but mainly facts. And I respect your grandfather. What a great man.
Thank you for all your videos.
This is the first of your many videos I watched and enjoyed the oral history of grandpa's amazing life journey. Unfortunately, what is almost always missing when recollecting Mao's period is the TOTAL ECONOMIC SANCTIONS imposed on the PRC by the US. The harmful and destructive effects of total economic sanctions can be seen today in places like Venezuela, North Korea. The tragic failures during this period was not all Mao's. The Mighty West have ensured we disremember the cruelties it imposed on hundreds of millions of already impoverished people.
yes, in 100% agree with you
I haven't deeply studied this, but a quick research shows that your crediting the USA as partly to blame for the famine may be incorrect. The famine took place from 1959-1961. The trade embargo was put in place when China joined the Korean war, in 1950. The UN joined this embargo, but ended it (so far as they were concerned) when the war ended in 1953. The USA kept up the embargo, but other nations did not, or at least, China was able to play on national disagreements between other nations to trade for what they wanted. There would have been 5 years from the end of the war, until the famine, wherein China could have formed trading connections it needed to make up for the lack of trade with America. So I'm not seeing the direct link to the famine with America's actions.
@@PracticaProphetica thank you for doing all the research. it is a really big topic to study and learn from our histry as humanbeings. if the past has not tought us anything, then it has no meaning to us. why even today, many western government are silent on Gaza? that tells you how the US's power of influrence. it was the same influrence when Mao was the leader in China, but direct embargo, but collective mute to the CPC at the world stage at that time.
@@PracticaPropheticait is a combination of misjudgements, misdoing, the sanctions of the west and the famines. It is a collective decisions not only by Mao though he played pivotal roles. It is a painful mistake as well as the latter cultural revolution. Nevertheless, we say the 2nd 30-year cannot deny the 1st 30- year. The fundamental achievements after 1949 are the fully sovereignty independence and the redistribution of land( land reform) and these are the foundation of today’s achievemnts.
@@robertlu2344 It's possible to obtain sovereignty without bloody revolutions. Look at previous British colonies like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Also India obtained its independence from England without a war, thanks in a large part to the influence and teachings of Gandhi, who worked to restrain their natural desire for revenge.
We humans tend to think that carnal force is the greatest power. But there are other means, which are more peaceful. They may require patience and time, and suffering, but they also work, and they have an advantage of instilling good principles in the people.
视频质量非常高，完全可以媲美一些顶级媒体制作的纪录片了。美女真是人才啊。
What a wonderful gift to create this touching video with your grandfather. As an American with no family connection to China, I've had the opportunity to visit China several times for work, but the country is still such a mystery. This video not only shed some light on a part of China's history that is still shrouded to the rest of the world, but did so in a touching, authentic way.
Your grandad is very crafty! Despite not being a carpenter, his woodworking skill is amazing!
Sorry to hear your grandpa's mother died of severe starvation during the famine causing her to have refeeding syndrome. But I like the wise words, A son would never leave his mother even when she's ugly and a dog will never leave it's owner even when he/she is poor.. thank you!! ❤❤
Thank you I needed that. I hope China continues to learn and grow. We in the US seem to be throwing it all away.
It was wonderful to see your grandfather explain the 60s from his perspective. Pleas try to spend as much time as you can with your grandparents as you can it may help you understand so much. When they pass you will miss not spending that time with them. I am old enough that I have lost my parents and many other elder friends. I enjoyed their stories and now have the memories.
Thank you, Lan Siming. This is so valuable.
I teach at Seneca College in Toronto a course called CUL610: China and the World. it's not being offered this semester but will likely returni n the summer semester and wouldl ike your permission to share this and a couple other videos with my students.
Ni hau! You saidi"...... you are limited to what you know" . How right you are, but you are young and knowledge expands with experience (I hope that doesn't sound patronizing). And, knowledge tends to rearrange your perspective of how you view life or situations. I think you are doing a pretty good job. I love the description of your grandfather, whose DIY around the house is astonishing. He looks amazing for his age, I'm 77 and he looks like a boy!
This is a brilliantly made video detailing firsthand the messy mix of benefits and absolute suffering that someone could experience in the PRC at that time. Your granddad telling you to find a husband was icing on the cake.
And thank you for the subtitles they help with learning Chinese a ton.
请继续做这些好棒的视频！
I couldn't help chuckling over that indirect push for her to get married.