From Tradition to Communism: How China's Cultural Revolution Shifted Private Norms

In today's piece, we shall traverse time and place, threading our way through historical epochs and cultures diverse in essence yet universal in human yearnings. As we explore the transformation of private lives in China's Cultural Revolution, we'll find ourselves amidst the tumultuous seas of change that have, time and again, reshaped humanity's most intimate quarters.

China's Cultural Revolution is a monumental chapter in the annals of human history, a narrative of social upheaval that rippled through the fabric of private lives. The conundrum of change that challenges our understanding of social norms brings to mind the depths of Du Bois' concept of "double consciousness," a term he coined to describe the psycho-emotional struggle Black Americans faced reconciling their identity in the face of societal division. While seemingly worlds apart, the Cultural Revolution's ramifications on private life echo similar dissonances experienced across the globe.

"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it," goes an age-old Eastern proverb. As profound as the words that emanate from Confucian analects or the wisdom in the form of African proverbs like "Wisdom is wealth," the Cultural Revolution was a dramatic test of these revered ideals. The changes it heralded were not simply ideological but seeped into the daily rituals that define us. The tea-drinking ceremonies, so meticulously preserved for centuries, came under scrutiny, their worth questioned in the new social order.

You know that feeling you get when you nail a job interview, or hit the game-winning shot? That invincible, "top of the world" sensation? Now imagine the antithesis, the raw pang of being told your once-cherished customs are now counter-revolutionary. Imagine the government telling you to abandon your family shrines, the epicenter of ancestor veneration, the nucleus of your spiritual life. The heart-wrenching choices individuals had to make during this era were as laughably absurd as they were tragically serious.

The world has seen many revolutions, each unique yet universally earth-shaking. The American, French, and Russian revolutions all challenged the status quo. But what makes China's Cultural Revolution so enthralling yet terrifying is the collective pendulum swing from long-standing traditions to a new ideology within the span of a decade. The events that unfolded during that time can be likened to the keen, incisive storytelling style that Godin, Patel, and Wiebe often employ, capturing readers' hearts while enlightening their minds.

In essence, the transformative powers of China's Cultural Revolution not only altered the course of a nation but also reflected universal themes of conflict, identity, and change that resonate across human history. If we can extract anything from the tumult of that era, it's the understanding that our private lives are ever at the mercy of greater forces—be they ideological, political, or even pandemic in nature. The shifts may vary in scope and impact, but the constancy of change remains.