Copyright 2013. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press.All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except fair uses permitted under U.S. or applicable copyrightlaw. EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) Account: towson.main.eds . w a THE LOST GENERATION l t h g i r y p o c e l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r e d n u d e t t i m r e p s e s u r i a f t p e c x e , r e h s i l b u p e h t m o r f n o i s s i m r e p t u o h .t si sw e rm Pr o gf n oy Kn a g nn oi H d fe oc u yd to ir sp re er v ie nb U t eo sn e ny ia hM C . ed he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd ii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w a l t h g i r y p o c e l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r e d n u d e t t i m r e p s e s u r i a f t p e c x e , r e h s i l b u p e h t m o r f n o i s s i m r e p t u o h .t si sw e rm Pr o gf n oy Kn a g nn oi H d fe oc u yd to ir sp re er v ie nb U t eo sn e ny ia hM C . ed he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd iiii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w la The Lost Generation t h g i yr The Rustication of China’s Educated Youth p o c e (1968–1980) l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r de By n u d te Michel Bonnin t i m r e p s se Translated by u r i fa Krystyna Horko t p e c x e , r e h s i l b u p e h t m o r f n o i s s i m r e p t u o h .t si sw e rm Pr o gf n oy Kn a g nn oi H d fe oc u yd to ir sp re er v ie nb U t eo sn e ny ia hM C . ed he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh igig The Chinese University Press rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd iiiiii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w a l t h g i r y p o c e l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r e d n u d e t t i m r e p s e s u r i a f pt The Lost Generation: The Rustication of e c ex China’s Educated Youth (1968–1980) r, By Michel Bonnin e h s Translated by Krystyna Horko i l b u p English edition © The Chinese University of Hong Kong 2013 e h t m All rights reserved. No part of this publication may o fr be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any n o means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, i s is recording, or any information storage and retrieval m er system, without permission in writing from p ut The Chinese University of Hong Kong. o h .t sswi ISBN: 978-962-996-481-8 e rm Pr g fo This translation of Génération perdue: Le mouvement d’envoi des jeunes instruits n Kony à la campagne en Chine, 1968–1980, originally published in France in 2004, is a g onin published by arrangement with Éditions de l’ÉHESS, with the support from Centre H f ed national du livre in France. oc u yd itro Copyright © 2004 Éditions de l’École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris sp re er ive The Chinese University Press nb U e ot The Chinese University of Hong Kong sn ney Sha Tin, N.T., Hong Kong ia hM C Fax: +852 2603 7355 . ed Thve E-mail: [email protected] r 3.se Website: www.chineseupress.com 1e 0r 2 t ts Printed in Hong Kong hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd iivv 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w a l t h g i r y p o c e l b a c No, I’m not complaining i l p p about my own fate, a r o my lost youth, . S . and twisted soul, U r de those cruel memories left over n u from countless sleepless nights. d e t t One by one, I overthrew the precepts, i m r e and broke the chains. p s e Now all that remains in my heart s u ir is a vast fi eld of ruins … a f But I got up t p e c and now I stand on a vast horizon x e , where no one can throw me to the ground again r e h s by any means. i l b u p e h t m o Shu Ting, “Cry of a Generation,” 1980 r f n o i s s i m r e p t u o h .t si sw e rm Pr o gf n oy Kn a g nn oi H d fe oc u yd to ir sp re er v ie nb U t eo sn e ny ia hM C . ed he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd vv 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w a l t h g i r y p o c e l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r e d n u d e t t i m r e p s e s u r i a f t p e c x e , r e h s i l b u p e h t m o r f n o i s s i m r e p t u o h .t si sw e rm Pr o gf n oy Kn a g nn oi H d fe oc u yd to ir sp re er v ie nb U t eo sn e ny ia hM C . ed he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd vvii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds . w a l t INTRODUCTION h g i r y Contents p o c e l b a c i l p p a r o . S . U r e d n u d e t t i m r e p s e s u r i fa Preface.................................................................................................................xiii t p ce Introduction ........................................................................................................xvii x e r, Illustrations ..........................................................................................................xli e h s i l b u p PART ONE MOTIVATIONS e h t m Chapter 1. Ideological Motives ...........................................................................3 o r f on Training Successors to the Revolution .............................................................3 i s s mi Reeducating Young Intellectuals ......................................................................7 r e p t Reducing the “Three Great Differences” ........................................................13 u o h .t si es w Chapter 2. Political Motivations ........................................................................19 rm Pr o gf ony Reining in the Red Guards ..............................................................................19 Kn a g onin Reinforcing Mao’s “Charismatic” Power .........................................................22 H d fe oc u tyod Chapter 3. Socioeconomic Motives ...................................................................25 ir sp re er ive A Positive Motive: nb Ut Developing the Countryside and the Border Regions ....................................25 eo sn e inay A Negative Motive: hM C e d. The Solution to Urban Unemployment and Overpopulation ...........................32 he Tv r .e 3s 1e 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd vviiii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds viii | CONTENTS . aw PART TWO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE XIAXIANG l ht MOVEMENT: POLICY CHANGES g i r y op Chapter 4. The Managers and the Ideologue: The Prelude and c e l Interlude of the Cultural Revolution (1955–1966) .......................49 b a c i pl Modest Beginnings .........................................................................................51 p a or Acceleration after the Failure of the Great Leap Forward ..............................53 . S U. Institutionalization and Long-term Planning...................................................56 r e nd Contradictions and Reluctance .......................................................................60 u d e The Cultural Revolution: t t mi An End to Departures and Spontaneous Returns ............................................63 r e p s e s Chapter 5. The Mass Movement (1968–1976) ..................................................65 u r i fa A Vigorous Start (1968–1969) .........................................................................65 t p ce Transforming the Red Guards into Educated Youths ..........................65 x e , Massive Mobilization ...........................................................................70 r e h is Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed Behind .................................74 l b u p High on Fervor, Low on Organization .................................................78 e h t m The Lowest Ebb (1970–1972) ..........................................................................81 o r f n Reform and Relaunch of the Movement (1973–1976) .....................................88 o i s s Li Qinglin’s Letter and the National Conference .................................88 i m r pe From Romanticism to Realism: ut The Zhuzhou Model and Improvements in Living Conditions ............93 o h .t sswi Xiaxiang and the Two-line Struggle: e Prrm From Blank Exam Papers to Going through the Back Door .............101 o gf n Kony Models Who Had Taken Root ............................................................107 a g onin Educated Youth in the Fight for Succession.......................................114 H d fe ouc Mao’s Last Directive ..........................................................................118 yd to ir sp re er ive Chapter 6. Irresistible Agony (1977–1980) .....................................................123 nb U t eo es n 1977: Hua Guofeng’s Vain Desire to Continue ..............................................123 ny ia hM C. 1978: From Uncertainty to a Limited Reassertion of the Policy ...................127 ed he Tv r The End 1978 to the End 1979: .e 3s 01re Popular Resistance and Government Obstinacy ............................................139 2 s tt ghgh A Ferment of Protest ..........................................................................140 ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd vviiiiii 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds CONTENTS | ix . w a The Big Xishuangbanna Strike and the “Return Wind” ....................144 l t gh Tension and Confl ict in Shanghai and Elsewhere ..............................149 i r y p Government Strategy in 1979.............................................................154 o c le Implementation at the provincial level and reassertion of b a ic the policy defi ned at the national conference ...............................154 l p p a Political, administrative and police strategy in response to r o various forms of social resistance.................................................158 . S . U Re-launch of “down-to-the countryside” propaganda .................161 r e d un 1980: The End ................................................................................................170 d e t Returns and Employment Problems (1979–1980) .........................................178 t i m er The Return of Examinations: p es A Saving Grace for Some Zhiqing ................................................................184 s u r i a f Chapter 7. The Shadow of Xiaxiang in the 1980s ..........................................187 t p e xc Disappearance of the “Zhiqing Bureau” and e r, Closure of Accounts .......................................................................................188 e h s li Keeping the “Little Fish Abandoned on the Shore” in Place ........................191 b u p A Special Case: The Shanghai Zhiqing in Xinjiang ..........................192 e h t m Placing Zhiqing Married to Peasants and Sick Zhiqing ...................203 o r f The Case of Zhiqing Who Obtained Nonagricultural n o si Work in the Countryside ...................................................................204 s i rm A New Rustication Campaign? .....................................................................206 e p ut The Seniority Issue ........................................................................................210 o h .t si sw e rm Por PART THREE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE gf n oy Kn g a Chapter 8. The Conditions of Departure: “Voluntary” Deportation ..........215 nn oi H f ed Mobilization ..................................................................................................216 oc u yd itro Destinations ..................................................................................................224 sp re er ive Departure Songs and Laments .......................................................................229 nb U t eo sn e inay Chapter 9. Material Diffi culties and Low Morale .........................................235 hM C . heed Diffi culties in Adapting to Rural Conditions .................................................236 Tv r .e 13es The First Shock: Discovering the Backwardness...............................236 0r 2 s tt hh gg ii rr y pl ol CA EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 11/9/2019 8:11 PM via TOWSON UNIVERSITY AN: 2171667 ; Bonnin, Michel, Horko, Krystyna.; The Lost Generation : The Rustication of China's Educated Youth (1968-1980) TTHHEE LLOOSSTT GGEENNEERRAATTIIOONN__FFAA0022__1177JJuunnee22001133..iinndddd iixx 1199//66//1133 33::1144 PPMM Account: towson.main.eds