中国式励志故事怎样毒害人的心智？How do Chinese-style inspirational stories poison people’s minds?｜心理｜张献忠｜历史｜权力｜内卷｜教育

Summary

In this video, Anthony explores the concept of Chinese inspirational narratives, critiquing their often shallow portrayal of success and power. He discusses how these stories, rooted in historical figures and societal values, promote a zero-sum view of power and ambition, often at the expense of human values and spirituality. Drawing parallels to totalitarianism and intergenerational trauma, Anthony suggests that these narratives are a product of a society where the individual's worth is tied to their social and political standing, rather than their personal growth or contribution. He concludes by highlighting the need for a strong self to overcome these narratives and find true self-worth.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The video discusses the theme of Chinese education and its influence on individual aspirations and societal values.
• 🎥 The movie 'Ah, Navy' is used as a case study to illustrate how militarism can distort the mental journey of young people and shape societal perceptions of success.
• 🔍 The video contrasts the movie's portrayal of success with online reviews, highlighting a disconnect between artistic intent and audience interpretation.
• 🌐 It critiques the 'Chinese inspirational narrative', which often venerates those who rise from humble beginnings to positions of power, regardless of the means used.
• 🏛 The script touches on the historical context of Chinese society, where Confucian ideals of self-sacrifice and dedication are overshadowed by a Legalist orientation towards power and hierarchy.
• 📚 The video mentions historical figures like Liu Bang, Chen Ping, and Liu Bei, who are often portrayed as having lofty ambitions that align with the power structure of their time.
• 👑 It delves into the psychological mechanisms behind the desire for power, suggesting that those who have suffered may seek to inflict the same suffering on others as a form of revenge.
• 👥 The script points out the paradox that those who are most harmed by dictators are often the common people, despite their initial support for these leaders.
• 📉 The video argues that the Chinese inspirational narrative is a product of an autocratic society where individual growth is stifled and a zero-sum mentality prevails.
• 📚 It suggests that the Chinese inspirational narrative is a form of collective psychological trauma passed down through generations, affecting even those who are physically distant from the original environment.
• 🛑 The video concludes by proposing that true 'salvation' involves building a strong self to overcome societal pressures and reconstruct one's values and beliefs.

Q & A

What does Anthony discuss in his video about Chinese education?

Anthony discusses the concept of Chinese inspirational narratives and how they are deeply rooted in the country's history and culture. He uses the Japanese movie 'Ah, Navy' as a starting point to explore themes such as the worship of power, the zero-sum game of ambition, and the societal impact of these narratives.

What is the significance of the movie 'Ah, Navy' in Anthony's discussion?

The movie 'Ah, Navy' is significant as it serves as a narrative example that Anthony uses to illustrate how militarism can distort the mental journey of young people and how different audiences can interpret such narratives in various ways, including as a success story.

How does Anthony describe the two main characteristics of Chinese inspirational stories?

Anthony describes the two main characteristics as: 1) Worship of the bottom, where the protagonist starts with a miserable life that supposedly justifies any actions taken later for success, and 2) Lofty ambitions that coincide with the order of power, emphasizing the importance of hierarchical order and societal position.

What does Anthony suggest about the relationship between Chinese society and the Confucian personality?

Anthony suggests that while Chinese society promotes a Confucian personality with emphasis on dedication and sacrifice, the actual operation of the system is more aligned with a Legalist personality, which is unreflective identification with the hierarchical order and a focus on climbing up the social ladder.

How does Anthony connect the concept of 'lofty ambitions' to the pursuit of power in Chinese society?

Anthony connects 'lofty ambitions' to the pursuit of power by stating that in Chinese inspirational narratives, the protagonist's ambitions are closely tied to secular power and domination, often leading to a zero-sum game where one person's gain is another's loss.

What historical examples does Anthony provide to illustrate the concept of 'lofty ambitions'?

Anthony provides examples such as Liu Bang, Chen Ping, and Liu Bei, who expressed their ambitions at a young age, often with a desire to rise above their current social status and achieve power.

How does Anthony describe the psychological mechanism behind Chinese inspirational narratives?

Anthony describes the psychological mechanism as one where individuals who have suffered from the world accumulate hatred and decide to become worse people, eventually seeking revenge on society and realizing their ambitions through power and control.

What does Anthony suggest about the impact of Chinese inspirational narratives on individuals' mental states?

Anthony suggests that these narratives can lead to a broken inner world for individuals, causing them to live in a state of isolation and self-centeredness, with a lack of deep connections and trust with others.

How does Anthony relate the concept of 'salvation' to the Chinese inspirational narratives?

Anthony relates 'salvation' to the idea of freeing the soul from darkness, which he equates to relativism, nihilism, and a life of confusion. He suggests that overcoming these issues requires a strong self to reconstruct external customs, concepts, and standards.

What is Anthony's final recommendation for viewers who may have questions or personal confusion?

Anthony's final recommendation is for viewers to contact him via email for further consultation, and he also encourages viewers to watch other videos in his 'Psychology and Education' playlist for additional insights.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Reflections on Chinese Education and Inspirational Narratives

Anthony introduces the topic of Chinese education, referencing the Japanese movie 'Ah, Navy' to illustrate the transformation of a young man under an authoritarian system. The movie portrays Ichiro Hirata's journey from a free-thinking individual to a loyal naval officer, influenced by the Naval Academy's high-pressure environment. Anthony discusses contrasting interpretations of Hirata's story, highlighting the Chinese inspirational narrative that values social mobility and power alignment. He critiques this narrative for its focus on worldly success and hierarchical order, rather than individual spiritual pursuits or moral legitimacy. The summary also touches on historical figures whose ambitions were tied to power, suggesting a deep-seated cultural admiration for those who rise from humble beginnings to positions of authority.

05:02

🏰 The Zero-Sum Game of Power and Its Societal Impact

This paragraph delves into the concept of power as a zero-sum game, contrasting it with business and intellectual innovation that can create mutual value. Anthony points out that in Chinese society, the pursuit of power often gains recognition and is embedded in inspirational stories that involve overcoming adversity and achieving revenge. He uses historical examples, such as King Gou Jian of Yue and Lord Fu Yan, to illustrate the ruthless measures taken in the quest for power and the subsequent harm to ordinary people. The narrative suggests that individuals with humble origins who rise to power are seen as representing the interests of the people, despite often acting against them. Anthony also discusses the cultural fascination with figures like Qin Shi Huang and the Hengshui model of education, which are seen as pathways for class mobility, despite their underlying cruelty and disregard for human values.

10:04

🌐 The Cultural Trauma of Chinese Inspirational Narratives

Anthony explores the origins and implications of Chinese inspirational narratives, linking them to the cultural mentality shaped by increasing autocracy throughout Chinese history. He discusses the influence of popular literature on the collective psyche, particularly stories of individuals rising from poverty to power, which provide an outlet for omnipotent fantasies and reflect a zero-sum societal struggle. The paragraph highlights the impact of a lack of market economy and rule of law, which forces people into a more vicious coexistence and a disregard for human values and spirituality. Anthony also touches on the role of these narratives as a form of 'salvation' in a society where politics and religion are intertwined, offering a redemption plan for those who feel worthless or trapped in a mutually harmful environment.

Keywords

💡Chinese education

Chinese education in the context of the video refers to the traditional and historical approach to education in China, which is often characterized by high pressure and a focus on success and advancement within a hierarchical system. The video uses the Japanese movie 'Ah, Navy' to draw parallels with Chinese educational practices, suggesting that both systems can lead to the suppression of individuality and the promotion of a militaristic or authoritarian mindset.

💡High-pressure management

High-pressure management is a leadership style characterized by strict control and intense demands on individuals, often leading to a stifling of creativity and personal freedom. In the video, this concept is used to describe the Naval Academy's approach to training its cadets, which is likened to certain aspects of Chinese education that may suppress free thought and individuality.

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is a form of governance characterized by a single ruler or group that holds absolute power without being constitutionally accountable to the public. The video script discusses how the protagonist of 'Ah, Navy' is shaped by an authoritarian system, which is reflective of the broader theme of how certain educational and societal structures can mold individuals to conform to power hierarchies.

💡Inspirational narrative

Inspirational narrative, as discussed in the video, refers to stories that are meant to motivate by showing characters overcoming adversity to achieve success. The video critiques the Chinese version of such narratives, suggesting that they often involve a worship of power and a disregard for individual spiritual pursuits, with success being narrowly defined by one's position in a social hierarchy.

💡Social hierarchy

Social hierarchy is a ranking system within a society that determines the status of individuals or groups. The video argues that Chinese inspirational narratives often revolve around climbing this hierarchy, with personal value and success being tied to one's position rather than individual achievements or virtues.

💡Militarism

Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or group to maintain a strong military capability and to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. The video uses the term to describe the mental journey of the young man in 'Ah, Navy' and to draw a parallel with how certain educational systems can promote a militaristic mindset that values power and control over individual freedoms.

💡Class mobility

Class mobility refers to the ability of individuals or families to move up or down the social hierarchy. The video discusses how Chinese inspirational narratives often idolize stories of individuals rising from humble beginnings to positions of power, suggesting that this represents a holy and righteous journey, despite the potential negative consequences of such ambition.

💡Power struggle

Power struggle is a situation where individuals or groups compete for control or dominance. The video script suggests that Chinese society often glorifies the pursuit of power, even if it involves a zero-sum game where one person's gain is another's loss, and it critiques the idea that success is measured by one's ability to dominate others.

💡Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. The video mentions totalitarianism in the context of how it can poison the human mind with hatred, leading to a breakdown of social trust and individual self-worth, which is reflective of the broader societal issues discussed in the script.

💡Intergenerational trauma

Intergenerational trauma refers to the psychological and emotional wounds that are passed down from one generation to the next. The video script suggests that the Chinese inspirational narrative and the societal pressures it represents can lead to a form of collective psychological trauma that affects individuals and their families across generations.

💡Relativism and nihilism

Relativism is the concept that values and truths are subjective and may vary between individuals or cultures, while nihilism is the belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. The video uses these terms to describe the 'darkness' that the Chinese inspirational narrative may lead individuals into, where success is the only measure of worth, and personal values and spirituality are disregarded.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of Chinese education and its influence on personal development.

Review of the Japanese movie 'Ah, Navy' and its portrayal of militarism's impact on a young man's life.

Analysis of public perception of success in the context of the movie's protagonist.

Discussion on the societal values reflected in the movie's interpretation of class and marriage.

Introduction of the concept of 'Chinese inspirational narrative' and its characteristics.

Critique of the worship of the bottom and the moral legitimacy it provides in Chinese inspirational stories.

Exploration of the alignment between personal ambitions and the power hierarchy in Chinese society.

Examination of the Confucian and Legalist personalities in the operation of the Chinese system.

Critique of the inspirational narrative's focus on worldly position over individual spiritual pursuits.

Historical examples of Chinese figures with ambitions tied to power and their impact on society.

Analysis of the psychological mechanism behind Chinese inspirational stories and their societal effects.

Case study of King Gou Jian's revenge and its reflection of the Chinese inspirational narrative.

Discussion on the cultural shift in Chinese society from the Song Dynasty and its impact on inspirational narratives.

Critique of the zero-sum game mentality and its consequences in Chinese society's growth and development.

Analysis of the collective psychological trauma resulting from China's inspirational narratives.

Comparison of Western religious redemption plans with the lack of such options in Chinese society.

Proposal for a 'salvation' plan to free the soul from the darkness of relativism and nihilism.

Conclusion and invitation for viewers to engage with the content creator for further discussion.

Transcripts

Hello everyone, I'm Anthony

Welcome to subscribe to my channel

Today I want to talk to you about Chinese education

I remember last year I watched the Japanese movie "Ah, Navy"

Told such a story

Ichiro Hirata, a young man from the countryside before World War II

Because the family is poor

I had no choice but to go to the Naval Academy to study.

Under the high-pressure and authoritarian management model of the Naval Academy

Hirata's remaining free thoughts were eliminated bit by bit.

He gave up his original concern with domestic politics

Eventually became a loyal naval officer

His friends, teachers and classmates

One after another died on the battlefield

Originally I thought

this movie

It's just a portrayal

one

The mental journey of young people distorted by militarism

As a result, I read movie reviews online

Feeling very unexpected

Many people think Hirata is a success story

The reason is that if he had not gone to the naval school

In the end, there is no future

It was the Naval Academy that gave him the chance to succeed

opportunity to move up

made him a senior officer

Although Hirata will most likely die on the battlefield in the end.

But at least it was once glorious

so

This movie tells an inspirational story

There is a section in the video that talks about

late war

Hirata is already an officer

Declined the marriage proposal from the daughter of a landlord in the same village

in my opinion

The meaning of this plot is to show that

Hirata already felt that the situation was over

He may die in battle at any time

I don’t want women to suffer any more

But many people think

This is because

Hirata has shed his original class identity

I no longer look down on the daughter of a landlord who was once higher than me.

Many people also calculate based on Hirata’s position.

He was in Japan at that time

What kind of woman should he deserve?

The tone is similar to those aunts who do blind dates for their children.

exactly the same

These interpretations make me

Very unexpected

But it also gives me a sense of familiarity

We can name it Chinese inspirational narrative

There are many inspirational stories that Chinese people have been familiar with since childhood.

Generally speaking, it has the following two characteristics: First, worship of the bottom

The protagonist lives a very miserable life at first

Full of shame, hatred and pain

But this only inspired his fighting spirit

And the experience at the bottom

also gave him a moral legitimacy

That's because I was humiliated in my early years

So later I turned over

Whatever you do is just

The second is the protagonist’s lofty ambitions

It completely coincides with the order of power

On the surface

Chinese society promotes a Confucian personality

Emphasis on dedication and sacrifice

But in the process of operation of the system

What is oriented is the Legalist personality.

that is, unreflective identification with the hierarchical order.

Consider “climbing up” as an inspirational standard

In this inspirational narrative,

All value and meaning of life

It depends on your position in the worldly sequence

It determines your marriage, relationships, and happiness

and posthumous evaluation

As for individual spiritual pursuits

Those ideals and wishes beyond the level of physical desires

It's all meaningless

Even an obstacle to success

in Chinese history books

To portray a person with great ambitions

He often talks about his heroic words when he was young

to hint at his future success

for example

Liu Bang saw Qin Shihuang's chariot

He said enviously, "This is what a real man should be like."

Chen Ping, Liu Bang’s counselor, had a poor family in his early years.

Once I was sharing meat with everyone in the village

Everyone praised him for getting a fair share

Chen Ping lamented: If I rule the world in the future

It will be divided equally like meat.

Liu Bei also said when he was young

You must take the Yubaogai Car in the future

That is, the emperor’s chariot

The most famous inspirational story should be Gou Jian's story of "suffering hardships"

For thousands of years

Countless people sang and praised this story

For example, Pu Songling who wrote "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio"

He once wrote a famous self-encouragement couplet:

Hardworking people, God will not let you down, sleep on the salary and taste the courage

Three thousand Yue Jia can swallow Wu

Many high schools in China today

Still using this sentence as an example to motivate students

Mao Zedong had even more rhetoric in his early years.

For example, in "Letter to Li Jinxi"

Just imagine: China needs a man of magnanimity

Fundamentally reform and transform the thinking of people across the country

Once the thoughts are unified

Such a country is invincible

But read these words carefully

you will find

Their lofty ideals and lofty ambitions

Regardless of apparent motives

How noble and beautiful

For example, to save the common people, save the country and save the people

But they are closely bound to secular power.

for example

Mao Zedong's "Fundamentally Transforming the Thoughts of the Nation"

Such an ideal

Without huge coercion

is impossible to achieve

However

In a Chinese-style inspirational story

This kind of story is absolutely mainstream

Chinese-style lofty ambitions

Always inseparable from a strong desire for power

Of course the power here

Should not be understood only as political power in a narrow sense

But domination and control in a broad sense

The fight for power is a zero-sum game

This is different from business and intellectual innovation

Commercial trade can create value for both parties

progress in knowledge

It can also broaden the boundaries of cognition between both parties.

But power cannot be shared or divided

struggle for power

It is often a life-and-death process

But in Chinese society

The ambition to pursue power

It is often easier to gain recognition

Chinese inspirational stories

There is often such a psychological mechanism hidden:

a baby

Have suffered malice from the world

He has accumulated a lot of hatred in his heart

So he decided to do whatever it took to

become a worse person

Finally pour out his malice to the whole world

Successfully realized the idea of ​​revenge against society

For example, King Gou Jian of Yue wanted to avenge his previous shame.

The measures adopted are even more bottomless

Gou Jian will conquer the country

It turned into a military camp where all the people were soldiers.

In order to defeat the state of Wu

Not hesitate to create a famine

To prevent soldiers from running away

Taking soldiers' families hostage

Gou Jian also created

Possibly the earliest military prostitute system in China

Gou Jian himself was also very suspicious.

After he succeeded, he forced his wife and ministers to death one after another.

Of course, these operations were later used in Chinese history.

It's pretty commonplace

But in the Spring and Autumn Period when there was still a certain bottom line

Gou Jian's overall war ideas

It still greatly lowers the level of civilization.

Lord Fu Yan in the Western Han Dynasty

Poor family in early years

No one around him wants to see him

because of an unexpected opportunity

He was received by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty

and gain appreciation

then

The father-in-law went around exposing the ministers

Acting as a thug for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty

Everyone is in danger for a while

The ministers bribed their father Yan one after another

Some people say he is too domineering

But Zhufu Yan said: "In the early years,

Brothers refuse to take me in

My parents don’t recognize me as their son

My friends also abandoned me

The days of poverty have been too long

It's okay, it's impossible to survive.

Then when you die, you will be cooked by Wuding

I have reached my twilight years

So we have to go against the grain. "

certainly

Zhufuyan has a poor reputation in history

But think about it carefully

His and Gou Jian's mental state

Actually there is no difference

Dictators who have come back from the past and present

This is also mostly the case

For example, Zhu Yuanzhang, Qin Shihuang, Huang Chao, Hong Xiuquan

Abroad there are Stalin, Saddam, Gaddafi, etc.

They may be from the lower class

Or there was it earlier

very difficult experience

Moreover, the people who are harmed the most after taking power are ordinary people.

The so-called "peasant leaders are anti-peasant"

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Xianzhong and others who were born as farmers

The control and hatred towards farmers are also the most ruthless

But people tend to worship them

and behaved cruelly to them

Show generosity and understanding

Because they identify with each other emotionally

The "Emperor" realized what they wanted in their hearts

That primitive almighty fantasy

make them feel that one day

Can also release that anger

Chinese inspirational narrative thinking

A person from a humble background

and later power

If there is a greater contrast

The more it explains

There is something holy and righteous about this man

This person must represent the interests of the people at the bottom

So whatever happens afterward is for the benefit of everyone.

This narrative worships abstract class mobility

Even this liquidity

By doing so to the detriment of everyone's interests

It is also worthy of aspiration

For example, on the Chinese Internet

The beautification of Qin has long been popular

Think that Qin’s reforms

It is to provide Qin people with a channel for class mobility.

They put the Qin State, which had a military merit title system,

Imagine it as a place with clear rewards and punishments

As long as ordinary people work hard

An ideal society that can continuously rise

Of course this is completely unrealistic

They believe that Qin’s unification war against the six kingdoms

It was the revolution of the lower class people of the Qin State against the aristocrats of the six countries.

In short, history progresses through killing.

The more you kill

The greater your chances of advancement

Even if you are also a victim

But as long as I can climb up

Just win

Among the voices praising China’s exam-oriented education online

The most typical view

Just put the Hengshui model

Said to be backward areas fighting against big cities

The only channel to achieve class mobility

As long as I can go to the city one day to buy cabbage

No matter how much suffering you endure today, it is worth it

These

can be regarded as products of Chinese-style inspirational narratives

So how did this narrative come about?

in Chinese history

As the degree of autocracy deepens

The cultural mentality of the entire society

are also gradually changing

After the Song Dynasty

A large number of homeless people are pouring into the city

and spawned various popular literature

One of the most popular themes

This is the story of "Change to Thailand and Fortune"

"Becoming Thai" here does not refer to a person's psychological abnormality

But it means to be successful and noble.

The classic pattern is this:

The protagonist is a poor man from the market

Gaining appreciation from those in power because of speculation

From then on, his official career was prosperous and he returned home in fine clothes.

To avenge one's shame

Even become an emperor

There is an article in the Ming Dynasty vernacular novel collection "Awakening the World"

Writing about the homeless man Zheng Xin when he was in poverty

Kaifeng, the capital of the Song Dynasty, Tokyo

Survived after being rescued by Wang Yuanwai

Later, he received divine help and achieved military success.

Finally, he was promoted to the Jiedushi of Liangchuan.

Such a story

At that time, it could reach more and more audiences

explain him

Hit

The feeling of powerlessness deep within the hearts of the vast majority of the people

and provides an outlet for omnipotent fantasies

After the Song Dynasty

Imperial power over society as a whole

From the deepening of political, economic and cultural monopoly

The space for people to grow freely is shrinking day by day

Lack of market economy and rule of law

so that people can

Increasingly falling into a zero-sum game

one person's benefit

always at the expense of another person's deprivation

between people

will have to live with each other in a more vicious way.

And this mutual harm

further deprives others of their survival resources

forcing more people to get involved

Chinese inspirational narrative

and disregard for human values ​​and spirituality.

It is the product of this environment

This is a collective psychological trauma

and are often passed down between parents and children.

even if alone

Physically far away from that mutually harmful social environment

But his broken inner world

But it may not be possible to re-establish it

I have posted two videos in 2022

It’s about intergenerational trauma in Chinese society

Interested friends can click on the upper right corner to watch

Polish scholar Krakovsky once said

Totalitarianism poisons the human mind with hatred

in hatred

People become more self-centered

Became an atomically isolated self

So live in hatred

Just living in death

Chinese inspirational stories

In fact, this is also the case

it breaks a person

Possibility of building deep connections and trust with others

It also denies the value of one’s own existence

living alone in the world

There are always various worries about

And the religions of various ethnic groups

will cause mental pain to people

Propose a redemption plan

in western history

religion as individual

provides a

independent from secular power

and extra-political value systems

Man is considered to be created by God

This is separate from the exercise of secular political power

enabling individuals to temporarily withdraw from the secular order

If he fails in secular society

He can also learn from religion, art, philosophy

Seek resources that affirm your personal worth

And can also gain recognition from others

But in Chinese society where politics and religion are integrated,

There is no such option

In "Chinese New Year"

Why is it so suffocating?

In this video

we have discussed

Chinese people’s anxiety during the New Year

why so strong

And Chinese-style inspirational stories

To some extent, it has a religious function

for chinese

mental dilemma

Offer some kind of salvation plan

If you have feelings of worthlessness

You can also add more volume by

To overcome these problems by identifying more with these external standards

certainly

This plan itself is unlikely to succeed

"Salvation" itself is a religious concept

But if we express it in ordinary language

then i think

its basic meaning

It is to free the soul from darkness

so called darkness

It means relativism, nihilism

A life of confusion, confusion, and no reflection

Let your instinct drive you

to get rid of these things

Only by relying on a strong self to organize the heart

To reconstruct those external customs, concepts and standards

That’s it for today’s video

If you have any questions or personal confusion

Want to consult me

Please contact my email

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Place it in the list of "Psychology and Education"

Also recommend to everyone

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Thank you all for watching, bye!