China Archives - Page 56 of 112 - understand-culture

The Decision to Enter Korea

In early October 1950, China’s leaders debated whether to send troops to Korea. On October 2, Mao Zedong told the Soviet side that “many comrades in the Central Committee believe that we must act with caution.” At an enlarged Politburo meeting on October 4 and 5, Peng Dehuai supported Mao’s decision to send troops. On October 8, Peng was appointed commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.

According to the memoirs of Nie Rongzhen, Mao had first chosen Lin Biao to command, and Lin, afraid, used illness as a pretext and refused to go. One historian notes that there is no documentary evidence for this account, only the recollections of people who were there.

Forever on the Road

In October 2016, CCTV broadcast Forever on the Road (永远在路上), an eight-part series made with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The team interviewed more than ten fallen officials of provincial or ministerial rank, among them Su Rong, Zhou Benshun and Li Chuncheng.

In February 2026, an article in the Study Times called negative examples “the most vivid warning teaching material and the most effective sobering agent.”

The Top Leader Speaks Last

In 2013 and 2014, several provinces, among them Yunnan, Henan and Anhui, wrote a “speak last” rule (末位表态) into their decision procedures. Yunnan did so in June 2013, and Henan in May 2014. When a leading group discusses a decision, the other members state their views first. The top leader states a view last.

A 2014 report on the rules gave the reason: “The other members of the group speak first, and the top leader speaks last. This will help to avoid a ‘hall of one voice.'”

Touching China

Each year, the news center of China’s state broadcaster chooses the people who have “moved the public and moved China” (感动公众，感动中国). The first selection, for 2002, announced its results in January 2003. Usually ten individuals and one group are chosen, and the candidates are presented on CCTV before the vote.

Dangdang’s Seals

According to press reports, on April 26, 2020, Li Guoqing went to the offices of Dangdang with four men and took the company seals. He was in a dispute over who controlled the company. Dangdang answered the same day that its company seal, financial seal and finance department seal were void.

In a Chinese company, the seal (公章) is how decisions become binding on paper. As one report put it: “The company seal is, admittedly, an important proof of exercising power in the company.”

Zhuge Liang Demotes Himself

After the defeat at Jieting, Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su and wrote to the throne. “The fault lies wholly with me, for I made appointments without method,” he wrote. “I ask to be demoted three grades, to answer for my fault.” (请自贬三等，以督厥咎) He was made General of the Right, but still acted as chancellor, with all his former powers.

According to the Han-Jin Annals, he asked all who were loyal to the state to “diligently attack my shortcomings.” He took the blame on himself and made his failings known to the whole realm.

The Vocabulary of Deciding

做主 To be the master. To take charge and decide. The Handian dictionary gives the example 你大胆干吧，一切由我做主, “Go ahead boldly. I will decide everything.”

拿主意 To take hold of an idea. To make the decision on a matter.

定夺 To fix and to take. To decide whether a thing will be done, or which option will be chosen.

定调子 To set the key. Originally to fix the pitch of a piece of music. Figuratively, to set the basic direction before a piece of work begins.

当家 To head the house. To manage the household.

Zhou Chu Changes His Ways

As a young man, Zhou Chu was violent, and his home district suffered from him. A flood dragon in the river and a tiger in the hills also harmed the people. They called the three “the three scourges,” and Zhou Chu was the worst. Someone urged him to kill the tiger and the dragon. He fought the dragon in the water for three days and nights, and the villagers, thinking him dead, celebrated.

When he came back and heard them celebrating, he understood for the first time how much he was hated. He went to the Lu brothers, two scholars of Wu, and told one of them everything. He wanted to reform, he said, but feared it was too late. The story is in A New Account of Tales of the World (世说新语).

Family

Ba Jin’s novel Family (家) is set in the large Gao household in Chengdu. Grandfather Gao is the authority of the whole family. His eldest grandson, Juexin, has absorbed new ideas but still obeys tradition.

As a young man, Juexin loves his cousin Mei. He marries Ruijue instead, because his parents have arranged it. He comes to love his wife, but he never forgets Mei.

Huawei Fines Its Founder

On January 17, 2018, Huawei sent a notice to all its staff. “In recent years, some business units have had quality accidents and faked business results. The company’s management bears responsibility for weak management.” The standing committee of the board had decided to hold the main responsible leaders to account. The founder, Ren Zhengfei, was fined one million yuan, according to Reuters.