In this episode, a century-old Lu Xun story, Kong Yi Ji, has become popular again. The story reflects the struggles of youth unemployment in modern China. The story blows up on the Chinese internet. A rap song reinterprets that story, addressing contemporary issues like education and working conditions. The story demonstrates that Lu Xun remains relevant, and the debates he sparked continue today. #KongYiJi #YouthUnemployment #LuXun
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- Jin Yong - Sword of the Yue Maiden April 27, 2024
3 Comments
Many thanks for analysis Kong Yi Ji rap. Very interesting insight into current expression of discontent.
I like the linguistic extras!
Thanks!
Great episode. Sorry it took me so long to listen/comment.
Back in the 1980s, I remember a Chinese friend of mine speculating that ‘Kong Yiji’ was the work of modern literature that had been read, in its entirety, by more people living at that time than any other, worldwide, in any language. His most convincing piece of evidence was that EVERY middle school student in China had to read it, because it was in the required textbook. I had a hard time coming up with a counter argument. I guess I have always assumed that with the recent political rehabilitation of Confucius (now he’s got his own QUANGO, The Confucius Institute), the story had been dropped for political reasons. Maybe that’s not so. Anyway, Kong Yiji is a great story, and the podcast makes clear that people are still reading it. I’m glad to learn that the the final line of the story, “probably Kong Yiji really is dead” hasn’t come to pass yet.