intellectual freedom in china yesterday, today, and tomorrow yue li florida state university june...

Intellectual Freedom in China Intellectual Freedom in China

Yesterday, Today, and TomorrowYesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yue LiYue Li

Florida State UniversityFlorida State University

June 2006June 2006

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Introduction: Intellectual FreedomIntroduction: Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual Freedom: Republic of China (1911-1949)Intellectual Freedom: Republic of China (1911-1949)• Yuan Shikai, Warlord Era (1912-1915 )Yuan Shikai, Warlord Era (1912-1915 )• Sun Yat-sen period (1912-1925) and Sun Yat-sen period (1912-1925) and • Chiang Kai-shek’s Nanjing Gov. (1927-1949)Chiang Kai-shek’s Nanjing Gov. (1927-1949)

Intellectual Freedom: People’s Republic of China (1949—Intellectual Freedom: People’s Republic of China (1949—

• Mao Zedong period (1949-1976)Mao Zedong period (1949-1976)• Deng Xiaoping period (1977-1997)Deng Xiaoping period (1977-1997)• Jiang Zeming (1989-2002) and Hu Jintao period (2003-)Jiang Zeming (1989-2002) and Hu Jintao period (2003-)

Intellectual Freedom in China: Outlook Intellectual Freedom in China: Outlook

Introduction: Intellectual FreedomIntroduction: Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual freedom Intellectual freedom • Freedom of the intellect Freedom of the intellect • Freedom of thoughtFreedom of thought• Freedom of the mindFreedom of the mind

Intellectual freedom Intellectual freedom • Laws, regulations, rules, or Laws, regulations, rules, or • Practices, control of the information creation, Practices, control of the information creation,

acquisition, organization, and dissemination acquisition, organization, and dissemination

Intellectual Freedom in ChinaIntellectual Freedom in China

China has a history of 5,000 yearsChina has a history of 5,000 years• Xia Dynasty Xia Dynasty (ca. 2000-1500 B.C)(ca. 2000-1500 B.C) To Qing ( To Qing (A.D. 1644-1911)A.D. 1644-1911)

(The earliest record history ) (The last feudal dynasty)(The earliest record history ) (The last feudal dynasty)

China had gone through China had gone through Primitive slavery Primitive slavery Feudalism Feudalism

The country ruled by emperors or kings =The country ruled by emperors or kings = 天子天子 ==the Sons of Godthe Sons of God

There was no concept of freedom, people shared no freedom, There was no concept of freedom, people shared no freedom, and nothing to say intellectual freedomand nothing to say intellectual freedom

Intellectual Freedom in ChinaIntellectual Freedom in ChinaThe Concept of Intellectual Freedom in ChinaThe Concept of Intellectual Freedom in China

Yen Fu (1853-1921) – a scholar, translator Yen Fu (1853-1921) – a scholar, translator • T. H. Huxley's T. H. Huxley's Evolution , EthicsEvolution , Ethics (1896), (1896), • Wealth of NationsWealth of Nations (1900), (1900), • John Stuart Mill's John Stuart Mill's On LibertyOn Liberty (1899), (1899), • Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations (1900)Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations (1900)• Spencer'sSpencer's Study of Sociology Study of Sociology (1903) (1903)• Montesquieu's Montesquieu's The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws (1905) (1905)

Liang Qichao (1873-1929) – scholar, politicianLiang Qichao (1873-1929) – scholar, politician• Translated and Commented on the worksTranslated and Commented on the works• Hobbes, Rousseau, Locke, Hume, BenthamanyHobbes, Rousseau, Locke, Hume, Benthamany

Western ideology of freedom and Western ideology of freedom and democracy introduced to China democracy introduced to China

IntellectualIntellectual Freedom Freedom Republic of ChinaRepublic of China (1911-1949)(1911-1949)

Yuan Shikai, Warlord Era (1912-1915 )Yuan Shikai, Warlord Era (1912-1915 )

Sun Yat-sen (1912 -- 1925) Sun Yat-sen (1912 -- 1925)

Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (1927-1949)(1927-1949)

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomRepublic of China Republic of China (1911-1949)(1911-1949)

Democracy and freedom were reaching more and more people Democracy and freedom were reaching more and more people

The Ministry of Education drafted ten articles to establish The Ministry of Education drafted ten articles to establish libraries and founded Capital Public Library in Beijing in 1913 libraries and founded Capital Public Library in Beijing in 1913

In 1915, the Ministry stated provinces, counties, schools, In 1915, the Ministry stated provinces, counties, schools, colleges should establish librariescolleges should establish libraries

Local government, and individuals were encouraged to Local government, and individuals were encouraged to establish institutional, public, and private librariesestablish institutional, public, and private libraries

There were 227 public libraries national wideThere were 227 public libraries national wide


Chiang Kai-shek (1927-1949)Chiang Kai-shek (1927-1949)

Three People’s PrinciplesThree People’s Principles• Nationalism, Democracy, People’s LivelihoodNationalism, Democracy, People’s Livelihood

Laws were made related to authorship, publications, Laws were made related to authorship, publications, news creation and dissemination news creation and dissemination

More freedom to get information from: More freedom to get information from: • ““Zheng fu gong bao”, newspapers, journals etc. Zheng fu gong bao”, newspapers, journals etc.


Interior Department’s statistics in 1935 showedInterior Department’s statistics in 1935 showed • 81 foreign published newspapers and magazines81 foreign published newspapers and magazines

North China Daily NewsNorth China Daily News The Shanghai TimesThe Shanghai Times Millard’s ReviewMillard’s Review The Far Eastern ReviewThe Far Eastern Review The China DigestThe China Digest Finance and CommerceFinance and Commerce

• Nation-wideNation-wide 1503 newspaper publishing houses1503 newspaper publishing houses 788 news agencies788 news agencies 1875 journals and magazines1875 journals and magazines


No real intellectual freedom because of Chiang’s No real intellectual freedom because of Chiang’s dictatorshipdictatorship• In 1915, the gov. published 35 rules and regulations regard In 1915, the gov. published 35 rules and regulations regard

to the newspaper, journals, and other media publications to the newspaper, journals, and other media publications

No. 9: Any publication subjected to the police depart.’s checkNo. 9: Any publication subjected to the police depart.’s check

No. 10: Any publication that is against the gov. and interfere No. 10: Any publication that is against the gov. and interfere

society’s stability should be bannedsociety’s stability should be banned

No. 22: Police could stop any publication’s issuing if the No. 22: Police could stop any publication’s issuing if the publication was against the gov. publication was against the gov.

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomRepublic of China Republic of China (1911-1949)(1911-1949)

More RulesMore Rules• All the news and report were under inspection before they All the news and report were under inspection before they

were allowed to publish.were allowed to publish.

• 1939 to 1945 president Chiang Kai-shek personally 1939 to 1945 president Chiang Kai-shek personally

delivered delivered 9 9 decrees to the Propaganda Depart. and News decrees to the Propaganda Depart. and News Censorship Bureau to exercise more Censorship Bureau to exercise more strict inspection to the newspaperstrict inspection to the newspaper “ “Xinhua Daily” the communistXinhua Daily” the communist

party’s newspaperparty’s newspaper


Hundreds of titles were completely banned such as: Hundreds of titles were completely banned such as: ““Collection of Mao Zedong’s Speeches”Collection of Mao Zedong’s Speeches” ““Ten Yeas Chinese Communist Party” Ten Yeas Chinese Communist Party” ““China Unconquered” China Unconquered” ““Zhu De’s Biography” Zhu De’s Biography” “ “Ten Yeas Chinese Communist PartyTen Yeas Chinese Communist Party

Each year, a banned book list would be publishedEach year, a banned book list would be published

Any bookstores, Any bookstores, libraries, institutions or individuals libraries, institutions or individuals were subject to serious punishment if they collected were subject to serious punishment if they collected those banned booksthose banned books


Professors Wen Yiduo and Li Gongpu were Professors Wen Yiduo and Li Gongpu were assassinated because of their advocating intellectual assassinated because of their advocating intellectual freedom and and anti-gov’s suppression of freedom and and anti-gov’s suppression of

democracydemocracy

(1899-1946)(1899-1946) (1902-1946)(1902-1946)

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomPeople’s Republic of ChinaPeople’s Republic of China (1949-- ) (1949-- )

Mao Zedong Mao Zedong (1949-1976)(1949-1976)

Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping (1977-1997)(1977-1997)

Jiang Zeming Jiang Zeming (1989-2002)(1989-2002) and Hu Jintao and Hu Jintao(2003(2003-) -)

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomP.R. ChinaP.R. China –Mao’s Period –Mao’s Period (1949--1977)(1949--1977)

Mao and his gov. at the beginning embraced Mao and his gov. at the beginning embraced democracy and intellectual freedom democracy and intellectual freedom

• ““Let a hundred flowers bloom, a hundred schools of Let a hundred flowers bloom, a hundred schools of thought contend.” thought contend.” (1956-1957)(1956-1957)

• People esp. intellectuals allowed, even encouraged to speak People esp. intellectuals allowed, even encouraged to speak freely and to give out their thoughts and mindsfreely and to give out their thoughts and minds

• The intellectuals could raise their criticisms upon The intellectuals could raise their criticisms upon government and it’s policiesgovernment and it’s policies

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R. ChinaP.R. China Mao’s Period Mao’s Period (1949--1976)(1949--1976)

Anti-Rightist Movement in 1957 Anti-Rightist Movement in 1957 • The critics and intellectualsThe critics and intellectuals

Censored, screened, sent to the remote farms, Censored, screened, sent to the remote farms, persecuted, or imprisoned or even tortured to death persecuted, or imprisoned or even tortured to death

• Any books or materials against the gov. and the Any books or materials against the gov. and the partyparty

Strictly censored, banned, or destroyedStrictly censored, banned, or destroyed

• By the end of 1957, more than 550,000 peopleBy the end of 1957, more than 550,000 people Writers, scholars, artists labeled as rightistsWriters, scholars, artists labeled as rightists

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R. China: Mao’s Period (1949---) P.R. China: Mao’s Period (1949---)

Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) • Strong nationalismStrong nationalism

• Idolatry to Mao ZedongIdolatry to Mao Zedong

• Rebellion against traditional culture and the western philosophyRebellion against traditional culture and the western philosophy

• Extreme policies to control and destroy information Extreme policies to control and destroy information

• Prosecution of high-ranking leaders and intellectuals Prosecution of high-ranking leaders and intellectuals

• The only freedom was reading Mao’s works The only freedom was reading Mao’s works

The gov. excised the extreme policies toThe gov. excised the extreme policies to

control information and destroy informationcontrol information and destroy information Resulted in a decade of information desert, a political, Resulted in a decade of information desert, a political,

cultural, and economic havoccultural, and economic havoc

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomP.R. China Deng’sP.R. China Deng’s Period Period (1977-1997)(1977-1997)

Death of Mao and the arrest of “the Gang of Death of Mao and the arrest of “the Gang of Four” ended the Culture RevolutionFour” ended the Culture Revolution

Deng Xiaoping came to power (1977-1997)Deng Xiaoping came to power (1977-1997)

The Eleventh Party Congress (1977)The Eleventh Party Congress (1977)• A new era for China A new era for China • Policy: “SPolicy: “Seeking truth from facts" and eeking truth from facts" and “Reform “Reform

and opening to the outside world” and opening to the outside world”

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R. China Deng’s Period P.R. China Deng’s Period (1977-1997(1977-1997) )

More access to foreign and classical works and More access to foreign and classical works and other informationother information

Beijing Spring (1977 –1978): people had Beijing Spring (1977 –1978): people had unusual freedom to criticize the government unusual freedom to criticize the government

Chinese history embraced 1980s as the Spring Chinese history embraced 1980s as the Spring of Intellectual Freedom & Spring of Sci. and of Intellectual Freedom & Spring of Sci. and Tech.Tech.

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R. China Deng’s Period (1977-1997) P.R. China Deng’s Period (1977-1997)

Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989 • Protest against the lack of Intellectual freedom Protest against the lack of Intellectual freedom

• China needed further political systems reformChina needed further political systems reform

The gov. used army froces to The gov. used army froces to suppress the demonstration in suppress the demonstration in Tiananmen. Some people were Tiananmen. Some people were

killed and many more were killed and many more were arrestedarrested““Anti-Western-Liberalism Movement”Anti-Western-Liberalism Movement”

• The intellectual freedom enjoyed in 1980s suffered a huge set-backThe intellectual freedom enjoyed in 1980s suffered a huge set-back

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomPR China PR China

Jiang (1989-2002) Jiang (1989-2002) Hu’s Period (2003--) Hu’s Period (2003--)

More open, more moderateMore open, more moderate

President Jiang : “Each one of the four modernization President Jiang : “Each one of the four modernization depends on the modernization of information.”depends on the modernization of information.”

Amendment to the Constitution adopted : "the State Amendment to the Constitution adopted : "the State respects and safeguards human rights" respects and safeguards human rights" • Legal systems set up, laws made to protect human Legal systems set up, laws made to protect human

rightsrights

Chinese Intellectual FreedomChinese Intellectual FreedomPR China Jiang and Hu’s Period PR China Jiang and Hu’s Period (1989--)(1989--)

Foreign experts on intellectual freedom were invited to visit Foreign experts on intellectual freedom were invited to visit China China

Foreign information agencies like Yahoo and Google are Foreign information agencies like Yahoo and Google are allowed to open business in Chinaallowed to open business in China

People have more assess to informationPeople have more assess to information

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R . China Jiang and Hu’s Period (1989--)P.R . China Jiang and Hu’s Period (1989--)

Some political dissidents were releasedSome political dissidents were released

Chinese people are enjoying more rights than they Chinese people are enjoying more rights than they had ever beforehad ever before• Complete intellectual freedom at home, workshop, Complete intellectual freedom at home, workshop,

institution and even limited public placesinstitution and even limited public places

Shares many Western economic values but few Shares many Western economic values but few Western political and intellectual freedom valuesWestern political and intellectual freedom values

Intellectual FreedomIntellectual FreedomP.R. China Jiang and Hu’s Period (1989--) P.R. China Jiang and Hu’s Period (1989--)

Censorship policiesCensorship policies• ““Legal actions” to ban the “illegal publications”Legal actions” to ban the “illegal publications” • Shut down or eradicate whatever they dislikeShut down or eradicate whatever they dislike• No voices heard from dissidents No voices heard from dissidents

““Intranet” in Hong KongIntranet” in Hong Kong -- -- The major gov. censorship tool The major gov. censorship tool • Permits 111 million Chinese Internet users to have unlimited access Permits 111 million Chinese Internet users to have unlimited access

to each other but filter all information from outside worldto each other but filter all information from outside world• Screened links to the outside worldScreened links to the outside world

Foreign companies required to censor Chinese Internet users Foreign companies required to censor Chinese Internet users and many magazinesand many magazines

Intellectual Freedom in China: Intellectual Freedom in China: OutlookOutlook

Intellectual Freedom: Where China stands?Intellectual Freedom: Where China stands?• Free Free Partial Free Partial Free Not Free Not Free

Intellectual Freedom in China: long way to go but Intellectual Freedom in China: long way to go but PromisingPromising• People’s thoughts, minds are changingPeople’s thoughts, minds are changing

• Media agencies’ leadership changesMedia agencies’ leadership changes

• Media commercialization and privatization Media commercialization and privatization

• New infor. Tech.—Infor. creation and dissemination New infor. Tech.—Infor. creation and dissemination

• Influence from Hongkong, Macau, Tiawan, and outside Influence from Hongkong, Macau, Tiawan, and outside worldworld

Intellectual Freedom in China: Intellectual Freedom in China: Outlook Outlook

Intellectual Freedom in China in summary Intellectual Freedom in China in summary

• Much progress achieved Much progress achieved

• Lot of problems existLot of problems exist

• More fights neededMore fights needed

前途是光明的前途是光明的 , , 道路是曲折的道路是曲折的 .. The future is bright but the road is The future is bright but the road is

tortuous.tortuous.

Intellectual Freedom in China Intellectual Freedom in China

Yesterday, Today, and TomorrowYesterday, Today, and Tomorrow((A Picture Is Worth 1000 WordsA Picture Is Worth 1000 Words ) )

Intellectual Freedom in China Intellectual Freedom in China Yesterday, Today, and TomorrowYesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Thank You !Thank You !

Yue LiYue LiFlorida State UniversityFlorida State University

June 2006 June 2006 ([email protected])([email protected])

intellectual freedom in china yesterday, today, and tomorrow yue li florida state university june...

Documents