"I think the Cultural Revolution exposed a lot of conflicts between idealism and realism.": Reflections from a Child of the '80s. 

Interviewer: Could you tell me if you were born during the 1980s or 1990s?

[I was born at] the end of the 1980s.

Interviewer: I see. Could you tell me the first time you heard about the Cultural Revolution?

[I heard about the Cultural Revolution] when I was in the third grade.

I had a classmate who was very naughty, and my class monitor said his parents were typical "little red demons"

[= Red Guards],

those who had not received a good education [during the Cultural Revolution].

Interviewer: [The class monitor used] a derogatory word, right? [Saying "little red demons" instead of the proper name, Red Guards.]

Yes, it was a derogatory word.

Only after that did I know there was something called the Cultural Revolution.

Interviewer: And after that?

Interviewer: Were there other ways you deepened your understanding of the Cultural Revolution?

When I was in high school, I had a classmate whose grandfather was a Rightist and was tortured during the Cultural Revolution.

You know, high school students were rebellious.

We talked a lot about the Cultural Revolution; I also went back home to read books.

I read many books on Chinese history, especially modern Chinese history, and finally understood what happened.

Interviewer: You had the motivation to know more about [the Cultural Revolution], right?

Yes.

Interviewer: Do you have many peers

like you?

I think there are a lot.

Many [young] people are still interested in history, especially modern history.

[The Cultural Revolution] is unavoidable [when learning about modern history].

But they do not have many avenues or resources to understand history comprehensively.

Interviewer: From your point of view, what kind of event was the Cultural Revolution?

Interviewer: How much of a relationship does it have to your personal interests?

Interviewer: Some people think [the Cultural Revolution] has nothing to do with them,

Interviewer:...while some people are very interested and want to know more about it--which of these types of people are you?

My personal interest is in sociology.

To me, the significance of the Cultural Revolution lies in its attempt to take an idealized experiment in Communism and forcibly carry it out in human society.

I think the Cultural Revolution exposed a lot of conflicts between idealism and realism.

Even today, it is hard to clarify the motivation of the Cultural Revolution with one sentence.

It contained struggles between individuals' political aspirations and political factions,

as well as a nation trying to take a "great leap," with the dream of realizing Communism.

So I think that at least today,

it is still difficult to define the event.

the Cultural Revolution is a very interesting

social phenomenon.

Interviewer: Did your perception of the Cultural Revolution come from your family?

Interviewer: A little bit,

or not at all?

A little bit, but not much.

My mother came from an ordinary family, so they did not feel much impact [of the Cultural Revolution].

During the Cultural Revolution,

 my paternal grandfather was a political activist

But my grandfather did not treat this matter as something good to talk about; I only heard about it from my father.

Interviewer: [You were born at] the end of the 1980s, right?

Yes, the end of the 1980s, the same year [Chinese poet] Haizi passed away [1989].

Interviewer: The year Haizi passed away. I see.

You like poetry, then?

I think, if we talk about the Cultural Revolution, then we must talk about the turbulence of 1989.

I think these two incidents [the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests] are interrelated.

In studying modern history, you have to study a series of events systematically.

You can't just focus on an isolated incident.

Interviewer: What is your major?

Interviewer: Oh, so it's not related to social sciences...

No, it's not.

Interviewer: ...[Social sciences] are just your personal interest.

Right, just my personal interest.

Interviewer: I am curious whether there are many people in your major who are also interested in social sciences, such as Chinese history?

Actually, there are many.

In my generation, many people have chosen to study science because they are outstanding [students].

From my mom's generation's point of view, it's equivalent to -- well, several general secretaries [of the Communist Party of China] studied engineering.

Actually, from the point of view of the nation, it is important for people to study the sciences and engineering to maintain the country's strength.

It's a viewpoint that sciences and engineering are more important than humanities.

So, in my generation, many knowledgeable people have chosen science or engineering [as their majors].

Also, these fields are better paid, with better chances to apply one's knowledge.

This is also in line with the viewpoint that science and engineering strengthen the nation.

Interviewer: Good.