Tempered in the revolutionary furnace : China's youth in the rustication movement

In Tempered in the Revolutionary Furnace, Yihong Pan tells her personal story, and that of her generation of urban middle school graduates sent to the countryside during China's Rustication Movement. Based on interviews, reminiscences, diaries, letters, and newspaper accounts, the work examines the varied, and often perplexing, experiences of the seventeen million Chinese students sent to work in the countryside between 1953 and 1980. Rich in human drama, Pan's book illustrates how life in the countryside transformed the children of Mao from innocent, ignorant, yet often passionate, believers in the Communist Party into independent adults. Those same adults would lead the nationwide protests in the winter of 1978-79 that forced the government to abandon its policy of rustication. Richly textured, this work successfully blends biography with a wealth of historical insight to bring to life the trials of a generation, and to offer Chinese studies scholars a fascinating window into Mao Zedong's China. Contents 6 Abbreviations 8 Explanatory Notes 9 Acknowledgments 10 Table 12 Introduction 14 1 Before the Countryside 22 2 Why Was There a Rustication Movement? An Examination of the Goals of the Government 48 3 Why Did I Go to the Countryside? 75 4 Life on the Army and State Farms 99 5 Life in Rural Villages 125 6 Tempered in the Revolutionary Furnace 151 7 Reeducation in the Vast Land 178 8 Love and Marriage 194 9 The “Back to the City Wind” 217 10 “We Want to Go Home;” “We Want Human Rights” 234 11 No Regrets for Our Youth? or Youth Sacrificed in Vain? 251 Epilogue 279 Bibliography 282 Index 292 About the Author 296 Before The Countryside -- Why Was There A Rustication Movement? An Examination Of The Goals Of The Government -- Why Did I Go To The Countryside? -- Life On The Army And State Farms -- Life In Rural Villages -- Tempered In The Revolutionary Furnace -- Reeducation In The Vast Land -- Love And Marriage -- The Back To The City Wind -- We Want To Go Home; We Want Human Rights -- No Regrets For Our Youth? Or Youth Sacrificed In Vain? Yihong Pan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-278) And Index.