阶级斗争

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阶级斗争 [2025/08/12 13:31] – created xiaoer阶级斗争 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== jiējí dòuzhēng: 阶级斗争 - Class Struggle ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** jieji douzheng, jiējí dòuzhēng, 阶级斗争, class struggle in China, Chinese political terms, Mao Zedong, Cultural Revolution, communism in China, what is jieji douzheng, proletariat, bourgeoisie +
-  * **Summary:** "阶级斗争" (jiējí dòuzhēng) is the Chinese term for "class struggle," a foundational concept of Marxism and Maoism. It refers to the inherent conflict between social classes, particularly the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). This term is not just a translation; it represents a core political ideology that fueled decades of tumultuous history in China, including the Cultural Revolution. While its use has drastically declined in everyday modern life, it remains a crucial term for understanding China's political past and the ideological underpinnings of the Communist Party. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiējí dòuzhēng +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** N/A +
-  * **Concise Definition:** The conflict of interests and antagonism between different social classes, viewed as the driving force of historical change in Marxist theory. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a society not as a cooperative whole, but as a battleground between the "haves" and the "have-nots." That's the core idea of `阶级斗争`. In 20th-century China, this wasn't just an abstract theory; it was a state-sanctioned reality. The term describes the belief that to create a fair, socialist society, the oppressed working class must actively fight against and overthrow the oppressing classes (like landlords and capitalists). It carries immense historical weight and is associated with the most intense and violent periods of the Mao era (1949-1976). +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **阶 (jiē):** This character originally meant "stairs" or "steps." Here, it signifies a rank, level, or echelon in society. +
-  * **级 (jí):** This character means "level" or "grade," like in school (e.g., 年级 niánjí - grade level). +
-  * **斗 (dòu):** This character means "to fight," "to struggle," or "to contend." It's a very active, confrontational word. +
-  * **争 (zhēng):** This character also means "to contend," "to strive," or "to vie for." +
-  * The characters combine very literally. `阶级 (jiējí)` becomes "(social) class," a person's level or rank in the social hierarchy. `斗争 (dòuzhēng)` is a powerful term for "struggle" or "fight." Put together, `阶级斗争` is a direct and potent name for the concept of "class struggle." +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-  * **Ideological Engine of Maoist China:** `阶级斗争` was the ideological engine of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until the late 1970s. Mao Zedong famously stated, "Never forget class struggle" (千万不要忘记阶级斗争). This principle was used to justify everything from land redistribution and the execution of landlords to political purges and the immense social upheaval of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Your "class background" (阶级成分 jiējí chéngfèn) determined your fate—whether you were a friend or an enemy of the revolution. +
-  * **Comparison to Western "Class Consciousness":** In the West, we talk about "class" in terms of socioeconomic status (lower, middle, upper class) and "class consciousness" as an awareness of one's place in that system. The goal is often "social mobility"—moving up the ladder. `阶级斗争` is fundamentally different. It's not about climbing the ladder; it's about destroying the ladder and the classes it represents. It frames class as an antagonistic, political identity, not an economic one you can change through hard work. The goal is not individual advancement but collective revolutionary victory. +
-  * **Rejection of Traditional Harmony:** The concept of `斗争` (struggle) was a radical departure from the traditional Confucian value of `和谐` (héxié - harmony). While traditional Chinese philosophy sought to maintain social order and balance, Maoist thought promoted conflict as a necessary tool for progress. This ideological shift created a massive rupture with China's past. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-  * **Official and Historical Context:** Today, `阶级斗争` is rarely heard in everyday conversation. Its primary use is in formal, academic, or historical contexts. It appears in Party documents, university textbooks on political theory, and museums dedicated to the history of the revolution. While the Party no longer emphasizes "struggle" as the primary task, President Xi Jinping has occasionally revived the term to warn against ideological threats, reminding officials of the Party's Marxist roots. +
-  * **Modern Ironic Usage:** On the Chinese internet and among younger people, the term is sometimes used ironically or humorously to describe trivial conflicts. For example, someone might joke about the "class struggle" between cat owners and dog owners, or between colleagues competing for a promotion. This usage strips the term of its violent history and treats it as a hyperbole for minor disagreements. +
-  * **Connotation Shift:** +
-    *   **Past:** Extremely serious, politically charged. A matter of life and death. +
-    *   **Present (Official):** A neutral, historical, and theoretical term. +
-    *   **Present (Informal):** Ironic, humorous, and detached from its original meaning. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** (Historical/Political) +
-    * 在那个年代，**阶级斗争**是社会生活的主题。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zài nàge niándài, **jiējí dòuzhēng** shì shèhuì shēnghuó de zhǔtí. +
-    * English: In that era, **class struggle** was the main theme of social life. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence describes the historical reality of the Mao era. It's a neutral, factual statement you might find in a history book. +
-  * **Example 2:** (Formal/Ideological) +
-    * 党的理论基础之一就是马克思主义的**阶级斗争**学说。 +
-    * Pinyin: Dǎng de lǐlùn jīchǔ zhī yī jiùshì Mǎkèsī zhǔyì de **jiējí dòuzhēng** xuéshuō. +
-    * English: One of the theoretical foundations of the Party is the Marxist theory of **class struggle**. +
-    * Analysis: This is a formal statement explaining the ideological origins of the Communist Party of China. `学说 (xuéshuō)` means "theory" or "doctrine." +
-  * **Example 3:** (Mao's Famous Quote) +
-    * 毛主席教导我们：“千万不要忘记**阶级斗争**。” +
-    * Pinyin: Máo zhǔxí jiàodǎo wǒmen: "Qiānwàn bùyào wàngjì **jiējí dòuzhēng**." +
-    * English: Chairman Mao taught us: "Never forget **class struggle**." +
-    * Analysis: This is a direct quote that encapsulates the political atmosphere of its time. It's often cited to illustrate the importance of this concept during the Mao era. +
-  * **Example 4:** (Modern Ironic Usage) +
-    * 办公室里为了谁用打印机这点小事，都快演变成**阶级斗争**了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Bàngōngshì lǐ wèile shéi yòng dǎyìnjī zhè diǎn xiǎoshì, dōu kuài yǎnbiàn chéng **jiējí dòuzhēng** le. +
-    * English: In the office, the trivial matter of who gets to use the printer has almost evolved into a **class struggle**. +
-    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of modern, humorous usage. The speaker is exaggerating a minor office conflict by comparing it to a major political revolution. +
-  * **Example 5:** (Distinguishing Classes) +
-    * 根据旧社会的标准，他是属于资产**阶级**，而我们是无产**阶级**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Gēnjù jiù shèhuì de biāozhǔn, tā shì shǔyú zīchǎn **jiējí**, ér wǒmen shì wúchǎn **jiējí**. +
-    * English: According to the standards of the old society, he belonged to the bourgeoisie, while we were the proletariat. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses the component word `阶级 (jiējí)` twice to define the opposing sides in the `阶级斗争`. +
-  * **Example 6:** (Focus on "Struggle") +
-    * 他们的**斗争**持续了很多年。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tāmen de **dòuzhēng** chíxùle hěn duō nián. +
-    * English: Their **struggle** lasted for many years. +
-    * Analysis: This shows how `斗争 (dòuzhēng)` can be used on its own to mean "struggle," which can be political, social, or even personal. +
-  * **Example 7:** (Academic Analysis) +
-    * 历史学家正在重新评估**阶级斗争**在现代中国历史中的作用。 +
-    * Pinyin: Lìshǐ xuéjiā zhèngzài chóngxīn pínggū **jiējí dòuzhēng** zài xiàndài Zhōngguó lìshǐ zhōng de zuòyòng. +
-    * English: Historians are re-evaluating the role of **class struggle** in modern Chinese history. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence treats `阶级斗争` as an object of academic study, reflecting its current status as a historical concept. +
-  * **Example 8:** (Shift in Focus) +
-    * 改革开放后，国家的重点从**阶级斗争**转向了经济建设。 +
-    * Pinyin: Gǎigé kāifàng hòu, guójiā de zhòngdiǎn cóng **jiējí dòuzhēng** zhuǎnxiàngle jīngjì jiànshè. +
-    * English: After the Reform and Opening Up, the nation's focus shifted from **class struggle** to economic construction. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the major ideological shift that occurred in China after Mao's death, contrasting `阶级斗争` with the new priority of economic development. +
-  * **Example 9:** (Personal Family History) +
-    * 我爷爷因为家庭成分不好，在**阶级斗争**中吃了很多苦。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ yéye yīnwèi jiātíng chéngfèn bù hǎo, zài **jiējí dòuzhēng** zhōng chīle hěn duō kǔ. +
-    * English: My grandfather, because of his bad family background, suffered a lot during the **class struggle**. +
-    * Analysis: This shows the profound personal impact of the concept. `吃苦 (chīkǔ)` means "to suffer hardships." `家庭成分 (jiātíng chéngfèn)` refers to the class label assigned to one's family. +
-  * **Example 10:** (Ironic Social Commentary) +
-    * 每天挤地铁就是一场无声的**阶级斗争**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Měitiān jǐ dìtiě jiùshì yī chǎng wúshēng de **jiējí dòuzhēng**. +
-    * English: Squeezing onto the subway every day is a silent **class struggle**. +
-    * Analysis: Similar to example 4, this is a darkly humorous take on the daily grind of city life, using the term to express frustration in a cynical, exaggerated way. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Don't use it casually:** The biggest mistake is to assume `阶级斗争` is the standard way to talk about social class or inequality. If you want to say "the gap between the rich and poor is growing," you should say `贫富差距越来越大 (pín fù chājù yuèláiyuè dà)`. Using `阶级斗争` in this context would sound extremely strange and politically charged, as if you are calling for a violent revolution. Reserve it for historical discussions or intentional, ironic humor. +
-  * **False Friend: "Class Warfare":** While "class warfare" is the closest English equivalent, `阶级斗争` has a much more specific and powerful historical context in China. "Class warfare" in English is often used rhetorically by politicians to describe tax policies or economic debates. `阶级斗争` in China refers to a specific, state-directed campaign of political persecution and social re-engineering that dominated the country for decades. +
-  * **Incorrect Usage Example:** +
-    * **Incorrect:** 他很有钱，我没有，我们之间有很深的**阶级斗争**。 (Tā hěn yǒu qián, wǒ méiyǒu, wǒmen zhī jiān yǒu hěn shēn de **jiējí dòuzhēng**.) +
-    * **Why it's wrong:** This sentence misapplies a massive political-historical concept to a simple personal feeling of economic disparity or envy. It sounds naive and overly dramatic. A more natural way to express this would be, "我们不是一个世界的人" (Wǒmen bùshì yīgè shìjiè de rén - We're not from the same world) or "我们的经济条件差太多了" (Wǒmen de jīngjì tiáojiàn chà tài duō le - Our economic situations are too different). +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[无产阶级]] (wúchǎn jiējí) - The proletariat, the property-less working class, considered the heroes of the revolution. +
-  * [[资产阶级]] (zīchǎn jiējí) - The bourgeoisie, the capitalist class who owned the means of production, considered the primary enemy. +
-  * [[革命]] (gémìng) - Revolution. The ultimate goal and method of class struggle. +
-  * [[和谐社会]] (héxié shèhuì) - Harmonious Society. A key political concept from the 2000s that effectively serves as the ideological opposite of `阶级斗争`, emphasizing stability and cooperation over conflict. +
-  * [[斗争]] (dòuzhēng) - Struggle. The second half of the term, it can be used alone to refer to any kind of struggle, from political to personal. +
-  * [[地主]] (dìzhǔ) - Landlord. One of the first and primary targets of `阶级斗争` in the early PRC. +
-  * [[政治运动]] (zhèngzhì yùndòng) - Political movement/campaign. `阶级斗争` was the theoretical justification for many of these, most famously the Cultural Revolution (文化大革命). +
-  * [[资本家]] (zīběnjiā) - Capitalist. An individual member of the `资产阶级`. +
-  * [[阶级成分]] (jiējí chéngfèn) - Class background/component. The official label assigned to every family during the Mao era, which determined their social and political standing.+