China in Ten Words

In this chapter, Yu Hua describes his transition from dentistry to writing and explains how the Cultural Revolution influenced his early works. His narrative begins with a vivid account of his early attempts at writing, which took the form of big character posters during the Cultural Revolution. He paints a striking picture of the fear and uncertainty that gripped his family during this period, when his father, a surgeon, was denounced as a “runaway landlord” and a “capitalist-roader” (64). In an attempt to demonstrate their loyalty to the Communist Party, Yu Hua and his brother wrote self-criticism posters, a common practice at the time.

As Yu Hua entered his teenage years, he continued to explore his passion for writing, venturing into new genres such as playwriting. He recounts his experience of writing a one-act play about a landlord attempting to sabotage the Communist Party’s efforts in the countryside. Seeking feedback, Yu Hua approached a well-known local “red pen” writer, a term used to describe politically correct authors. However, the writer reacted with anger and hostility when Yu Hua offered his own comments on the writer’s work. The local writer was later denounced and publicly humiliated for his work, a fate that Yu Hua narrowly avoided.