Jung Chang on China’s decline and the story behind her new book

Key Concepts

Wild Swans: A seminal book by Jung Chang, published 30 years prior to this interview, detailing the lives of her grandmother and mother through significant periods of Chinese history.
Sequel to Wild Swans: The new book, written by Jung Chang, focuses on the period after 1979, chronicling the author's life, her mother's life, and the shift in China's political direction.
Cultural Revolution: A period of social and political upheaval in China (1966-1976) that profoundly impacted the author's family, particularly her mother.
Mao Zedong: The founder of the People's Republic of China, whose legacy and influence are contrasted with the current political climate under Xi Jinping.
Xi Jinping: The current leader of China, who is seen by the author as emulating Mao's ambition for lifelong power and a return to Maoist ideology.
Foot Binding: A historical practice in China where young girls' feet were tightly bound to prevent further growth, resulting in crippled feet. This practice is linked to the author's grandmother's suffering.
Banned Books in China: Jung Chang's works, including "Wild Swans" and biographies of Chinese leaders, are banned in China, making her return to the country risky.
"Insulting Revolutionary Heroes": A law enacted in China in 2018 that criminalizes perceived insults against figures like Mao Zedong, posing a significant threat to individuals like Jung Chang.

The Decision to Write a Sequel

Jung Chang explains her initial resistance to writing a sequel to her highly successful book, "Wild Swans." This decision was prompted by two significant factors:

Her Mother's Illness: In 2023, her mother, in her early 90s, was critically ill. Chang was unable to visit her deathbed in China due to her books being banned there. This inability to be with her mother during her final moments evoked a profound sense of debt and a desire to honor her extraordinary life, which had significantly contributed to Chang's own freedom, career, and happiness.
China's Political Shift: Chang felt that the time was right to write the sequel because China, which had begun reforms and opened up after 1978 (the year "Wild Swans" concludes), was now regressing towards "the bad old days" of Maoist ideology. She perceived this as the end of an era and wanted to document it alongside her family's stories.

The Painful Decision to Not Return to China

The interview delves into the reasons why Jung Chang could not return to China to see her dying mother. This inability stems from the political climate and the repercussions of her published works:

Banned Works: "Wild Swans," biographies of Mao Zedong, and other works by Chang are banned in China.
Legal Repercussions: In 2018, under President Xi Jinping, it became a crime punishable by imprisonment (or worse) to be deemed to have "insulted revolutionary heroes." Mao Zedong, a paramount figure in Chinese history, is central to this law.
Personal Risk: Chang feared that attempting to return to China would not only prevent her from seeing her mother but also put her at risk of imprisonment or severe consequences. This led to the "painful decision of not to fight to go back."

The Mother-Daughter Relationship Forged in the Cultural Revolution

The interview highlights the deep and formative bond between Jung Chang and her mother, particularly shaped during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution:

Mother's Resilience: Chang's mother refused to betray or denounce her father during denunciation meetings.
Brutal Treatment: She endured severe physical abuse, including being made to kneel on broken glass and being kicked and beaten. Chang recounts witnessing a particularly harrowing denunciation rally where thousands of people called for her mother's suffering.
Mother's Sacrifice for Freedom: Despite the hardships, her mother's actions were instrumental in enabling Chang to come to Britain. She provided the freedom and inspiration for Chang to pursue her writing career and eventually write "Wild Swans."

The Shift from Hope to Regression in China

Chang contrasts the initial hope and openness in China after 1979 with the current political trajectory:

Post-1979 Era: China began opening its doors, making friends with the West, and showing signs of moving towards democracy.
Current Regression: Under Xi Jinping, China is seen as moving "backward to the bad old days," with a determination to "worship Mao" and revert to Maoist ideology, abandoning friendship with the West.

Xi Jinping and the Legacy of Mao

The discussion draws parallels between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong:

"Chairman Xi": Chang notes that she almost referred to Xi Jinping as "Chairman Xi" due to her perception of him emulating Mao.
Heir to Mao: Xi Jinping calls himself the "heir" and "real successor" of Mao.
Mao's Ambition: Mao's ambition to dominate the world, which led to disasters like the Great Famine (where 40 million people died of starvation due to food exports for military technology), is seen as inherited by Xi.
Xi's Advantage: Unlike Mao, who had to export food to achieve his goals, Xi now has a rich China to pursue similar ambitions of global dominance.

Coming to Britain and Early Experiences

Chang recounts her arrival in Britain in 1978 and her initial experiences:

Isolated Background: She came from a China completely isolated from the outside world.
First Encounters with Foreigners: Her only prior encounters with foreigners were with sailors at a port in South China, where she and her fellow students practiced English.
London as Another Planet: London was a stark contrast, feeling like "another planet."
Strict Orders: Initially, students were under orders to stay together and not go out alone. They wore "Mao suits," making them a noticeable sight.
English Language Learning: Her English was learned from textbooks that were direct translations of Chinese, leading to unusual greetings like "Where are you going?" and "Have you eaten?"
Curiosity and Exploration: Despite the restrictions and cultural differences, Chang found immense joy in exploring London. She was among the first to break rules, such as going out alone and entering a pub, which she initially misunderstood due to its Chinese translation suggesting an "indecent" place.

The Inspiration for "Wild Swans" and the New Book

The interview clarifies the genesis of "Wild Swans" and the content of the new book:

Mother's Subtle Influence: Chang's mother subtly encouraged her to write about her family's stories, particularly her grandmother's.
The Millstone Analogy: A pivotal moment occurred in Hyde Park when her mother pointed to a stone, comparing it to the millstones used for foot binding. This sparked Chang's curiosity about her grandmother's suffering.
Graphic Details: Her mother provided excruciating and graphic details about foot binding, which involved breaking bones in young girls' feet to achieve the "3-inch golden lilies."
60 Hours of Recordings: Over six months, her mother shared extensive family history, resulting in 60 hours of tape recordings that formed the basis of "Wild Swans."
New Book's Scope: The new book details how "Wild Swans" was written, alongside other aspects of Chang's life and experiences.

Conclusion

Jung Chang's new book serves as both a personal memoir and a political commentary, reflecting on her family's enduring legacy amidst China's shifting landscape. The inability to visit her dying mother due to her banned writings underscores the current oppressive political climate in China. The narrative highlights the resilience of women in her family, the profound impact of historical events like the Cultural Revolution, and the author's personal journey from a closed society to a new life in Britain, all while grappling with the country she loves but cannot freely visit. The parallels drawn between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong emphasize a concerning return to authoritarianism and global ambition.