January 31, 2008
The confrontation between traditional Chinese culture and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) culture is a major theme in the Divine Performing Arts' production sponsored by New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV).
When people analyze political aspects to find the cause of this clash, we must point out that the cultural confrontation is not merely a theme portrayed in this show; it is a crucial factor that determines the direction Chinese society is headed.
In dealing with Chinese traditional culture, the CCP's policies can be divided into two periods. In the first period, it sought to eliminate the traditional culture—an effort that reached its peak during the "Cultural Revolution." During this decade, Chinese culture was killed. The CCP not only physically destroyed the historical relics, which go back as much as 5,000 years, it severed the spirit of this traditional culture.
In the second period, the CCP poses as the inheritor of traditional culture, claiming the right to explain it while twisting and exploiting its nature.
Many people may have noticed that when heads of foreign countries visit China, the CCP often arranges their first stop in Xi'an City. The CCP utilizes the cultural relics from the flourishing age of the Han (206 B.C.–A.D.220) and Tang (A.D. 618–906) Dynasties to fool foreigners.
Before the emergence of NTDTV, the CCP's strategies seemed quite effective. Not only did foreign governments have little knowledge about Chinese culture, many citizens throughout the country understood artifacts (such as calligraphy, painting, antiques, architecture, and costume) as well as skills (such as theater, dance, martial arts, and acrobatics) to be traditional Chinese culture—a superficial interpretation.
The CCP has sponsored many shows under the guise of showcasing traditional culture, but actually serving to promote Party culture—a stunt that has fooled many. Foreigners who've come to love Chinese culture mistakenly believe the CCP's culture is the traditional one. When they warmly embrace the Chinese culture that is in their minds, it is actually the culture of the CCP.
However, when NTDTV emerged, the situation changed dramatically.
As this Party culture has been hidden behind the name of traditional culture, the CCP greatly fears the resurgence of the true Chinese ways. As this Party culture becomes exposed, it will not only damage the face of the CCP, but more importantly, it will reveal a direct contrast between the traditional Chinese customs and the hypocritical, twisted, and evil CCP culture.
When the beliefs of traditional culture and moral values revive, the conscience of the people will also awaken. The disintegration of the Party culture is inevitable. When that happens, the CCP, an evil political system, will loose the environment on which it relies for survival.
In other words, the process of reviving the traditional culture is the process of dismantling the cultural aspects of the CCP. The CCP's culture faces a difficult situation from which it cannot escape. If it does nothing, it will helplessly see its culture crumble and perish.
If, however, it pours its human, material, and financial resources into reviving the true Chinese culture, and competes with NTDTV, it will only speed the process for these criminals to perish. Therefore, the only way for the CCP to linger on is to hinder the revival and spread of the traditional Chinese culture.
Recent events in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, and Montreal, where the Chinese embassies and consulates directly interfered with NTDTV shows, fully exposed the ultimate fear that the CCP has for the reemergence of traditional Chinese culture. It fears so much that it spares no effort to suppress such productions—an inevitable action for a government that has no alternatives to ensure its own survival.
What can be expected is that before the complete collapse of the CCP, it will continue interfering out of desperation, but its efforts will be in vain.
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