{"id":5205,"date":"2022-08-16T14:09:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-16T08:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?p=5205"},"modified":"2024-12-27T18:23:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T12:53:46","slug":"knowing-china-better-tang-ping-bai-lan-lie-flat-let-it-rot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2022\/08\/16\/knowing-china-better-tang-ping-bai-lan-lie-flat-let-it-rot\/","title":{"rendered":"281: KNOWING CHINA BETTER: TANG PING &#038; BAI LAN (LIE FLAT &#038; LET IT ROT)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5207 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/download.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Pic: Courtesy youtube.com<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><em>&#8220;Sending resumes is like fishing for a needle in the ocean&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><em>&#8211; Wang (a Chinese lab technician) <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">The phrase<em>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2018bai lan\u2019 (let it rot)<\/span>,<\/em> means a voluntary retreat from pursuing certain goals because one realises they are simply too difficult to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">The phrase, <em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2018tang ping\u2019 (lying flat)<\/span>,<\/em> means rejecting gruelling competition for a low desired life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Similar meaning phrases also include:<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>\u2018to smash a cracked pot\u2019 and \u2018dead pigs are not afraid of boiling water\u2019.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">In recent days, these phrases and gaining popularity amongst the youth of China, as severe competition and high social expectations are making them frustrated, despaired, and dejected. Shrinking economic opportunities and mounting uncertainties are fuelling a sense of hopelessness in their ranks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333399;\"><strong><u>Frustrated Feelings.<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">Chinese youth are frustrated about the prohibitively expensive property rates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">China\u2019s young adults are resisting marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">In spite of relaxation in the one-child policy, the younger lot are reluctant to have more than one child due to unaffordability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">The younger generation feels they cannot make long-term plans due to future uncertainties.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">Youth feel they cannot pursue their profession of interest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333399;\">Youth feel a sense of failure because of unrealistically high and ever-increasing goals set by employers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">The sense of hopelessness among the young is further exacerbated by shrinking economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">Strict lockdown and confinement at home during the pandemic have further added to the woes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\">China\u2019s labor market is shrinking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\">Unemployment is rising and it is hard to find jobs after graduation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003300;\">The increasing gap between the rich and the poor is another cause of despair.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">The pressures of working for long hours and the high cost of raising a family are resulting in early burnout.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333300;\">The young people are increasingly feeling that the general progress of the country is at the cost of their own personal advancements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;\"><u>China\u2019s Worry<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">These popular phrases reflect a shared social emotion prevailing amongst the youth in China.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">Chinese youth have taken to protesting against the culture of being overworked and underpaid with a new form of resistance that has steadily gained momentum on the country&#8217;s social media and microblogging sites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">This attitude of letting things rot, amongst the younger generation is being caused by a lack of social mobility and increased uncertainty in today\u2019s China.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">This is a matter of worry for China because the young people in China are giving up and embracing the deteriorating situation, rather than trying to improve it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">Recently, China\u2019s president Xi Jinping encouraged the country\u2019s youth to establish \u201cgreat ideals\u201d and incorporate their personal goals into the \u201cbigger picture\u201d of the Chinese nation and people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\"><u>Bottom Line<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #003366;\">Young people in China, exhausted by a culture of hard work with seemingly little reward, are highlighting the need for a lifestyle change by &#8220;lying flat&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\">Lesson<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\">It is important to balance between Nation&#8217;s goals and citizen&#8217;s aspirations.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: #800080;\">Question<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">Is it a phenomenon prevailing only in China?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\"><u>Suggestions and value additions are most welcome<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?s=knowing+china+better\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">Link to other 06 articles of the series :Knowing China Better&#8221;.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff0000;\">For regular updates, please register here<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"1PuX8A7sGf\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/\">Subscribe<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Subscribe&#8221; &#8212; Air Marshal&#039;s Perspective\" src=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/embed\/#?secret=nhryND1fsZ#?secret=1PuX8A7sGf\" data-secret=\"1PuX8A7sGf\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><u>References<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tang_ping\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tang_ping<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2022\/may\/26\/the-rise-of-bai-lan-why-chinas-frustrated-youth-are-ready-to-let-it-rot?CMP=share_btn_tw&amp;s=08\">https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2022\/may\/26\/the-rise-of-bai-lan-why-chinas-frustrated-youth-are-ready-to-let-it-rot?CMP=share_btn_tw&amp;s=08<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/explained-tang-ping-or-lying-flat-movement-initiated-by-chinese-youth-that-resists-increased-work-pressures-9747781.html\">https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/world\/explained-tang-ping-or-lying-flat-movement-initiated-by-chinese-youth-that-resists-increased-work-pressures-9747781.html<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/radii.co\/article\/let-it-rot\">https:\/\/radii.co\/article\/let-it-rot<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-china-57348406\">https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-china-57348406<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><u>Credits<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\">To all the online sites and channels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><u>Disclaimer<\/u>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\">Information and data included in the blog are for educational &amp; non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pic: Courtesy youtube.com &nbsp; &#8220;Sending resumes is like fishing for a needle in the ocean&#8221; &#8211; Wang (a Chinese lab technician) &nbsp; The phrase, \u2018bai lan\u2019 (let it rot), means a voluntary retreat from pursuing certain goals because one realises they are simply too difficult to achieve. &nbsp; The phrase, \u2018tang ping\u2019 (lying flat), means &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2022\/08\/16\/knowing-china-better-tang-ping-bai-lan-lie-flat-let-it-rot\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;281: KNOWING CHINA BETTER: TANG PING &#038; BAI LAN (LIE FLAT &#038; LET IT ROT)&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,25,16,15,83,87],"tags":[24,43,66,84,50],"class_list":["post-5205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","category-china","category-events","category-leadership","category-management","category-motivation","tag-china","tag-leadership","tag-management","tag-motivation","tag-working-environment"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5205"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8790,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5205\/revisions\/8790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}