Among the people

Minjian: The Rise of China's Grassroots Intellectuals

In the People's Republic of China, which is gradually becoming silent, there is still a group of intellectuals who are unwilling to remain silent. They are unofficial, unorganized, and among the people - proud to be "civilians".
★The Chinese version exclusively includes "Dialogue with Wei Jian" and "Dialogue with Jia Zhangke"★

After the setback of the democratic movement in 1989 and the resumption of economic reform in 1992, a new type of grassroots intellectual emerged. Unlike the literati who retreated to traditional spheres, they actively collaborated with disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Unlike the public intellectuals of the 1980s who loudly advocated for democracy and modernity, they strongly opposed the rhetoric of the elite. They proclaimed the independence of thought and action and took pride in being "civilian"—unofficial, unorganized, and among the people.

This book profiles a group of grassroots thinkers and activists who are profoundly transforming China's public culture. They include amateur historians who challenge official narratives, independent directors who give voice to the people, and human rights lawyers and NGO workers who share practical knowledge. They are pioneering a new public sphere beyond academia and government institutions, focusing on concrete and pressing real-world issues: political victims of the Mao Zedong era, children of migrant workers facing educational hardship, and visitors without residence permits.

Wei Jian delves into the underlying currents of change beneath the surface of contemporary Chinese society, analyzing the public discourse, interventionist actions, and knowledge production of grassroots intellectuals, bringing grassroots intellectual groups—especially female intellectuals—who have long been on the margins of power into the landscape of Chinese intellectual history.

Under the shadow of an authoritarian state, the power of knowledge is profoundly changing Chinese society!

After retiring, amateur historian Yang Jishou began collecting unofficial archives on the Great Famine and the Cultural Revolution, publishing his book, Tombstone, in Hong Kong in 2008. "I received numerous letters from readers across the country, expressing their unwavering and enthusiastic support. This demonstrates the profound penetrating power of truth, capable of breaking through the iron walls of administrative power!"

Independent director Jia Zhangke is a member of the first generation of directors to make films outside the established system, focusing on themes overlooked by the mainstream. "I've always resented the inexplicable sense of professional superiority. The amateur spirit embodies equality and fairness, as well as a concern for fate and compassion for ordinary people."

Human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong played a key role in the Sun Zhigang case, the founding of the Gongmeng (Civil Alliance), and the issue of the public. He was later imprisoned for his role in the New Citizens Movement. "I have the ability to live a privileged life within this system, but any privilege would be a source of shame for me. I choose to stand with the powerless, sharing the cold of Beijing's winter streets and underground tunnels, and enduring the brutal violence of the black prisons."

Blogger Han Han, a high school dropout who became a best-selling novelist and race car driver, frequently comments on political issues. "I hate politics, but I love literature and art. I just don't like it when my love for literature and art is hindered by the politics I hate."
(For more biographies of grassroots intellectuals, see the appendix of this book.)

Good reviews and recommendations

▍Article Citations

Wu Jiemin, Researcher, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica. While this book focuses on the transformation of intellectuals after the Tiananmen Square incident, the civil society, as a social network of resistance, can permeate interpretations of modern Chinese history. The intervention of grassroots intellectuals injected new energy into traditional Chinese civil society and redefined it. Wei Jian concludes by stating that the term "civil society" highlights the conditional nature of citizenship in China today, as civil society actors may not necessarily possess a full awareness of their citizenship rights. While civil society is not the same as civil society, the author believes that this book provides a new understanding of the evolving state-society relationship in China and offers a new critical perspective on Western civil society theory.

Zhao Sile, journalist and author of "Their Journey," Regarding a research monograph on a little-known aspect of China, the most crucial question to assess its value must be returned to: Does it capture the essential characteristics of a crucial aspect and present it reliably? As a journalist and author who has spent many years researching and writing about China's civil rights movements, I believe the answer to both questions is yes. China's emerging intellectual community tends to discuss specific social issues, positioning itself and focusing on issues closer to the lower classes and disadvantaged groups. Wei Jian's book provides a respectable and credible account of this important phenomenon.

▍Highly recommended

He Mingxiu, Professor of Sociology at National Taiwan University. After the Tiananmen Square Massacre, dissidents never remained silent. They presented their critiques through reporting on social issues, recording oral histories of state violence, documenting them through documentary and artistic creation, and advocating for human rights. They rewrote the tradition of Chinese intellectuals since the May Fourth Movement, abandoning the elitist mentality of claiming to be the conscience of society, rejecting the comfortable academic system, and actively embracing commercialized media and online platforms. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, the situation of this group of grassroots intellectuals has become even more difficult, and a new generation of dissidents will continue to speak out through different postures and channels.

For contemporary intellectuals, how can "civil society" exist beyond the realm of the underworld and the shady? How can grand beliefs be transformed into daily grassroots action? These two questions are crucial in every society. However, the personal actions of a few activists, often at the grassroots level, are fragmented and fragile, rarely recorded in historical records. The Wei Jian's arrangement provides a relatively complete and valuable historical record.

Li Zhide, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Mirror Literature, was overcome with a deep sense of regret after reading Wei Jian's "Among the People": China has lost so many intellectuals and professionals who were willing to pursue civilization and dedicate themselves; and how many opportunities and possibilities for China to be more advanced than it is today have been lost under the rule of a totalitarian government.

Lin Mumu/Curator of the Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival. Given the current political context in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the publication of Wei Jian's new book, "Among the People," in Taiwan is undoubtedly significant. If "intellectual" signifies a lofty independence and critical spirit, then Wei Jian's long-term observation, writing, and interviews not only chronicle this generation of Chinese intellectuals, but also explore the contradictions, survival, and transformation faced by intellectuals in this great era, as well as what intellectuals can become and what they can do once their seeds sprout among the people. The book's core message is rooted in a call for justice and conscience, and its many arguments, tested by time, remain sharp and insightful, making it a worthwhile read.

Qiu Yiling, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Taiwan. While most media coverage and research focuses on the various repressive tactics of the Chinese government, this book offers an alternative perspective, describing how grassroots activists on the ground in China are organizing and forming networks, breaking away from the traditional intellectual framework. The content is fascinating and well worth the read.

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Positive reviews from all walks of life

In an era of deepening authoritarianism in China and elsewhere, this book offers crucial insights into the resilience of citizens under the shadow of repressive institutions. The author uniquely demonstrates how independent and critical civil society intellectuals, across diverse roles, have resisted institutional control and thereby challenged the Party's power. —Eva Pils, Professor of Law, King's College London

In the past, Chinese intellectuals prioritized the nation over the state, taking the world as their responsibility. But commercialization and a government without moral sanction have given rise to a new generation of intellectuals who are more concerned with the specific problems of society and distance themselves from the state. In this meticulously researched and brilliantly written book, Wei Jian accurately analyzes this remarkable shift in the thinking and status of intellectuals. —Joseph Fewsmith, Professor of Political Science at Boston University

Published at a time when the Chinese government is tightening restrictions on free speech, Wei Jian's timely and in-depth research examines how China's "grassroots intellectuals" use different media and platforms to criticize the sociopolitical conditions in contemporary China. —Carlos Rojas, Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University

Sometimes to the chagrin of China's leaders, a vibrant field of intellectual creation and political discussion has developed outside Communist Party control. Although unofficial, it has considerable influence. Western observers often see only fragments, but Wei Jian provides a comprehensive overview, including personal biographies and useful analysis. --Craig Calhoun, professor of sociology at Arizona State University

"Among the People" offers a comprehensive survey of the new intellectuals of the digital age. From independent filmmakers and historians to lawyers and journalists, these grassroots intellectuals have transformed China's public culture and what it means to be an intellectual. Wei Jian tells the fascinating stories of these activists within the broader context of historical change. This is an important contribution to Chinese studies and an excellent resource for teaching. --Guobin Yang, Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania

The first comprehensive account of this emerging class of thinkers, artists, and filmmakers. --New York Review of Books

Wei Jian carefully places these "grassroots intellectuals" within the social history of Chinese thinkers. --Foreign Affairs

[Wei Jian] undoubtedly challenges readers to rethink who China's "intellectuals" are and how we understand them. (Timothy Cheek) - China Quarterly

A masterpiece and a distinguished contribution to an important field. (David Ownby) - The PRC History Review

This book is a timely addition to the growing body of research on contemporary Chinese intellectuals and intellectual discourse. —Modern Chinese Literature and Culture

2021-09-02

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9789570859683