Zhang, a student from China’s central Henan province, was faced with a thought-provoking essay prompt during his university entrance exam this month: “Blowing out other people’s lamps will not make you brighter.”
The essay question, part of China’s notoriously challenging gaokao, which determines university placements and often future careers, has taken on a more nationalist tone in recent years.
This year, the examiners directly incorporated “Xi Jinping Thought,” referring to the collected quotes of China’s president, and asked students to respond to texts that contained strongly implied anti-US themes.
It is difficult to avoid Xi Jinping’s influence in China. The president’s official portrait, banners with his slogans, and extensive collections of his essays are prominently displayed throughout the country.
However, the inclusion of Xi Jinping Thought in China’s education system reflects a leadership concerned about threats to their control and a younger generation that is becoming increasingly disconnected from politics.
According to Jean-Pierre Cabestan, an emeritus professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, geopolitical and economic threats have led the party leadership to seek a stronger leader and a unifying symbol.
Another question on the exam asked students to consider Xi’s phrase, “A flower blooming alone is not spring, but a hundred flowers blooming together makes the garden full of spring.” The exam explained that the texts were taken from speeches given by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which express universal truths in vibrant language.
Although not every student facing the gaokao this year encountered explicitly Xi Jinping Thought-related questions, many of those who did were from outlying provinces. In Xinjiang, a north-western region that has faced accusations of human rights abuses, questions focused on promoting social cohesion.
As Xi begins an unprecedented third term in office, indications suggest that he is seeking to further entrench his cult of personality. Most of his official speeches and documents emphasize his formal doctrine, “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” which has been enshrined in China’s constitution.
One of Xi’s central principles is to achieve the “Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” which many analysts interpret as an effort to challenge US “hegemony” and establish a multipolar world order where China wields significant global influence.
However, despite his firm grip on domestic politics, Xi Jinping faces growing tensions with the US and an economic recovery that is trailing, resulting in record levels of youth unemployment. In November, rare protests against Covid-19 restrictions emerged in major Chinese cities, drawing disaffected young people to the streets.
John P. Burns, an emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong, states that the party’s position both domestically and globally is one of insecurity. This insecurity is driving the tightening of central control and the promotion of ideological conformity.
While Xi’s personality cult is not as extreme as Mao’s, who initiated the disastrous Cultural Revolution to eliminate perceived threats to socialism within the party, analysts note a growing resemblance to the overwhelming dominance of Kim Jong Un in neighboring North Korea.
Juxtaposed against these concerns, Zhang, the student from Henan province, offered a geopolitical interpretation on his exam, opining that US “hegemonism is not conducive to world peace.” Another student, coincidentally also named Zhang, wrote about the necessity for young people to “build a community with a shared future for mankind,” a phrase often associated with the end of US pre-eminence.
However, some teachers believe that many students, especially those outside major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, may not fully grasp the implications of these exam questions.
A teacher named Li in Henan province, who assisted her students in preparing for the gaokao, stated, “I teach science students—they don’t study politics and don’t consume much news. They probably won’t be aware of the political context.”
John P. Burns from the University of Hong Kong raises doubts about the intentions of China’s leadership in educating the next generation. He questions whether they seek ideological conformity or encourage originality and independent thinking.
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