He was one of the most-watched figures among anxious parents navigating China’s most competitive college entrance exam, as South China Morning Post has put it.
"And yet, isn't the belief that every ordinary person deserves the right to make an informed choice a higher form of idealism?"
"But I would argue that for the many families with no connections, no safety net, and no capital for trial and error, his brutal honesty came closer to kindness than any amount of gentle platitudes ever could."
It's such a deeply empathetic, heart-warming tribute...
I perhaps wouldn't say Zhang challenged the traditional 'Shidafu' ideals. Probably no one had ever expounded the highest ideals of traditional Chinese intellects more inspiringly than Zhang Zai: 为天地立心，为生民立命，为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平. Though there are different interpretations, I believe 为生民立命 partially means serve the people, and serving the people should have always been one of the ideals of the 'Shidafu'. If our educators/intellects still value traditional shidafu ideals, they should be humbled by Zhang, and should not feel challenged by him.
He was one of the most-watched figures among anxious parents navigating China’s most competitive college entrance exam, as South China Morning Post has put it.
"And yet, isn't the belief that every ordinary person deserves the right to make an informed choice a higher form of idealism?"
"But I would argue that for the many families with no connections, no safety net, and no capital for trial and error, his brutal honesty came closer to kindness than any amount of gentle platitudes ever could."
It's such a deeply empathetic, heart-warming tribute...
I perhaps wouldn't say Zhang challenged the traditional 'Shidafu' ideals. Probably no one had ever expounded the highest ideals of traditional Chinese intellects more inspiringly than Zhang Zai: 为天地立心，为生民立命，为往圣继绝学，为万世开太平. Though there are different interpretations, I believe 为生民立命 partially means serve the people, and serving the people should have always been one of the ideals of the 'Shidafu'. If our educators/intellects still value traditional shidafu ideals, they should be humbled by Zhang, and should not feel challenged by him.
Zhang Xuefeng's real name was Zhang Zibiao. Since I learned that, I started wondering what were his reasons to use a pseudonym.
I think probably because 张雪峰sounds more like an educator than 张子彪, and of course, for private info security
Really well put, and this is something I'd like to share with my Modern China survey!
Thanks James! Subscribed.