Population Theory in China by H. Yuan Tien

Author:H. Yuan Tien [Tien, H. Yuan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138649651
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2016-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

The Gradual Attainment of Universal Planned Reproduction

I Planned reproduction is a profound revolution in the realm of the superstructure

In order to carry out the population policy established by the Party and the state, it is necessary to promote family planning “step by step until family planning gradually becomes universal,” and to achieve “the complete realization of family planning in the future” (Mao, 1977: 488). In order to attain the complete realization of family planning, however, the souls of the people must be touched. Therefore, it cannot but be a profound revolution in the realm of the superstructure.

Viewpoints on marriage and reproduction are organic components of the superstructure and are dominated by the thought of the ruling class. Engels said,

In every age, the thought of the ruling class is always the dominant thought. That is to say, the class that controls the material power in society controls at the same time the spiritual power. The class that controls the means of production controls the means of spiritual life simultaneously. Therefore, the thought of those who possess no means of spiritual life is ordinarily controlled by the ruling class. (Marx and Engels, 1960: III: 52)

For a few thousand years, the dominant thought in our nation has been the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius. After Liberation, and following socialist revolution on the political, economic and ideological fronts, although the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius has been criticized, its remnant poison has not been fully purged. Chairman Mao said, “Remnant old ideas reflecting the old system invariably persist in people’s minds for a long time, and they do not easily give way.” (Mao, 1977: 260)

To practice family planning, therefore, we must thoroughly expose and criticize the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius as well as thoroughly expose and criticize the thoughts of all exploiting classes and purge their poisonous residues. This is an important task in the realm of marriage and childbearing in which we employ Marxism to defeat the ideology of the exploiting classes.

At present, we should concentrate on the exposure and criticism of such reactionary notions as “fatalism,” “males are exalted, females are demeaned,” “begetting a son early,” and “the more sons the more blessings.”

“Fatalism” [tianming lun] is a main pillar of the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius. For a few thousand years, the ruling class of feudal society unceasingly promoted the notion of “life and death are predestined; wealth and status rest with heaven” to buttress their reactionary rule. According to their way of thinking everything depends on heaven and follows destiny. Marriage and childbearing are no exception. Whether a person is rich or poor, marries or does not marry, has children or not, has many or few children, etc., is all predestined. That the exploiters’ chests are full of gold and silver, meats and wine go spoiled, and the laborers are destitute and die by the roadside is “predestination in life.” That landlords take three wives and four concubines and lead a decadent, promiscuous and shameless life, but peasants cannot afford to find a wife is “predestination in life.

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