Walden's Chinese Revival: 'Lying Flat' Against 'Involution' in Thoreau's Shadow
In today's China, Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden' resonates deeply with a generation battling 'neijuan' (involution) and embracing 'tang ping' (lying flat). An essay on Literary Hub, 'Thoreauvian Resistance' — Why 'Walden' Is A Big Hit In Today’s China, connects Thoreau's famous warning about quiet desperation to the country's relentless social pressure. The author suggests that Thoreau might see China as having industrialized quiet desperation, with lying flat serving as the countermovement. The piece taps into a broader cultural zeitgeist, where Walden offers a manual for resistance. The book has become a symbol of pushback against the rat race.
Key facts
- Thoreau's 'Walden' is popular in China today.
- The article is titled 'Thoreauvian Resistance' — Why 'Walden' Is A Big Hit In Today’s China.
- The article was published on Literary Hub.
- Thoreau warned that most men lead lives of quiet desperation.
- In China, this desperation is called 'neijuan' (involution).
- The pushback against this desperation is 'tang ping' (lying flat).
- The article suggests Thoreau might say China has industrialized quiet desperation.
Entities
Artists
- Henry David Thoreau
Locations
- China