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Business / Opinion

Structuring the dreams of Chinese

By Robert Lawrence Kuhn (China Daily) Updated: 2014-01-06 07:19

The National Chinese Dream may be described with several subcategories: Strong China (economically, politically, scientifically, militarily), Stable China (freedom from chaos, social confidence), Bountiful China (high standards of living for all citizens), Harmonious China (amity among classes, creeds and ethnic groups), Civilized China (equity and fairness, rich culture, high morals), Beautiful China (healthy environment, modern cities, scenic landscapes), Creative China (scientific excellence, artistic elegance, innovative products).

Personal: The "Personal Chinese Dream" has two subcategories: material or physical well-being. Plus mental or psychological well-being. Fulfilling the Personal Chinese Dream constitutes a good part of what it means to fulfill the National Chinese Dream.

Material well-being covers the necessities of life, such as safe food, decent housing, personal security and the expectations of life, such as quality education, modern healthcare and secure retirement. In addition, the Chinese people desire good jobs, contented family lives and diverse entertainment, among other facets of contemporary life, as well as proper protection of personal rights under the law.

Psychological well-being can be explained in terms of "positive psychology", the science of happiness developed by psychologist Martin Seligman that provides personal satisfaction and social benefits. The Chinese Dream is for individuals to flourish, making Chinese people more resilient, rewarded and fulfilled and Chinese society more stable, moral and thriving.

Historical: The "Historical Chinese Dream" consists of three subcategories: China's long desire for a unified, sovereign, peaceful and prosperous country; progressive development of China's political theory. Plus the changing nature of the Chinese Dream over time.

After suffering foreign invasion and subjugation, and enduring domestic oppression, the Chinese people yearn for stability and transformation - a new China that is independent, strong and free from miseries of all kinds.

In addition, the Historical Chinese Dream includes the political development from Deng Xiaoping Theory, which re-oriented China from ideological struggle to economic development, through two generations of leadership breakthroughs, which modernized the CPC and addressed complex contemporary issues, to President Xi Jinping's all-encompassing "Chinese Dream".

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