PODCAST:Drum Tower
TITLE:Drum Tower: Modern lessons in ancient exams
DATE:2023-12-12 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4
Key Points
- Podcast: "Drum Tower" from The Economist
- Title: "Drum Tower: Modern lessons in ancient exams"
- Date: December 12, 2023
- Synopsis:
- Topic: Discussion on China's historical civil service exam system (Keju) and its modern implications.
- Historical Context: Keju system was a rigorous, rote learning-based exam for over 1300 years, shaping China's bureaucracy.
- Criticisms and Legacy: It offered social mobility but was criticized for stifling innovation and contributing to China's lag behind the West. Abandoned in 1905, its influence persists in China's educational and civil service systems.
- Xi Jinping's Approach: The podcast explores Xi Jinping's use of Keju's history to promote meritocracy in China, raising questions about balancing discipline with dynamism under his rule.
- Public Perception: Interviews with Chinese citizens reveal mixed feelings about the exam system, acknowledging both its fairness in providing opportunities and concerns about stifling creativity.
- Contemporary Relevance: Discussion on how Xi Jinping's emphasis on political loyalty and rigid ideological adherence might repeat historical errors, impacting China's innovative capacity and global positioning.
This episode also previews the upcoming "Drum Tower Movie Club" featuring "Farewell My Concubine" by Chen Kaige.
