I don't think arranged marriage is "that" common in China at that time. In China the parents' opinion on their children's marriage carries a lot more weight than that in the US, but I wouldn't say such marriage is arranged. If a couple is coerced into a marriage, it's more by the family members seeing an advantage of such bond, rather than by the government. I doubt Yao's family wants to produce a super athlete by coercing Yao into marriage with Fang, since at that time athletes train hard but get little reward. Food was also precious, producing a giant makes little sense. Commercialised sports industry and endorsements were non-existent. The article's idea of Yao's parents were arranged by the officials to produce great athletes is pure BS without substance to back it up. The context isn't right as well, people including the offcials didn't give a sh*t about sports back in the Cultural Revolution or just after, hell, they didn't even give a sh*t on producing the basic items such as food, clothes etc... China went crazy under the revolutinary spirits and was in political and economic paralysis. Yao's parents married just a couple of years after the Cultural Revolution, in a time China was still in great hardship. China didn't participate in the Olympics until 1984, CBA wasn't found until the 90's, Chinese athletes going global was much later. The sports officials sure have a lot of insight if they could tell all these things a decade or twenty years before they happen. Yao wasn't protected by the government or given special treatment in his early childhood. If he was a state project, he would've been sent straight into the sports schools, given the best nutrition and been taken care of. Yao went to a normal school and often got ridiculed about his size. Operation Yao Ming is probably a punch line made up by the author to sell his book, named just the same.
I also read before that teenage Yao was diagnosed as lacking Calcium, way to support the government engineered project!
As a Chinese, this article is just evidence to me that how much the Americans don’t understand the Chinese culture and how usual it seems for the American media to think in the Cold War way. The Americans, at least the media, take everything a member of the civil service does as representing the government. In the US, may be true; in China, NO. The Chinese society is deeply influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism, much more than the communist ideology. The Chinese tradition considers marriage a must in an individual’s life, and almost all relatives/friends tend to act as match-makers whenever a young man/woman reach his/her late twenties. Before early 1990s when the commercial property industry started booming, most Chinese people live in the dormitories provided by their working units. Your colleagues, your superiors, all are your neighbours. They are also your circle of friends. Everybody knows you are not married yet, so everybody will try to set you up. You can say the Chinese are nosy, yes, so what, people are different. While Yao’s parents were set up by the people worked for the sports authority, that doesn’t mean it were the ploy of the government. If the two individuals involved like each other, they will get married and thank the match-makers; if not, nobody will force them to marry. On the other hand, basketball is not a one-man sport. Creating a monster center does not make you the world champion. Believe it or not, the people working in the Chinese government had and still have reasonable sense on this matter. Not to mention basketball has never been as popular as soccer in China, and China had already proved itself on many other sports. That’s why this article is regarded so absurd and ridiculous on Chinese BBSs. What I’m trying to say is, meet the people, try to understand their situation before you judge them. Throw away the Not-Friend-Then-Enemy logic.
interesting article, captivating read. don't underestimate the craziness and irrationalities of the cultural revolution. these kind of things happened, and be sure that even more preposterous things had occured that we don't even know about.
The interaction between Yao and his mom feel truthful. In fact, it feels exactly what would happen if a Chinese mother largely missed out on the childhood years of her only son. But I don't understand why the writer wish to air out Yao family's messy laundry. It's not like Yao craves and invites in media attention like Paris Hilton This is a private family who deserve to live their life in peace. The suggestion that Yao is the result of social engineering is absurd and bound to be offensive to Yao and his family. I've known several people who lived there during that era and it makes no sense to them too. I bet the writer creatively interpreted several quotes to fit his fantasy of what must have happend. Wouldn't be surprised if Yao sue the guy for libel.
Interesting read and I can see where people of different opinions come from. With regards to the Cultural Revolution, as a 25-year-old Chinese, let me tell you that most of the kids of my generation know very little about what happened? (1966-1976 after Mao died in 1976)) I remember when I was in high school, the history textbook only mentioned very briefly that the 10-year period was a disaster for China and it was a mistake. Students are not tought that it was the fault of Mao or given any details. Even until today, the Cultural Revolution remains a delicate subject which rarely gets discussed officialy at least. I lived in the UK since I was 17 and have since learned a great deal more about the CR. Many books and accounts of those who experienced the Cultural Revolution were published in the West (as they were banned in China). The more I read, the more interested I became. Whilst visiting China, I'd often try to discuss the subject with people of older generation. To my surprise, most of them are happy to talk about it. It is clear to me that everyone was affected by Mao's craziness, which generally meant little food for ten years (deaht for alot of people) , no proper education, parents being politically tortured, broken family etc. There is no doubt that the Cultural Revolution left a deep scar fon the Chinese and continue to affect us in various ways today. i.e. always suspicious of strangers. Well, just as I don't want to be brainwashed by communist propoganda, you Westerners equally should not believe everything your media tells you. The communists sure are no angels but they ain't as bad as the New York Tines or Washington Post would have you believe. Remember there are always two sides to a coin. If you are by any chance interested in Contemporary Chinese history (1900-1980), I'd recommend you the 'Wild Swan', a fancinating write by a Chinese lady who has first hand expeirnce of the CR and whose name I can't remember. More than 4 millsion copies have been sold and the writer has just published a book about Mao after 10 year research. Should you want a latest update about China, a visit in the preferably next future is strongly recommended. Too many people on this board truly have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to China. Remember, seeing is believing.
I'm a Chinese. In the 80s, my dad was once asked by an American "I heard the communists share not only properties but also wives ........." People believe what they are made to believe.
Not really. Just checked a Chinese BBS which also has a thread about this article and everyone there just take it as a joke. You know we also have many reporters who build up stories based on pieces of information and lot of imagination, as long as there're people buying it. Well, it's not easy for 2 great nations to understand each other. Thank Yao Ming for his big contribution in building up the bridge between. And in my opinion, talking about Yao's family relationship like that is crossing the line. I would take it as an insult. As for Culture Revolution, it's a huge topic involving Chinese culture, recent history, domestic and international situation, etc. Blaming it on only Mao's craziness or the 'evil Communist' is just too lazy.
maybe your dad misunderstood, ie they were swingers trying to break the ice with a throw away comment?
i'm surprised, not until post #20 someone (props to olliez) called this bs article out. if the author knew anything about china, especially the china in culture revolution and post culture revolution era he wouldn't have written this crap. talking about conspiracy, if any of this was true, you'd think there are thousands 7+ footers in china nowadays. to think people were forced into marriage by the gov just to "produce" better athlets is ridiculous. and to apply this on yao and his parents is beyond ridiculous! i hope yao team will sue this bast**d a** off and teach him a lesson of responsible jounalism.
so in another word, you and the author of that article have more insight about the china in the 60's than the current generation of chinese. wonder what makes you think of that? were you born in china before that era and experienced first hand the culture revolution or the author was?
Or maybe just maybe, the RESPECTED journalist did his research, and told the truth. What is the big deal....so the sports authority wanted 2 of their best players to procreate......and it worked......doesn't make Yao any less of a man..... DD
Just found out "Operation Yao Ming" is Brook Larmer's first book. Larmer now lives in Shanghai. It's understandable the guy needs to make some bucks to feed his family. The living expenses for foreigners in Shanghai, who are still hoping to maintain the same lifestyle they are used to, are rapidly approaching those in the metropolitan cities of the Western society. As a first-time author of a non-fictional book, Larmer is counting on folks of his own culture to buy into the sensationalism and imagination he created, deliberately or subconsciously.
