Han Han's latest blogs show his usual mocking and humorous tone, but they are also an unprecedented effort by him at systematic thinking about the problems that are plaguing China now. We can see Han Han's own introspection, and his efforts to try and get beyond himself in his thinking about the world.
The importance of this thinking doesn't lie in the freshness of his opinions. What's important is that it was Han Han who spoke out. In recent years, this young celebrity writer has relentlessly satirized Chinese society and problems. But he never stated his wider views in a systematic way, nor did he respond to the questions posed by intellectuals.
His recent posts on China's hotly-debated issues such as revolution, democracy and freedom show his understanding of the reality and complexity of China's problems. This is a move from instinctive criticism to sensible reflection.
How can we have a sensible understanding of China? How can we comprehend the current situation and China's 30 years of development? This is the long-standing discrepancy between the left and right of Chinese intellectuals. China's reform and opening-up has been inextricably linked with globalization, and amid the recent global financial crisis China also faces a great deal of its own problems and challenges. Despite these, China is still able to remain its vitality in its development and prosperity. China's intellectuals have been constrained by their own ideological stances, thus failing to give a profound explanation of China's development and the challenges it faces.
There are two consensuses reached by China's mainstream opinions. All acknowledge China's achievements over the past three decades. Public participation in China's political and social issues has been expanded and China's democracy is improving. However, China should progress step by step rather than seeking turbulent revolutions.
The significance of Han Han's posts lies in that they serve as an inspiration for China's intellectuals. We should take a realistic view of China rather than rigidly adhering to fixed schools of thought.
The author is a professor of Chinese at Peking University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn.