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Why are Chinese people so anxious?

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-09 14:54

Why are Chinese people so anxious? On April 8 the China Youth Daily published an article illustrating this problem. Here is an excerpt.

Ordinary Chinese people are anxious about education, jobs, personal relationships, houses, love and children's primary education, etc. Because of their anxiety, the words such as "Fangnu" (Slave to house), "Chenu" (Slave to car) and "Hainu" (Slave to children) are continuing to enrich modern Chinese vocabularies.

Rich people are anxious as well. When they didn't have enough money, they were worried about their poor living conditions. When they are affluent enough to purchase a flat, they want a villa. When they possess a car, they wish for a limousine. When they are millionaires, they dream about ten million yuan, but once they fulfill that, aren't they anxious about being billionaires?

Officials must be the envy of most people. However, in a panel discussion during the two National Annual Sessions on March 6, Du Deyin, a representative of National People's Congress, pointed out that officials are also indulging in anxiety, over achievements and promotions. How could they feel no anxiety to see others' promotion, especially their rivals?

The competitive society is full of life pressures and work pressures. Moreover, Chinese people care much about social status and personal wealth. It was reported recently by the Global Times that China was regarded by some foreign media as the top country obsessed with wealth. The 2009 Happiness Index Survey Report conducted by a dozen media outlets, published on April 1, revealed that over half of the participants believe that money brings happiness. However, when all the people are pursuing the same value, and the values of life are universally defined, how could they not feel anxious?

The White Paper on the Happiness of Middle Class Families was revealed recently by the media, pointing out that the middle class in the most developed cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, is marked with the lowest happiness index. They have "Fake Happiness". "My burden is heavy; my shoulders are painful. I wander in the crowd for the sake of saving face. My desires are many while my salary is little. Will I live in such an ordinary way till death? My life has been just so-so," The Taiwan singer Zheng Zhihua's song expresses the ambitions, depression and anxiety of the middle class.

Anxiety is pervading the overall Chinese society, but is it an unavoidable process that the people in a transitional country must experience?