Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) 👈🏼 Tap/click to show/hide the “flashcard”
In contrast to “Gòngchǎn (Gòng·chǎn {Commonly Possessing} · {Produced (Things) → [Property]} → [Communist] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党)”, which refers to the Chinese Communist Party, the only political organization currently tolerated in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), this week’s MEotW, “Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党)”, refers, not to a political organization, but rather, to an intellectual movement. It is introduced this way in the Wikipedia article about it:
In China, Industrial Party (simplified Chinese: 工业党; traditional Chinese: 工業黨; pinyin: gōngyè dǎng, also translated as Industrialist or Technologist[source]) refers to a group of Chinese thinkers and Chinese people who support scientific thinking, advanced technology, techno-nationalism, and economic growth,[source] and reject liberalism, universal values, and free market.[source] In a narrow sense, it could also refer to the fan culture of Illumine Lingao, a Chinese time-travel novel.
Technology, Industry, and China
In recent years, the PRC has indeed placed much emphasis on developing its technology and industry, to much worldly success. However, while the technological pragmatism that Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) thinkers claim to support is evident to a degree in how modern China operates, it is insufficient to enable us to fully understand modern Chinese thinking and culture. For example, if the people of China were purely rational and pragmatic technologists, then Chinese characters would long ago have been replaced by Pīnyīn (Pīn·yīn {Piecing Together of} · Sounds → [Pinyin] 拼音), which is obviously the objectively superior writing technology from a technical standpoint. In reality, as discussed by a past post about the Needham Question, some unfortunate spiritual characteristics have plagued worldly Chinese culture, that have hampered its technological and industrial progress in the past and that perhaps continue to do so to some extent.
Also, there are signs that people in China are getting disillusioned with Gōngyè (Gōng·yè {Work → [Industry]} · {Engaged In (Thing) → [Industry]} → [Industrial] 共产 共產)‐Dǎng (Party 党 黨/党) thinking that prioritizes working hard for industrial and technological progress. For example, as discussed in a previous post on this blog, a significant number of young Chinese people are opting to tǎngpíng (tǎng·píng lie · {to be flat} 躺平), or “lie flat”, instead of persisting in the technological and industrial rat race.
Yes, technical capability is necessary, but it is insufficient on its own to bring about a perfect society, a paradise earth. A basic flaw of focusing mainly on technology and industry is that doing so focuses on physical things, and neglects necessary spiritual things. As 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15 says:
But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines all things, but he himself is not examined by any man.
Technology, Industry, and Jehovah’s People
Even just measuring according to technology and physical infrastructure, Jehovah God has produced the best technology and physical infrastructure in the universe, far surpassing what humans have accomplished, whether in China or in the West. A couple of examples of this that have previously been discussed on this blog are:
- The molecular machines in our cells
- Beavers and the ecological infrastructure they produce instinctually
How about Jehovah’s people? That technical capability is of some importance even for those who prioritize spiritual things can be seen from how Jehovah arranged for certain ones among the Israelites to be given the knowledge and skills needed to produce things that were necessary for his worship at that time.—Exodus 35:30–36:2.
Looking at the big picture, Jehovah God has trained us to understand that to truly succeed, we must first be motivated by the kind of love spoken of at 1 Corinthians 13, and he has trained us to understand that without such love, we ultimately “do not benefit at all”, regardless of our technical abilities. At the same time, just as “faith without works is dead”, love also must not be just a feeling in our hearts, but rather must be followed through with and expressed by what we do. (James 2:26) May we use well the technology available to us, and thus show our godly love by accomplishing the best we can for Jehovah God and for the people we can help.—Malachi 1:6–14.
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