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Seventeen years on the streets, living and working with the people of China, Jeff
For donations, print books, ebooks and audiobooks, please see at the bottom of this post
My comments
When Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Thatcher negotiated the 1997 treaty (known as the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration), returning Hong Kong back to the Mainland, the Chinese knew they were dealing with a nihilistic, historically empty British leader.
In the post I just did on the importance of museums, there is a quote where Margaret Thatcher said that museums are dead. That’s right – D-E-A-D – dead.
Every self-respecting Chinese leader has something good and useful to say about the importance of museums. Just ask Mao and Xi! With 4 beautiful images. Radio Sinoland 260630
When you have someone who is that nihilistic, that shallow and impervious to the tides of history and events, it was very easy for the Chinese to schedule the turnover on July 1, 1997. Well, it just so happens that since 1921, July 1 has been the anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China.
Thus, the Chinese were able to symbolically lump Hong Kong’s reunification into the Motherland with the Chinese Communist Party!
In our Daoist calendar below, you can see of course the hammer and sickle, radiating across the land like the Sun. To its right are three big words (建党节 = jiàndǎngjié), which mean Founding of the Communist Party Day.
Below that, the children in traditional dress are showing off the flag of Hong Kong, with its unmistakable, iconic Bauhinia flower. Notice each petal has a red star, which takes us back to the national flag of China, and its five-star configuration.
Guess when Hong Kong’s flag was adopted? July 1, 1997! You can’t make this stuff up!
Therefore, it was mischievous, but meaningful that the Chinese pulled off this diplomatic coup. But, it was easy to do, given how uninformed, hubristic and ahistorical Western leaders truly are.
Daoist calendar page
Only the top half is photographed. For the full explanation, see this post,
Here is what our ever-intriguing Daoist calendar says about Spring Equinox and Zhonghe Festival. 5,000 years of fascinating culture and traditions. Radio Sinoland 260320
The couplet is a traditional Chinese proverb emphasizing cause and effect.
Chinese Transcription
Left side: 天上无云不下雨
Right side: 世间无理事不成
Pinyin
Left: Tiān shàng wú yún bù xià yǔ
Right: Shì jiān wú lǐ shì bù chéng
English Translation
Literal
Left side: In the sky, without clouds, it does not rain,
Right side: In the world, without reason/logic, things do not succeed.
Poetic/Idiomatic
Just as there is no rain without clouds, there is no success without reason. (Or: “Nothing happens without a cause.”)
Meaning
This couplet draws a parallel between nature and human affairs. Just as clouds are a necessary prerequisite for rain, having a valid reason, logic, or justification (“理” – lǐ) is necessary for accomplishing tasks or achieving success in the human world. It suggests that things don’t happen randomly; there must be a cause or a rational basis for success.
The presence of the Hong Kong regional emblem (the white Bauhinia flower with five red stars) in this image is directly tied to the specific date on the calendar: July 1st.
In China, July 1st holds a dual historical and political significance, which explains the combination of imagery:
- Communist Party Founding Day (建党节): As written in large characters in the center of the image, July 1st is celebrated as the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) in 1921. The large hammer and sickle radiating like a sun represents the Party’s leadership.
- Hong Kong Handover Anniversary: July 1st is also the anniversary of the Hong Kong Handover. On July 1, 1997, sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China, establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Interpretation of the Scene
The artwork is a piece of celebratory propaganda typical of Chinese calendars. It depicts a group of people, dressed in what appears to be traditional or ethnic minority clothing, representing the diverse population of China, dancing and celebrating under the “sun” of the Communist Party.
The figure holding the banner with the Hong Kong flower logo symbolizes the return of Hong Kong to the Motherland. By including it on a calendar page dedicated to the Party’s birthday, the image visually links the two events, celebrating the CPC’s role in the reunification of Hong Kong, with mainland China under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.
Have a great day!
真子 （Zhēnzǐ), aka Jeff J. Brown
References
A critique of the recent article in The New Yorker Magazine by Evan Osnos, “China’s Age of Malaise”
A critique of the recent article in The New Yorker Magazine by Evan Osnos, “China’s Age of Malaise”
Time magazine thought it was mocking Chinese President Xi Jinping, by portraying him as Mao Zedong on the inside. The joke is on Evan Osnos and the rest of the West. That was the plan all along: Xi was elected to be the Chinese people’s 21st century Great Helmsman.
Further reading
Amir&Jeff’s Excellent China Adventure Series
Evelyne&Jeff’s Excellent China Adventure Series
ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, FASHU, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG Series (focused on Taiwan Province and the rest of Asia)
The Mao Encyclopedia for Dummies. Updated and it’s all here: books, articles, movies, visuals. China Rising Radio Sinoland 240103
Jeff J. Brown’s many libraries and catalogues EXPANDED and they R-O-C-K with all of humanity – past, present & future! Our Pale Blue Dot’s story all on one page! Radio Sinoland 260531
Radio Sinoland’s Library on the Chinese Zodiac, Lunar, Agricultural and Civil Calendars. Want to understand the Chinese people? It all starts here! Radio Sinoland 260522
My long, slow arc of spiritual awareness from childhood Presbyterianism to Eastern Thought today. With expanded and improved, printable “Noble Attributes of Chinese Civilization” summary. Radio Sinoland 260213
A look at China’s education system versus the West. Different cultures, expectations and outcomes. China Rising Radio Sinoland 240618
China has the world’s best merit-based education system. Here’s why. China Rising Radio Sinoland 191210
Living library on Judaism. Continually updated. With image texts and video transcripts to easily copy for your use, and for translating them and this webpage in all available languages!
https://radiosinoland.com/2025/01/23/judaism/
Go Russia GO!
Go Iran GO!
Go China GO!
Go DPRK GO!
Go “RICK”! Go Asian Quad!
KICK JUDEO-TALMUD-TANAKH ASS!!!
Support, donations and contributions for my work here, any amount, one time or monthly,
A to Z support. Thank you in advance, Jeff
Checks or cash: mail to: Jeff J. Brown, 7 rue du Général de Gaulle, Équeurdreville 50120, France
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Books by Mike Palecek
“The Truth is Here”
Mike Palecek writes with passion, wit, and always
with a strong social conscience.
— Howard Zinn
https://mikepalecek.substack.com/p/common-sense-6df
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Further study
The China Trilogy is an honorary degree in Chinese Studies. Don’t miss out!
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00TX0TDDI/allbooks and
Jeff J. Brown’s libraries and catalogues A-Z: 1,000s of hours of research, writing, editing and podcasting.
https://radiosinoland.com/2025/11/30/jeff-j-browns-ever-expanding-collection-of-living-libraries-and-catalogues-many-years-and-1000s-of-hours-of-writingpodcasting-take-advantage-of-them-radio-sinoland-2025-year-of-the-wood-snake/
Do yourself, your friends, family and colleagues a favor, to make sure all of you are Sino-smart:
Google ebooks (Epub) and audiobooks:
44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YBKHEAAAQBAJ
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAECCkQXRlM
China Rising: Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YNmLEAAAQBAJ
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAECCfHo86M
BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=6Wl4EAAAQBAJ
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAECCfHo86M
Amazon print and ebooks (Kindle):
44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484939999/
China Rising: Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations
https://www.amazon.com/China-Rising-Capitalist-Socialist-Destinations/dp/0996487042
BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
https://www.amazon.com/BIG-Red-Book-China/dp/1673322719/
Author page:
https://www.amazon.com/Mr.-Jeff-J.-Brown/e/B00TX0TDDI
Praise for The China Trilogy:
Why and How China works: With a Mirror to Our Own History
JEFF J. BROWN, Editor, China Rising, and Senior Editor & China Correspondent, Dispatch from Beijing, The Greanville Post
Jeff J. Brown is a geopolitical analyst, journalist, lecturer and the author of The China Trilogy. It consists of 44 Days Backpacking in China – The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass (2013); Punto Press released China Rising – Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations (2016); and BIG Red Book on China (2020). As well, he published a textbook, Doctor WriteRead’s Treasure Trove to Great English (2015). Jeff is a Senior Editor & China Correspondent for The Greanville Post, where he keeps a column, Dispatch from Beijing and is a Global Opinion Leader at 21st Century. He also writes a column for The Saker, called the Moscow-Beijing Express. Jeff writes, interviews and podcasts on his own program, China Rising Radio Sinoland, which is also available on YouTube, Stitcher Radio, iTunes, Ivoox and RUvid. Guests have included Ramsey Clark, James Bradley, Moti Nissani, Godfree Roberts, Hiroyuki Hamada, The Saker and many others. [/su_spoiler]
Jeff can be reached at China Rising, [email protected], Facebook, Twitter, Wechat (+86-19806711824/Mr_Professor_Brown, and Line/Telegram/Whatsapp: +33-612458821.
Read it in your language • Lealo en su idioma • Lisez-le dans votre langue • Lies es in deniner Sprache • Прочитайте это на вашем языке • 用你的语言阅读
[google-translator]
Wechat group: search the phone number +8619806711824 or my ID, Mr_Professor_Brown, friend request and ask Jeff to join the China Rising Radio Sinoland Wechat group. He will add you as a member, so you can join in the ongoing discussion.
I contribute to