Independent Study Syllabus

Independent Study: 1950s Laogai (Reform through Labor)

Bennie Wang Fall 2021

bwang23@episcopalhighschool.org 0.5 credits

Course Description

Laogai, or Reform through Labor, is China’s penal system. It started in the early 1950s when the Campaign to Suppress the Counterevolutionaries suddenly created over three million “counterrevolutionary” criminals. The Chinese Communist Party claimed that criminals should be reformed through forced labor and legalized the practice in 1954. Though having experienced great changes, Laogai still influences Chinese society in many ways. However, Laogai has not yet been fully understood in the academic world due to a lack of literature, especially literature in English.

In this Independent Study, I will narrow down my research scope to Laogai in the 1950s. Taking advantage of Chinese literature and access to recently unlocked archives in my research, I will examine the origins and characteristics of Laogai, in an attempt to provide a better understanding of this special penal system.

This research will be based on a comprehensive reading of the following literature:

1. a Ph.D. dissertation and MA thesis concerning Laogai that are available online;

2. documents from the Laogai Research Foundation Database based in Washington, D.C.;

3. related papers from JSTOR;

4. related papers from CNKI, China’s largest academic database;

5. survivor memoirs, most notably Harry Wu’s Bitter Winds and Xianhui Yang’s Jiabiangou Jishi [Memory of Jiabiangou];

6. certain documents unlocked;

7. and interviews with family members.

This Independent Study will culminate in a 5000-6000-word thesis; if possible, it will be accompanied by a thesis seminar open to members of the School.

Nota Bene:

This Independent Study is a historical research based on publicly accessible information. This Independent Study has no political intentions.

Preparatory Readings and Writings Over the Summer

1. Read MA thesis on Laogai; take notes; (COMPLETED)

2. Read Ph.D. dissertation on Laogai; take notes; establish correspondence with the author of dissertation—associate Professor Stepanic at the University of Virginia; (COMPLETED)

3. Consult Yitiao Dahe Bolangkuan: 1949-2019 Zhongguo Zhihuai Quanjishi [A Wide River Full of Waves: A Complete Record of China’s Huai River Flood Control from 1949 to 2019] and Shanghai Jianyuzhi [History of the Shanghai Prison System]; scan, translate, and take notes on relevant passages; (COMPLETED)

4. Downloaded related papers from JSTOR and CNKI, China’s largest academic database; (COMPLETED)

5. Interviews & Conversations with family members; (COMPLETED)

6. Create a website for sharing my literature and research; (IN PROGRESS)

7. Contact Professor Yongyi Song at the California State University, Los Angeles, founder of Laogai Research Foundation Database, and Dr. Yanwen Liu from East China Normal University, whose Ph.D. dissertation mentioned prisoners on Huai River Flood Control worksite (COMPLETED)

8. Devise research questions; (TO BE DONE)

Schedule For the Fall

(September & October)

1. Visit the Laogai Research Foundation in Washington, D.C. established by Harry Wu;

2. Study related papers from JSTOR and take notes;

3. Study related papers from CNKI, China’s largest academic database, and take notes;

4. Study survivors’ memoirs;

(November & December)

5. Write 5000-6000-word thesis.

Requirements

- The independent study will occupy my “free period” unless I am on tour guide duty; I will have at least 6 hours of “homework” every week.

- I will check in regularly with Ms. Huntley; specifics to be determined.

- I will post “journals” and relevant materials to my research website weekly.

- I will write a 5000-6000-word thesis.