This article, originally a casual post on Zhihu, explores the surprising apathy surrounding the 2025 Chinese college entrance exam (高考). The author argues that this disinterest is a symptom of a broader societal shift, a crucial moment where increased access to information is fostering a more critical understanding of social realities among the Chinese populace. This, in turn, is poised to trigger political and societal reforms.
The 2025高考, a pivotal moment for millions of Chinese students, has, according to this author, met with an unusually subdued response. This article delves into the potential reasons behind this phenomenon, arguing that it's not simply a fleeting trend, but a significant indicator of a larger societal transformation.
The author, initially writing casually, found their work resonating deeply with a broad audience on Zhihu. This prompted a significant investment of time, refining the piece from a basic draft to a more nuanced and elaborate nine-point version, all made freely available. The author emphasizes that this commitment stems from a belief that this moment represents a crucial turning point, where increased access to information is enabling a critical reassessment of societal structures among the Chinese populace.
The author's claim is that this shift in understanding will, in turn, propel political and societal reforms. They posit that the "scarcity principle" – the belief that individual worth is not solely determined by academic achievement or perceived usefulness – is gaining traction. This, they suggest, is a crucial pre-condition for a more just and equitable society.
An anecdote featuring a friend, "A", illustrates this point. A, according to the author, dismissed the prestige of top universities (985 and 211 institutions) early in their high school career, arguing that these credentials were not necessarily indicative of future success. This, the author suggests, represents a growing understanding that individual worth is not solely determined by academic achievement or utilitarian value. The author's implication is that the perceived value of a degree in the Chinese context is undergoing a fundamental shift.
The author’s theory hinges on the idea that the proliferation of information on the internet is creating a critical mass of individuals who are recognizing the discrepancy between the ideal and the reality of societal structures. This growing awareness, the author posits, is the catalyst for a necessary societal and political evolution.
While the author’s claims are bold, they raise compelling questions about the current state of Chinese society and the evolving role of education and social mobility. The unexpected coolness towards the 2025高考 might be more than just a reaction to the exam itself; it could be an indicator of a much larger and potentially transformative societal shift. The article concludes with a call for a critical examination of these underlying forces and a proactive engagement with the potential reforms that may follow.
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