Like students in much of the world, kids in Shanghai start the day by singing the National Anthem. The other day, late for drop-off, I got to witness this daily ritual, and became curious about the lyrics. So – for those who don’t know – here is the English translation of The March of the Volunteers.
Arise! All who refuse to be slaves!
Let our flesh and blood become our new Great Wall!
As the Chinese nation faces its greatest peril,
All forcefully expend their last cries.
Arise! Arise! Arise!
Our million hearts beat as one,
Brave the enemy’s fire, March on!
Brave the enemy’s fire, March on!
March on! March on! On!
Somewhat oddly, this was only reinstated as the official anthem in 1997. Who the enemy was at that point or what the ‘nation’s greatest peril’ is now supposed to be is unclear. Max has no idea what the song means but he enjoys standing at attention when he hears the tune.
Though its slightly disturbing to have the kids start each day singing about using their flesh and blood to create the new China, I figure its not that different from the Canadian habit of pledging allegiance to the Queen.
In any case the somber mood of the anthem is offset — or at least made surreal — by the next song of the day (which seems to be taken with an even greater seriousness). Max calls this Haibao Cao (or Haibao exercise). It basically consists of a dance routine done while waving around cut out Haibaos on a stick. This is done to an electric pop song whose chorus, I think, is: call me Haibao, call me Haibao…
Here are a couple of snaps:
