"I'm Exactly 'Kungiji'" Chinese Youths Self-Deprecate with Lu Xun's Masterpiece

Short Story by Lu Xun Published in 1919
Depicts the Life of Intellectuals Declining in the Late Qing Era
Popular Among Youth with 20% Unemployment Rate

A craze for the century-old novel 'Kong Yiji' is sweeping among Chinese youth. Kong Yiji is a short story published in 1919 by Lu Xun, a master of modern Chinese literature, depicting the tragic life of an intellectual who fell into ruin during the late Qing Dynasty. It is reported that Chinese job seekers are projecting their own struggles in the fierce employment competition onto Kong Yiji.

On the 11th (local time), the BBC highlighted the recently popular meme (a cultural phenomenon) called 'Kong Yiji literature' among Chinese youth. Kong Yiji is a short story published by Lu Xun in 1919, portraying the intellectual Kong Yiji during the late Qing Dynasty, who repeatedly failed the imperial examinations and wandered between taverns.

The protagonist Kung I-chi in the short story "Kung I-chi" by China's great writer Lu Xun is portrayed as a pretentious character who values only the appearance of being an intellectual without being able to earn a living. The photo is an image of "Kung I-chi" being used as a meme. [Image source=Chinese SNS Bilibili]

Currently, Chinese youth are said to see themselves in Kong Yiji. Despite paying expensive tuition fees and graduating from university, they have all become unemployed youth due to the lack of jobs.

Mr. An, a 24-year-old Chinese medical graduate student, told the BBC, "There is no hope for our generation," adding, "I am no different from Kong Yiji." Although he is pursuing graduate studies, it is reported that even those with master's and doctoral degrees face harsh competition in the current Chinese job market.

Master of Modern Chinese Literature Lu Xun [Image Source=Yonhap News]

According to official statistics released by the Chinese government, as of last month, one in five people aged 16 to 24 in China was unemployed. Given this situation, the 'Kong Yiji meme' has already spread widely among young people. According to the BBC, traces of 'Kong Yiji literature' can be found on social networking services (SNS), short-form videos, comics, and even rap lyrics.

Chinese youth also said that the 'hypocritical responses' from government and party officials have contributed to the spread of the Kong Yiji meme.

Earlier, China's state-run CCTV commented, "The reason Kong Yiji fell into trouble is not because of his knowledge but because he could not let go of the intellectual's pride," criticizing him for "not trying to change the situation through labor." Although this was a reprimand urging people not to blame the current environment and to seek work, young people who saw this reacted strongly.

The BBC added, "Angry young people responded with comments pointing out the mismatch between education and jobs, the lack of social safety nets for the unemployed, and the reduction of choices for social mobility," and noted that "some even likened CCTV's commentary to 'gaslighting.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.