Eight Honors and Eight Shames

Slogans at Nanjing Railway Station, saying "To Build up Socialist Concepts on Honours and Shames"

The Ba rong ba chi (Eight Honours and Eight Shames) (simplified Chinese: 八荣八耻; traditional Chinese: 八榮八恥; pinyin: bā róng bā chĭ), officially the Core Value System or the Eight Honours and Disgraces, is a set of moral concepts developed by current General Secretary Hu Jintao for the citizens of the People's Republic of China. It is also known as "Eight Virtues and Shames", or "Hu Jintao’s Eight-Step Programme". Its formal name in China is "Socialist Concepts on Honours and Disgraces" (Simplified Chinese: 社会主义荣辱观 Traditional Chinese: 社會主義榮辱觀 pinyin: shè huì zhŭ yì róng rŭ guān).

On March 4, 2006, Hu released this list calling it the "new moral yardstick to measure the work, conduct and attitude of Communist Party officials." It is being promulgated as the moral code for all Chinese, especially Communist Party cadres.

Translation of Hu's Socialist Concepts on Honours and Disgraces

The Eight Honours and Eight Shames printed on a banner near a school in Haikou.

On 18 October 2006, the Xinhua News Agency posted an English translation of Hu's list on their website:^[1]

• Love the country; do it no harm.
• Serve the people; never betray them.
• Follow science; discard ignorance.
• Be diligent; not indolent.
• Be united, help each other; make no gains at others' expense.
• Be honest and trustworthy; do not sacrifice ethics for profit.
• Be disciplined and law-abiding; not chaotic and lawless.
• Live plainly, work hard; do not wallow in luxuries and pleasures.

Reception

As the concept of Ba Rong Ba Chi is being promulgated, it has been the frequent subject of parodies on the Chinese internet. Children in primary schools and kindergartens are also organized to learn the song which has been compiled with lyrics based on Ba Chi, and performed them in front of the government officials during routine inspection.

See also

• Scientific Development (Hu Jintao)

References