Retirement and Constructions of Masculinity among Working-Class Weiqi Players
Retirement and Constructions of Masculinity among Working-Class Weiqi Players
This chapter examines the lives of people ranging in age from their forties to their seventies who talk about their love of the game. Among this age group, the Cultural Revolution was often mentioned as a contrast to the contemporary moment. Unlike the situation of the middle-class and elite players of the children’s schools or Peking University’s club, for the most part, it is parks that provide the arena for working-class retired citizens to play. These players attested to a very different relationship between Weiqi players and Chinese identity, though masculinity continues to be an important part. As a reflection of these men’s age and economic class, the park culture was quite distinct from other Weiqi-playing venues. The park-goers frequently—and loudly—offered their opinions about good or bad moves. This boisterous group ethos was in marked contrast to the reserved, Confucian-inspired behavior at the children’s schools and university clubs. The parks thereby offer a different view of Weiqi culture, as well as a very different set of conceptions about proper masculine behavior.
Keywords: Cultural Revolution, elderly, friendship, masculinity, political economy, seizing the initiative, working class
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