Step Up: PLA Voluntarism (PLA 101)

A musical introduction to the special place of ethos, morale, and voluntarism in the PLA. Part of our "PLA 101" series of cultural backgrounders that provide a backdrop to the story of the Type 56 family of small arms in Chinese service.

[hosank]

I have a heart condition. Carefully weighed my options, and chose to continue with this video lecture. That is the level of volunteeristic commitment I have to the cause of the SKS in China.

[Dermisc]

The PRC's national anthem is a product of historical context. It's not so much about self abdication as it is a call to arms to defend the nation. It was chosen because it resonated with the generations of Chinese people that lived through the pain and suffering that characterized the late Qing dynasty and the ROC era. By 1949, the country had been victim to Western and Japanese imperialism for a century, and its peoples were extremely disappointed by the corrupt officials and unruly warlords who abused their stations to line their own pockets at the expense of their nation and fellow countrymen.

Word for word, the anthem is an appeal for common men and women to beat all odds and wrest the fate of their nation from their oppressors, both foreign and domestic. There is a huge dose of heroism in that song. It is an ode to heroes of past and a call for people to continue that legacy. Its central theme is perserverence in the face of adversity.

[warheadsnation]

I sure hope you get to do a collab video with Forgotten Weapons or C&Rsenal one day.

[gordondelacroix]

Native French speaker here, "égorger" doesn't necesarily mean taking a bayonet through the throat, it's a verb meaning "to slit/cut someone's throat". Also in the same verse "compagne" doesn't mean comrad but partner, as in your spouce.
In any case very interesting analysis and content !

[rozkaz]

This series is so goddamn good, i really admire your very rare blend of mixing nuance with humour which is so rare in humans, most are either knowledgable on a topic or entertaining. You are both

[Chiller]

The neurobiology of music and its influence on human consciousness and behaviour is really interesting. Many people who stutter while speaking do not stutter when singing. Musical savants can play intricate instrumental pieces but may have trouble expressing themselves in everyday speech. Music is a multimodal activator of the brain meaning several area of the brain simultaneously“light up” on brain scans in response to music. Music has also been shown to induce production of several neurochemicals involved in neurotransmission. It’s not surprising that these marching songs in the correct context can help in suppressing fear and stimulating a bit of collective aggression.

[SchrönDonnowitz]

frenchman speaking here, i'm quite impress with your accent! also as a guy who came on your channel via the input of Mr Ian from forgotten weapon i truly appreciate that you don't rush talking about gun and instead take the time to bring a whole lot of context!

[PoolNoodleGundam]

if I saw a guy in that hat singing those songs in the park I'd drop everything to spend the rest of the day asking questions

[SamuelTyree]

"Making a virtue out of necessity " is such a defining characteristic of Asian peasant-centric communism. Mao enshrined that idea fighting the Japanese by constantly having his people analyze their tactics and doctrines to find the weaknesses in the gaps of Japan's technological and material advantages that could be exploited. You see it again in the Vietnam war with the bombing of the Ho Chi Minh trail, which was a series if dirt roads and trails. The US spent hundreds of thousands of dollars every day to interdict southbound supplies using advanced aircraft, sensors, and intelligence gathering efforts. The Communists responded by conscripting locals and handing then a $2 shovel and having them fill in the holes with dirt and bamboo to keep the supplies flowing.

[DmoneyS]

Soldiers are looked down on in traditional Chinese society, but soldiers became very prestigious under the revolution as defenders of the workers and peasants.

I think it has to do with what sort of class culture the society ascribes to.

To oversimplify,
In a feudal society, you are regarded well because of your birth, family, and lineage. You are looked down if you come from nothing. It reflects the attitude of the nobility.
In a capitalist society, your status depends on your ability to accumulate capital. If you are rich you are celebrated and if you are poor you are looked down on. It reflects the attitude of the business owner.
In a workers society, your status depends on how much you contribute. People are respected based on how hard they work, for example. It reflects the attitude of the common worker.

China is currently in flux right now. More and more people idolize the rich these days. However soldiers are still respected.

[DSlyde]

14:30 hahaha my eldest was the exact same! Blood Upon the Risers, the US paratrooper song, would always put her back to sleep. People always think its weird, so i never expected someone else to have the same experience, but i swear the cadence of marching songs is soothing to babies.

[faithlessberserker]

This channel is gonna get 700, 000 subs in a year

[efafe]

the lack of Effss given in public is crazy. respect

[blackrabbithomestead]

Came for the history of the rifle, stayed for the intrigue of the Chinese military and political hustory

[KOTYAR]

0:01 Actually, that was the best pronunciation and singing I've EVER heard ny American, and I've met a lot! Congratulations!

[A_WC_C]

That song you sang from the French Foreign Legion about the "devil marching with us" is an adaptation of Teufelslied, a song originating with the Waffen-SS

[WildBillCox]

--Musician/songwriter here. Nice to audit a lecture that takes the power of music to move souls into account.

[chadkhl]

Your french pronunciation is excellent! **Cough And much better than Ian's **cough
For the lyrics, "those ferocious soldiers come take our sons and wifes from our embrace to slice their throats" is closer but you get the point!
As for the Legion, given their nature of a last resort shelter for those who have nothing left to lose, the fatalistic tone is probably on point.
If i remember correctly, French citizens can join it but will have to shed their identity and become "Belgian" or "Swiss" on the records before enrolling

[bevinalexander]

Anyone who quiets his infant with Foreign Legion marching songs must be attended! Other than the Marseilles, I was limited to German ones. No warranty given regarding the long-term effect on the little varmints....But, the cultural association is spot on classical cultural anthropology theory. Bravo!

[overcastandhaze]

The greatest credit I can give you is that you do make it all very palatable and your enthusiasm towards it is definitely engaging. I look forward to future videos and can only hope to learn all the more about the type 56 and possibly the pla as we go.