In this undated photo provided by herself, Qu Tianru records a guitar instruction video at home in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua)NANCHANG/SHENYANG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Mei Mei gets up at 10 a.m. every day. Normally she has breakfast at her ceramics studio before kicking off the rest of her daily routine: making ceramics or meeting friends, watching movies and reading books.
Mei Mei was born in the 1990s and lives in Jingdezhen, an ancient porcelain capital in east China's Jiangxi Province. She is immune to various pressures facing most of her peers and, as she said, enjoys a "casual and free" lifestyle.
On Chinese social media, Mei Mei can be categorized as someone who chooses to "tang ping" -- the latest social buzzword, directly translated into "lying flat." The expression reflects a new attitude toward work and life among some young people in a world of rapid change and expanding possibilities.
"LYING FLAT"
Due to different backgrounds and circumstances, almost everyone has their own understanding of the term.
Netizens began to pay attention to the expression after a post was made on the online forum Baidu Tieba. The post's author, who lives alone without a stable source of income, described how he obtained happiness by picking up temporary jobs and leading a low-consumption life. He justified his attitude toward life by calling it "lying flat."
Many regard the post as an attitude to resist the overly intense competition in modern-day workplaces. In their opinion, success should not be measured by fame and wealth, but by inner peace and joy.
"I've never considered a 'nine-to-five' job. I'd love to maintain a slow tempo in work and life, and keep focusing on making ceramics," said Mei Mei. That was why she returned to her cozy hometown after studying in Britain, instead of trying to gain a foothold in a metropolis.
However, a small group of people has gone further in interpreting the new life philosophy. In a widely circulated post on Sina Weibo, the Twitter-like platform, a young woman complained that her boyfriend had joined a "lying-flat" chat group encouraging its members not to have a relationship, get married, or shoulder other responsibilities in order to save money for their own enjoyment.
The idea had a strong impact on the boyfriend, who has now become her ex-boyfriend, according to the post.
Such a mindset deemed sluggish by many people has drawn criticism. "We don't want to see young people lose their morale. They should strive for a better future," said Zhang Sining, a researcher with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.
At a recent entrepreneurs' summit, Yu Minhong, founder and CEO of the New Oriental Education & Technology Group, said that the hardworking spirit should still be advocated among youth.
He called on entrepreneurs to inspire young people to have a fighting spirit and encourage them to stay away from hedonism.
"If everyone is 'lying flat,' who would work for the future of our country?" he questioned.
SOCIETAL SHIFT
Worldwide, "lying flat" is not a new phenomenon. "It first appeared in Europe, the United States, and later in Japan, roughly in sync with the coming of a particular stage of economic development," said Ma Liang, a professor with the School of Public Administration at the Renmin University of China.
"For example, there are people who prefer not to work and live on welfare, and embrace a 'minimalist' lifestyle in many countries," he added.
Some pointed out that "lying flat" can only be realized by those who don't need to worry about food and clothing, which demonstrates the fact that many Chinese families have reached material abundance.
"With the support of their families, some young Chinese today have less pressure to survive, which makes it possible for them to choose a different way of life from their parents," said Zhang.
Ma proposed a more balanced and developmental view of the "lying flat" thinking, saying it "reflects the freedom of Generation Z to choose their lifestyle, and the progress of our society in accepting diverse values."
On many occasions, "lying flat" seems like a compromise but it actually shows that a person is clear about reality and open-minded about various possible circumstances in life, added Ma.
Qu Tianru, a freelancer in northeast China's Liaoning Province, labels herself as a member of the "lying-flat" community, "but it doesn't mean that my life is worthless, or that I want to lie in bed and accomplish nothing," she said.
Since graduating from college in 2019, she has been earning approximately 1,000 yuan (about 156 U.S. dollars) per week by accepting odd jobs such as translation and guitar instruction. The money is sufficient to cover her basic living expenses so that she can spare more time for her other interests.
"My goal is to be happy and free. I don't want to exhaust myself, nor do I want to be a drag on anyone else," she explained.
"Some young people say they are 'lying flat' but are actually seeking an independent lifestyle that is more suitable for themselves," said Ma.
HARD WORK VALUED
No matter how many people echo the new trend by verbal support or by action, the majority of young Chinese continue to uphold the value of hard work and tend to fulfill their dreams by overcoming challenges.
Zhang Fu'ang, 36, founder and CEO of a technology company in Jiangxi Province, works nearly all year round. He is racing toward his ambition of making his company one of the top ones in its field in the country.
"Why do some people have the capital of 'lying flat?' Because their parents had worked very hard when they were young and won a better life for their children and family," Zhang said.
"I still believe that most young people will fight for their cause once they find their true passion," he added.
This was echoed by Zhao Yukun, an expert in psychology with Tsinghua University. "The attitude of 'lying flat' is mainly caused by a lack of motivation," he said. "A young person should try to find a motivation through various opportunities."
Jiang Mingjin, who has a doctorate in pharmacy from Nanchang, Jiangxi, volunteered in October 2018 to help with poverty-alleviation work in a village some 180 km away.
In over two years, all 23 households in the village were lifted out of poverty. From knowing nothing about farming to developing industrial production, Jiang and two colleagues endured many hardships, but they regard the experience as a treasure.
"I respect the 'lying flat' lifestyle, but I personally choose to strive for new dimensions of life through continuous learning and experiencing tough situations," said the 33-year-old doctor.
In a recent commentary published online, the Farmers' Daily said that young people should not give up and "lie flat" easily when encountering setbacks, as personal growth is never achieved overnight.
"There are still many opportunities and much potential in today's society. Think more. After all, happiness comes from hard work," it said.
As netizens and experts have pointed out, many people are just using the popular label as self-mockery or sometimes to vent their frustrations.
Shu Man, an expert in psychological education at East China Jiaotong University, believes that "lying flat" is a psychological adjustment mechanism to cope with busy life and anxiety.
"More typically, 'lying flat' refers to working humbly while remaining low-key," said Zhang with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. "They may not necessarily be the best in their field, but they are also creating value and contributing to the society."