【Epoch Times May 25, 2024】 The phenomenon of flaunting wealth in Chinese society has recently garnered a lot of attention. With the economic downturn in China, people’s grievances are mounting, and in order to suppress public dissatisfaction, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is resorting to various rotten tricks. Recently, there has been a seismic shift in China’s internet celebrity circles, with several million-level internet celebrities being banned and censored for allegedly flaunting their wealth. One prominent figure named “Wang Hongquanxing” had his 4.37 million fans on Douyin banned, with his Weibo and Xiaohongshu accounts also disappearing. The flaunting of wealth on Chinese social media has always been severe, with many using it to attract business, although it is not morally virtuous, there is nothing illegal about it. The CCP’s decision to ban internet celebrities at this time is clearly not aimed at correcting social norms, but rather to prevent public resentment against the CCP authorities and redirect it towards the real super-rich – the CCP’s privileged elite.
Another typical example is a wealthy offspring driving a luxury car, illegally parking in a busy downtown area and blocking others’ path. This decadent offspring not only parked illegally but also spoke arrogantly, bragging about their watch being worth 280,000 RMB, and about the substantial stocks their father holds in a listed company, and so forth.
A watch worth 280,000 RMB, or about 40,000 USD, is not considered one of the most expensive in the world; it is likely at the level of a Rolex. The most expensive watch in the world, many believe, is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which was sold at auction for 31 million USD. There are even more expensive watches such as the Graff Diamonds Hallucination, which sold for 55 million USD each. However, for this offspring, a watch at the Rolex level might be the most high-end one in his mind, to the extent that he feels the need to boast about its value to justify his illegal parking behavior or to intimidate those questioning his actions, proving that he is not to be trifled with, or using economic power to show that he can act with impunity and has privileges above others, and so on.
From Guo Meimei of the Chinese Red Cross flaunting wealth to the increasing trend of wealthy individuals flaunting their affluence in various social situations despite the economic decline and high unemployment rates in China, it is evidently reflecting the current situation in Chinese society of wealth disparity, restless hearts, lack of belief, and the rampant display of privileges, as well as exposing deeper flaws in social trends and governance. A senior overseas commentator immediately pointed out that the flaunting of wealth by individuals and the public may be a reflection of the government and high-ranking officials’ own flaunting of wealth. Indeed, this is true. “The king of Chu with a slim waist, many starved in the palace,” and another saying goes, “The king of Wu was a skilled swordsman, many subjects suffered from injuries.” The CCP government generously spending money worldwide, giving aids, grants with no repayment, economic assistance, offering privileges higher than national treatment to foreign students, is also a form of flaunting wealth, a display of false prosperity.
In Western countries, governments are unlikely to flaunt wealth, as they often have budget constraints and are financially stretched, and taxpayers would not allow them to have surplus money, let alone flaunt wealth with taxpayers’ money. In Western countries, especially the United States in comparison to Europe, there may be more extravagance and luxury, with each household having living spaces of 2500-3500 square feet, 2-3 cars per family, 5-6 TVs in a house, while people in European countries might be more modest. However, in the West, and even in Japan and Taiwan, it is rare to see flaunting of wealth, let alone the “Chinese characteristics” of flaunting wealth, that specific brazen, low-class, unpretentious display. Americans praise billionaires like Warren Buffett living in a small house he bought thirty years ago, the founder of Walmart driving a simple pickup truck, and Elon Musk selling his lavish home and sleeping in the office. People in Western countries, especially, do not display and boast about the wealth of their ancestors and forefathers.
In the Western world, those on the right path do not flaunt wealth. The Bible says, “The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.” Revelation in the Bible also says, “She boasted extravagantly and lived in luxury so match it now with an equal measure of torment and sorrow, for in her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.'”
Jeremiah stated that the Lord says, “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.” And the Psalms explicitly point out, “Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches cannot redeem their own lives.”
In ancient Chinese traditions and classics, people are warned not to boast, as flaunting wealth brings calamity, attracts thieves, and invites jealousy. Especially when one does not have the wealth themselves and flaunts riches not their own, using corrupt funds from their parents for extravagance, or displaying wastefulness using the hard-earned money of the common people, it only brings more disdain.
During the Ming Dynasty, the “Caigentan” discussed principles of life cultivation and social conduct, with a passage stating, “Wealthy families should be generous rather than stingy, as being stingy will only lead to their downfall; whereas the wise should be discreet and not boastful, as boasting with wisdom is folly. How could this not lead to ruin?” The “Caigentan” also states, “The strong are modest, while the weak boast.” This means that boasting is a sign of vanity and not a display of strength.
In Laozi’s “Daodejing,” Chapter 9 reads, “Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Gold and jade fill the room, and there is no one to guard it. Wealth and power lead to arrogance, bringing misfortune upon oneself. With success achieved, one should withdraw, for this is the Way of Heaven.” This passage implies that pursuing excess can lead to downfall, and one must know when to stop; displaying too much strength will eventually lead to one’s defeat. Accumulating piles of riches cannot be kept, and becoming too boastful due to wealth will eventually bring calamity upon oneself. Once a task is complete, one should retreat modestly, as it aligns with the natural order of things.
Recently, there was a story about a wealthy Indian tycoon. Many are familiar with an energy drink brand called “5-Hour Energy.” The founder of “5-Hour Energy” is Manoj Bhargava. Billionaire Bhargava recently announced that he will donate all of his wealth, leaving not a penny for his children! Why would he do this? In a recent interview, Bhargava shared his eight principles of living and conduct.
Before creating “5-Hour Energy,” Bhargava attended Princeton University but dropped out one year later. Initially pursuing architecture and office work, he later gave up everything to practice asceticism in India for 12 years. Bhargava returned to the United States to manage the family business and, although not fond of it, seized the opportunity to build “5-Hour Energy” using his skills, sold it for 20 million USD, and later earned billions in the energy drink industry.
His principles are to create something useful, not to overthink, to embrace new ways of doing things, not to waste time and energy on petty disputes, money should not change you, those with more have a duty to serve those with less, zero profit, and providing equal opportunities to earn money. Bhargava plans to leave no money for his sons, as he believes personal consumption of wealth is pointless. Naturally, Bhargava’s sons will not even have the capital to flaunt wealth.
Being wealthy is not something to boast about, as often wealth does not bring happiness and may not even bring long life and peace. Wealth cannot be taken along in life or death, and for some, if lacking virtue, even in this life, they may not have much time to enjoy their riches. According to a Forbes report, between 2014 and 2022, 72 billionaires in mainland China died under abnormal circumstances, with one dying every 40 days on average. A report from UBS revealed that the average lifespan of Chinese billionaires is only 49 years!
Truly affluent individuals do not flaunt their wealth. Those with a sense of purpose do not boast of their achievements. Wealthy individuals who are humble, talented, and virtuous show true righteousness. For those with a higher goal, wealth is not the end but a means and a tool to achieve higher objectives, a ladder used to reach greater heights. These individuals, driven by higher goals, after achieving wealth and gaining tools for their purpose, naturally refrain from flaunting their wealth. Individuals whose goal is wealth may flaunt it, but whether bedridden, incarcerated, or departing from this world, they ultimately find their inner selves empty, as wealth cannot be taken and will eventually belong to others.
Under the leadership of the CCP, the slogan “common prosperity” has been touted. In a normal country, no one would speak such words. People would talk about providing equal opportunities for everyone to fairly compete. The communist slogan of “common prosperity” may sound great – if everyone is prosperous, who could possibly object? However, it is contrary to natural order and fundamentally impossible. People differ in innate abilities, work ethic, physical condition, diligence, intelligence, and strength, making it unfeasible for everyone to achieve the same level of prosperity. As for the “let a portion of the people get rich first” notion, it is even more absurd. Who decides who gets rich first or last? Who determines who belongs to that small fraction? Under the CCP’s slogan, there is no spirit of equality and fairness, only a green light for the rise and wealth of the privileged elite, leaving the possibility of flaunting wealth for their descendants.
The distinctly Chinese display of wealth, or the flaunting of wealth by CCP elites and privileged children, appears particularly distasteful for several reasons. Firstly, it reveals a narrow worldview, ignorance of true wealth and genuine prosperity, but only a mentality akin to nouveau riche or nouveaux riches. Secondly, the means are illegitimate, where wealth accumulates rapidly through corrupt means and sharp practices, with the process of accumulating wealth being morally condemned. Thirdly, there is no recognition of right and wrong, as those aligning with the CCP, oppressing the people, maneuvering political power, are appalling. Lastly, being entrapped in a mirage, superficial views fail to grasp the true purpose of life, lacking the understanding that wealth without virtue is the highest state of humanity.