UCLA

In this project, I explore the life of my grandfather, Zhang Mingde, who served as a village cadre in Hebei Province for over three decades, witnessing profound changes under socialism. While he dutifully implemented the state’s agenda, he also maintained a distinct spiritual worldview, blending folk religion, Daoism, and Buddhism. His writings reveal a man who claimed to be a committed communist but credited his achievements to his faith. This study uncovers the concept of “socialist syncretism,” presenting a complex cultural landscape where local beliefs coexisted with, and sometimes enhanced, the state’s goals. Relying on personal records, oral histories, and local archives, I argue that while the socialist state sought to eradicate local religious beliefs, the villagers’ adaptable belief system played a crucial role in maintaining the harmonious community idealized by the state. This project seeks to deepen our understanding of how ordinary people experienced and navigated radical historical changes.