Shared Diet: A review of the rise and fall of collective canteens in China

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-01-30

When it comes to the "collective canteen" of the past, the years have left a faint imprint. This is the product of a peculiar era, with twists and turns and explorations. Originating from the People's Commune, this social testing ground outlines the shadow of collectivism and shapes a challenging history.

During the period of the People's Commune, collective canteens sprung up like mushrooms. It is not only a place to eat, but also a symbol of the communist idea of "no money for eating, and all ages can enjoy themselves". However, the implementation process has been tortuous and bumpy. Many villagers have expressed resistance to eating in groups, and some have even been denied the right to cook at home.

In the cafeteria, a type of dining called "pot rice" is popular. To ensure fairness, people created "rice knives" to divide a pot of rice into equal portions to ensure that each person's portion is the same. And when it comes to dividing dishes, it is even more important to be cautious, especially during the holidays, when the distribution of meat becomes a challenge, and each slice of meat is a precious satisfaction.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for the collective canteen. In the face of the problem of waste, people who used to have enough to eat forgot to be thrifty in abundance, which led to the profligacy and waste of food. This phenomenon is particularly serious and has also raised doubts.

In China's vast region, the situation varies from place to place, and the mandatory promotion of collective canteens has also exposed many problems. In some places, the elderly have to trek dozens of miles of mountain roads in order to eat, which makes people feel painful. During the three-year difficult period, the famine led to a reduction in food production, which made the defects of the collective canteens even more significant.

**Aware of the seriousness of these problems, after sending people to investigate in depth, it was decided that the collective canteen would no longer be mandatory, but would support local conditions. The subsequent promulgation of the Regulations on the Work of Rural People's Communes also clearly stipulates that the fate of the canteen will be decided by the members of the commune.

This period of history gradually drifted away, and the canteen of the People's Commune finally withdrew from the stage of history. In the short journey of the collective diet, it was an experiment in the communist conception, leaving behind challenges and reflections. Perhaps, it is this time that creates a special kind of shared memory.

The collective canteen is a special and controversial period in Chinese history, and it is a memory of the socialist era, which has triggered countless discussions and reflections.

This history struck me because it wasn't just about a change in the way we eat, it was a social experiment. Collective canteens were part of a communist experiment that sought to promote the idea of collectivism through collective dining. However, the evolution of history is often accompanied by challenges and controversies. People's Xi and attitudes are not easy to change, and many villagers have expressed strong resistance to collective meals, and have even been denied the right to cook at home. This forced change has led to a number of problems and dissatisfaction, as well as negative phenomena such as waste.

The concept of "no money for eating, all young and old" is worthy of praise in itself, but the implementation in reality is full of difficulties. The detailed rules for dividing meals and dishes were impressive, and people even created "rice knives" to ensure fairness, which was quite difficult in the environment at the time. However, despite such efforts, waste is still unavoidable, probably because people have been Xi to frugality in the past, and suddenly entered a rich life to lead to this **.

Another point that struck me was the problem of geographical differences. China is a vast country with different situations, and the mandatory promotion of collective canteens has caused many inconveniences and injustices, especially for the elderly. The sight of them having to trek hard to get a meal is heart-wrenching. At the same time, during the three-year difficult period, the famine led to a reduction in food production, which made the problem of collective canteens even more prominent, and eventually became part of the reason for the abandonment of the system.

This period of history gradually withdrew from the stage of history after realizing the problem, and the policy began to change. This history of collective eating, though short, is a useful exploration and reflection on the idea of communism. It teaches us a lot, including the importance of sharing and fairness, as well as the difficulties and challenges that institutions face in practice. This history leaves a lot of room for reflection and provides valuable experience for our future development and exploration.

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