Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang Book Analysis Essay

Hao Jingfang’s science fiction short story “Folding Beijing” makes several comments regarding class relations and social climates in urban areas, particularly in China. The story also makes comments on the dynamics of power within society, and how different factors such as occupation and location affect a person’s power. Knowledge, another factor that affects power, is explored extensively in the story. After the story, the question arises of whether or not Lao Dao, the main character, gained any power after learning the truths about the city of Beijing. After being caught in between the change, Lao Dao questions whether the truth he learned was worth it. “If he could see some things clearly but was still powerless to change them, what good did that do?” (Jingfang 258). Lao Dao thinks that the knowledge he gained about the city that he lives in is meaningless, and he is as powerless as he was before. Lao Dao’s assumption that the truth is meaningless is false. The truth gives people power in the world of “Folding Beijing” to make choices for themselves and others. 

Self-control is the primary thing Lao Dao gains through his journey into Second, and then First Space. During his journey, he learns more about the city’s operation and the structure with which its architecture, and societal system, were built. Lao Ge tells him about the city’s solution to economic issues. “‘The best way is to reduce the time a certain portion of the population spends living, and then find ways to keep them busy” (255). Lao Dao learns the cruel reality of the city from Lao Ge. After their conversation, Lao Dao decides it is time for him to return to Third Space. While trying to leave, however, he becomes trapped in between the two spaces after the Change is halted. While caught in between the separate worlds, unable to move, Lao Dao contemplates his life and asks if the knowledge he gained was even worth it. He thinks about his place in the city, “...he was but a rounding error, the same as if he had never existed. He wasn’t even as significant as dust. He grabbed onto the grass” (260). This moment, and particularly the way the last two sentences are phrased are important to Lao Dao’s character. He accepts that, in the grand scheme of the city, he is insignificant, and is unable to create change as a single person among more than fifty million. Once he accepts this it would have been easy for him to surrender. The last sentence “He grabbed onto the grass” shows that Lao Dao doesn’t give up. Instead of losing control, he gains more of it through the truth. The moment he is trapped in between the Spaces and refuses to give up demonstrates the control Lao Dao has gained over his own life with the knowledge given to him by Lao Ge and his journey to First Space. 

Outside of Lao Dao’s self-control, knowledge is the resource that gives people in the city of “Folding Beijing” the most power. The old man who Lao Dao sees giving the speech is among the most powerful people in the city (254), thanks to his knowledge of the city’s operation. The man even has the power to control the Change that directs the flow of every citizen's lives in Beijing. Knowledge also allows for advancement in society.  The reason Lao Dao is stuck as a waste processing worker is that he was unable to pass the college entrance exam (232). Perhaps if he had been able to go to college, he would have gained the education and knowledge necessary to improve his living conditions. His life could have looked much closer to Qin Tian, the university student who he helps contact the woman he likes. In the case of TangTang, Lao Dao’s adopted daughter, Lao Dao wants to send her to kindergarten with the money he earns from the errand to first space. He hopes that she will learn about music and take dance lessons (225). Although he has accepted his place in society he wants to provide his daughter with the knowledge needed to potentially advance and live a better life.

Some may argue that “Folding Beijing” presents a more fatalistic view of knowledge. After all, Lao Dao’s life did not change as a result of learning the truth about his city. It would be easy to agree with the character that the truth is pointless if there is no way to change anything. Power is not just defined by a person’s ability to control the world, but also their ability to control themselves. Lao Dao gains self-control through the truth and can make the conscious choice to remain in Third Space as a waste processor. This self-determination is the ultimate power, and it does not matter what the outcome is, as long as Lao Dao made the decision for himself. 

“Folding Beijing” presents a question of what the effect knowledge has on power. The main character, Lao Dao, believes the knowledge he gains through his journey is meaningless because he is unable to change the world he lives in. Through learning the truth though, Lao Dao gains the ability to decide whether or not to remain in Third Space. The fact that he is able to make this choice means he has power. In addition, knowledge gives people the power to improve their lives, such as the old man who controls the city, Qin Tian attending college, and TangTang going to kindergarten.