The Xiaoyao Faction or Xiaoyao Pai[1] (Chinese: 逍遥派),[2] also known as Tea-drinking Faction (喝茶派),[3] translated into English as Wanderers' Faction[4] or Faction of Bystanders[5] or Carefree Clique,[6] refers to the illiterate or indifferent people who do not belong to any mass organization, who do not engage in any factional struggle,[7] and who stay away from radical movements, [8] during the Cultural Revolution.[9] It included some cadres of the Chinese Communist Party, [10] and some less active Red Guards.[11]
Xiaoyao Faction | |||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 逍遙派 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 逍遥派 | ||||||
Literal meaning | Faction of Bystanders | ||||||
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The term "xiaoyao" comes from Zhuangzi,[12] and its original meaning in the phrase "xiaoyao pai" means having no conflicts with the world and being at ease. "Xiaoyao Pai" became a special term during the Cultural Revolution.[13] They were spectators of the Cultural Revolution.[14] At the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, there were very few members of the Xiaoyao Faction, but as the movement progressed, its members gradually expanded.[15]
The Xiaoyao Faction was used as a term of criticism at the time. It was considered a derogatory term, and members of the so-called Xiaoyao Faction were seen as dishonorable.[16] However, since the Xiaoyao Faction was a group of "cold-eyed spectators" during the Cultural Revolution, they could obtain rational thinking and political wisdom that the "Rebel Faction" (造反派) could not. Because of this, a new group of independent spiritual bearers emerged from the original "Xiaoyao Faction".[17]
Notable representatives of the Xiaoyao Faction included Li Yuanchao,[18] Li Zehou,[19] Yan Jiaqi,[20] Liu Zaifu,[21] Fang Lizhi,[22] and Xu Liangying.