What is Zhi-Qing?

ZQ is the abbreviation of the educated youths in Chinese. It referred to young people who had finished at least part of middle schools but had not received college education. However, the name ZQ was only widely used during the “Cultural Revolution” in China (1966-1976). At the beginning of the revolution, the normal school life was disrupted by Chairman Mao Zhe-Dong and his followers. All schools were then closed during 1966-1968, and many of the college and middle-school students formed the “Red Guard” organizations following Chairman Mao’s call to overthrow the authorities of Mao’s dislike. In 1968-1969, new authorities were established; college students were assigned a job; those out of school and jobless middle-school students were then called the educated youths (ZQ), and most of them were sent to countryside. This was called the “ZQ movement”, which was continued till the end of the Cultural Revolution. About 17 million young urban residents were relocated to the countryside during that period.

-Wangying