Chinese Urged to Rely on Communists, Not Witches

PEKING —  Amid a resurgence of ancient folk practices, Chinese peasants are being exhorted to rely on the Communist Party rather than “gods, wizards and witches.”

Hunan provincial radio, in a monitored report reaching Peking this month, complained that “feudal and superstitious activities have gained ground” in rural southern China.

“People in some prosperous localities have raised funds for restoring demolished temples rather than undertaking collective welfare services,” the station said. “Many wizards and witches have started their business again.

“Their usual activities are telling fortunes by face and palm lines, drawing divination sticks before gods and so on. They visit every household in many villages, persuading people to worship gods. They have caused a resurgence of those feudal and superstitious activities which prevailed in the old society.”

The report said that in pre-Communist China, people worshiped gods and worked hard but still lacked food and clothing. But since the Communist Party started improving the lives of the people, fewer Chinese worship the gods, it said.

“Thus, we can see that what determines our destiny is not gods, but the party’s good policies,” the report said. “People now have the status of being masters of the country.

“Facts have shown that in order to attain prosperity and dispel disasters, we must rely on the party’s policies, science, culture and our hard work rather than depending on gods, wizards, witches, geomantic omens and horoscopes.”

The station urged the media to expose wizards and witches and called on government officials to “keep a sober mind” by educating the public.