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Fighting grey: Why do China's leaders dye their hair? | Fighting grey: Why do China's leaders dye their hair? |
(about 7 hours later) | |
By Celia Hatton BBC Beijing correspondent | By Celia Hatton BBC Beijing correspondent |
Dark suits, red ties and identical helmets of jet black hair. | Dark suits, red ties and identical helmets of jet black hair. |
Beneath a giant hammer and sickle, the elite at the top of the Communist Party assembled for the country's annual parliament session last week, all wearing the same unofficial uniform. | Beneath a giant hammer and sickle, the elite at the top of the Communist Party assembled for the country's annual parliament session last week, all wearing the same unofficial uniform. |
As they stood to listen to the county's national anthem, the politicians stood in perfect rows, spaced a few feet apart. Each person had a white teacup and a copy of the premier's upcoming speech on the desk directly in front on them. | As they stood to listen to the county's national anthem, the politicians stood in perfect rows, spaced a few feet apart. Each person had a white teacup and a copy of the premier's upcoming speech on the desk directly in front on them. |
From a distance, it was nearly impossible to distinguish one leader from another. | From a distance, it was nearly impossible to distinguish one leader from another. |
At the top levels of the Communist Party, it seems, leaders take pains to blend in with one another. | At the top levels of the Communist Party, it seems, leaders take pains to blend in with one another. |
It was a different story last November, when many retired leaders attended the Communist Party Congress, a meeting held once every five years. | It was a different story last November, when many retired leaders attended the Communist Party Congress, a meeting held once every five years. |
After watching the meeting on television, users of weibo, China's version of Twitter, immediately logged on to discuss a shocking breach of protocol: retired Premier Zhu Rongji had dared to go grey. | After watching the meeting on television, users of weibo, China's version of Twitter, immediately logged on to discuss a shocking breach of protocol: retired Premier Zhu Rongji had dared to go grey. |
"Take a look at the podium for the party congress, it's all people dying their hair and pretending to look young," wrote one user. | "Take a look at the podium for the party congress, it's all people dying their hair and pretending to look young," wrote one user. |
"Zhu's hair is so natural. If you are old, you are old," praised another. | "Zhu's hair is so natural. If you are old, you are old," praised another. |
"Officials at a certain rank all have standardised black hair," noted a third. "If you think carefully, how can everyone look so youthful?" | "Officials at a certain rank all have standardised black hair," noted a third. "If you think carefully, how can everyone look so youthful?" |
'Political issue' | 'Political issue' |
Chinese leaders' thirst for black hair dye isn't mirrored in the rest of the population. | Chinese leaders' thirst for black hair dye isn't mirrored in the rest of the population. |
At the Sassy hair salon in downtown Beijing, long-time hairstylist Hong Haiting says women are the ones driving sales of hair colour. | At the Sassy hair salon in downtown Beijing, long-time hairstylist Hong Haiting says women are the ones driving sales of hair colour. |
Most Chinese men, he explains, are more concerned about going bald than maintaining a full head of black hair. | Most Chinese men, he explains, are more concerned about going bald than maintaining a full head of black hair. |
"In the late 90s, men really worried about going grey," he explains. "They often dyed their hair. Now, only middle-aged women over 40 colour their hair every month." | "In the late 90s, men really worried about going grey," he explains. "They often dyed their hair. Now, only middle-aged women over 40 colour their hair every month." |
But Mr Hong still expects Chinese politicians to keep up appearances. | But Mr Hong still expects Chinese politicians to keep up appearances. |
"I don't want to see my leader with grey hair. It will make him look old… like he's about to die!" he argues. | "I don't want to see my leader with grey hair. It will make him look old… like he's about to die!" he argues. |
"How could a person like that lead our country? This is a political issue, not a lifestyle one." | "How could a person like that lead our country? This is a political issue, not a lifestyle one." |
Playing down differences | |
Party leaders are conscious of their attempts to look the same. | Party leaders are conscious of their attempts to look the same. |
"The Communist Party is one of the most disciplined institutions ever devised by humankind. Not a lot at that level happens purely by accident," explains Steve Tsang, professor at the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham. | "The Communist Party is one of the most disciplined institutions ever devised by humankind. Not a lot at that level happens purely by accident," explains Steve Tsang, professor at the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham. |
If every party leader sports the same outfit and hair colour, it's easy to blend in and dodge blame for the failure of any particular policy, Prof Tsang says. | If every party leader sports the same outfit and hair colour, it's easy to blend in and dodge blame for the failure of any particular policy, Prof Tsang says. |
"Wearing a kind of uniform and looking pretty similar and maintaining a pretty high manifestation of party discipline gives you a fair bit of protection." | "Wearing a kind of uniform and looking pretty similar and maintaining a pretty high manifestation of party discipline gives you a fair bit of protection." |
China's top leaders are also trying to play down their differences in order to emphasise the stability of the Communist Party, explains Jeremy Goldkorn, founder of Danwei.org, a Beijing-based media research firm. | |
"They've tried to show that the party is not dependent on any single personality, it's an institution. They've tried to devalue the individual in favour of the party." | "They've tried to show that the party is not dependent on any single personality, it's an institution. They've tried to devalue the individual in favour of the party." |
Maintaining perfectly black hair is a political commitment that requires time and money. At the Sassy hair salon, the hairstylist, Hong Haiting, estimates Chinese politicians have to touch up their roots every 10 days. | Maintaining perfectly black hair is a political commitment that requires time and money. At the Sassy hair salon, the hairstylist, Hong Haiting, estimates Chinese politicians have to touch up their roots every 10 days. |
Incoming President Xi Jinping is promising to cut down on government expenses. Perhaps soon, he'll signal a change in the Communist leaders' de facto uniform, saving the country a massive salon bill at the same time. | Incoming President Xi Jinping is promising to cut down on government expenses. Perhaps soon, he'll signal a change in the Communist leaders' de facto uniform, saving the country a massive salon bill at the same time. |