Popular sociological bestsellers often focus on specific themes during certain periods, highlighting the development and changes of an era by focusing on specific groups. For instance, in the 1990s, books like "Their World" by Li Yinhe and Wang Xiaobo (focusing on the LGBTQ community), "Existence and Absurdity: A Survey of China's Underground Sex Industry" by Pan Suiming, and "Crossing Boundaries: The Life History of Beijing's 'Zhejiang Village'" by Xiang Biao were prominent.
Around 2000, the focus shifted to the rural sector with books like "China by the Yellow River" by Cao Jinqing and "Survey of Chinese Farmers" by Chen Guidi and Chun Tao. By 2010, the spotlight was on the new generation of educated young people with books like "Ant Tribe" by Lian Si, "County Officials" by Feng Junqi, and "Out of Liangzhuang" by Liang Hong. Around 2015, the focus was on the new generation of young migrant workers with books like "Factory Girls" by Ding Yan and "Working Girls" by Zhang Tonghe. By 2020, the emphasis was on the lost youth in the urbanization process with books like "Reluctant to Return: A Survey of Sanhe Youth" by Tian Feng and Lin Kaixuan.
Unlike other groups that often receive sympathy after being highlighted, the "Sanhe Gods" group, which gained popularity due to the Japanese NHK documentary "Sanhe Talent Market" in 2018, is an exception. The more common sentiment is that initially, people pity their unfortunate circumstances and lack of ambition. However, upon a second look, many realize that their own feelings of powerlessness in the face of the urban jungle aren't much different from the Sanhe Gods. The only difference might be slightly better material conditions.
The classic image of a Sanhe God is someone who, after several attempts at regular employment, decides to work day-to-day, spending most of their time in internet cafes or on the streets when out of money. Their free time is spent sleeping, gambling, or chatting, living by the motto, "Don't talk about worldly matters, just be a person without worldly concerns."
The irony is that the gathering place of the Sanhe Gods, the "Sanhe Talent Market," is located in Shenzhen, a city known for its opportunities. On one hand, it's a dream destination for talents from all over the country, and on the other, there are people living in extreme resignation.
Many Sanhe Gods believe that society has been unfair to them, rarely questioning their own efforts. Words like "exploitation," "self," and "freedom" are often on their lips, even if they've lost their original meanings. For many, high housing prices are the last straw that broke their backs. For instance, a Sanhe God named Xu Qing had a girlfriend, but her parents didn't think he had a future. They set a condition for him to buy a house in the provincial capital of the girl's hometown. Unable to afford it, Xu Qing and his girlfriend broke up. This blow made Xu Qing even more attracted to the carefree life of the Sanhe Gods.
Perhaps some might think of the Sanhe Gods and recall young foreigners they've seen while traveling or studying abroad. These foreigners also chose to live as "vagabonds," begging on squares to sustain their lives. However, the social security system faced by the Sanhe Gods is entirely different. They can easily starve, and with the unavailability of the NHK documentary online combined with the impact of the pandemic, the Sanhe Gods have passively "disappeared." In 2021, during the urban village governance campaign, the original habitat of the Sanhe Gods was rebuilt into the "Strugglers' Square."
In many news reports, many Sanhe Gods, with the help of the community, underwent psychological counseling and employment guidance. They used to work day-to-day, but now, with several tens of thousands saved, their spirits have improved. As such, it's aptly named the "Strugglers' Square." We always arrive at such happy endings, just like the famous comforting article "Struggled for Twenty Years, Just to Sit with You and Drink Coffee." The Sanhe Gods were just defeated earlier by life.
About the Creator
Red Shelves
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