China has punished 27 people over ‘tragically ugly’ illustrations in several maths textbooks. Investigation finds the books did not ‘properly reflect the sunny image of China’s children'. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint | Chinese textbooks changed after 'ugly' cartoons spark outcry

<p>According to China's state-run Global Times, the country's education ministry has ordered an investigation&nbsp;into&nbsp;children's textbooks over row involving "ugly and pornographic" illustrations.</p>

<p>The controversy began after Chinese netizens complained the illustrations depicted sexual connotations and were not properly reviewed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The focus of netizens was the maths textbooks which allegedly showed children in "strange poses" which included "crooked mouth, tongue sticking out and squinting eyes", China's newspaper reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The netizens wasted no time in blasting the illustrators.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">chinese authorities set of primary school textbooks amid public outcry over improper illustrations. Angry parents criticize the droopy eyes and somewhat similar to men body part <a href="https://t.co/4hcgakIDWX">pic.twitter.com/4hcgakIDWX</a></p>
— Want some peace on jianghu| 🍊🍑🐱 (@jianghumountain) <a href="https://twitter.com/jianghumountain/status/1530578050898747392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">losing it at these illustrations from a Chinese elementary school textbook <a href="https://t.co/XSYwIWPXqk">https://t.co/XSYwIWPXqk</a> <a href="https://t.co/4q1VFLRQsV">pic.twitter.com/4q1VFLRQsV</a></p>
— Helen Davidson (@heldavidson) <a href="https://twitter.com/heldavidson/status/1531185328517566464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In recent years, the illustrations in Chinese elementary school textbooks are very ugly and have no artistic sense. The Chinese suspect it was caused by enemy spies. The government has begun to pay attention to the matter. <a href="https://t.co/nDG8yMQFND">pic.twitter.com/nDG8yMQFND</a></p>
— 蒋俊 (@Aaron9999_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron9999_/status/1530963742892011520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The ministry said the people's education press must "rectify and reform" as the publishers&nbsp;apologised and asked all textbooks to be recalled.</p>

<p>However, the issue continued as Chinese netizens further complained that photos allegedly showed boys not wearing pants and &nbsp;"explicitly depicted male reproductive organ" as they questioned the motive of the illustrator as the hashtag "math textbook from People's Education Press" began trending on China's Twitter-like social networking site Sina Weibo.</p>

<p>Chinese web users said the pictures were "irresponsible" and distorted the "aesthetic sense of young students". Reports claimed the controversial textbooks were approved in 2012 and 2013.</p>

<p>The Global Times report said last year a Chinese food brand was criticised for using a model with slanted eyes which allegedly "smeared"&nbsp;the image of Chinese women.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


According to China's state-run Global Times, the country's education ministry has ordered an investigation into children's textbooks over row involving "ugly and pornographic" illustrations.

According to China's state-run Global Times, the country's education ministry has ordered an investigation into children's textbooks over row involving "ugly and pornographic" illustrations. The controversy began after Chinese netizens complained the illustrations depicted sexual connotations and were not properly reviewed. The focus of netizens was the maths textbooks which allegedly showed children in "strange poses" which included "crooked mouth, tongue sticking out and squinting eyes", China's newspaper reported. The netizens wasted no time in blasting the illustrators. chinese authorities set of primary school textbooks amid public outcry over improper illustrations. Angry parents criticize the droopy eyes and somewhat similar to men body part pic.twitter.com/4hcgakIDWX — Want some peace on jianghu| 🍊🍑🐱 (@jianghumountain) May 28, 2022 × losing it at these illustrations from a Chinese elementary school textbook https://t.co/XSYwIWPXqk pic.twitter.com/4q1VFLRQsV — Helen Davidson (@heldavidson) May 30, 2022 × In recent years, the illustrations in Chinese elementary school textbooks are very ugly and have no artistic sense. The Chinese suspect it was caused by enemy spies. The government has begun to pay attention to the matter. pic.twitter.com/nDG8yMQFND — 蒋俊 (@Aaron9999_) May 29, 2022 × The ministry said the people's education press must "rectify and reform" as the publishers apologised and asked all textbooks to be recalled. However, the issue continued as Chinese netizens further complained that photos allegedly showed boys not wearing pants and "explicitly depicted male reproductive organ" as they questioned the motive of the illustrator as the hashtag "math textbook from People's Education Press" began trending on China's Twitter-like social networking site Sina Weibo. Chinese web users said the pictures were "irresponsible" and distorted the "aesthetic sense of young students". Reports claimed the controversial textbooks were approved in 2012 and 2013. The Global Times report said last year a Chinese food brand was criticised for using a model with slanted eyes which allegedly "smeared" the image of Chinese women. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Crooked mouth, squinting eyes': Chinese netizens slam children's textbooks over 'ugly illustration'

<p>Racist and pornographic illustrations in Chinese textbooks used in several schools across the country have sparked an uproar.</p>

<p>After facing criticism for the illustrations, People’s Education Press was forced to recall a set of elementary school math textbooks.</p>

<p>Apologising for the offensive illustrations, the state-owned Chinese educational publisher said it will redesign them.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-wants-to-increase-direct-communication-with-china-482767/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“We humbly adopted the good opinions and suggestions from all walks of life,” it said in its statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some of the illustrations were shared on China’s Twitter-like social media platform called Weibo and they continued to be one of the top trending items, with the hashtag on the subject receiving over 2.2 billion views.</p>

<p>The textbooks depicted Chinese children with small eyes set wide apart and boys appeared to be shown with outlines of male genitalia on their pants.</p>

<p><img alt="cd" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4a30e841-56a9-4832-acd2-c51d6af02587" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_6.png" /></p>

<p><strong>In picture:&nbsp;Illustration&nbsp;of the textbook posted on Weibo</strong></p>

<p>Some Weibo users pointed out that the illustrations were covertly pro-American as some children were depicted wearing clothing with stars and stripes on them in the textbook.</p>

<p>“Absolutely there are traitors hidden somewhere, pro-US elements who have permeated our educational system,” said another user.</p>

<p>China and the United States have been at loggerheads with each other with Washington supporting Taiwan's bid for independence.</p>

<p>Carving the world into two decoupled blocs, both superpowers are attempting to push third countries into an alliance system.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>Watch WION's live TV here:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Racist and pornographic illustrations in Chinese textbooks used in several schools across the country have sparked an uproar. After facing criticism for the illustrations, People’s Education Press was forced to recall a set of elementary school math textbooks.

Racist and pornographic illustrations in Chinese textbooks used in several schools across the country have sparked an uproar. After facing criticism for the illustrations, People’s Education Press was forced to recall a set of elementary school math textbooks. Apologising for the offensive illustrations, the state-owned Chinese educational publisher said it will redesign them. “We humbly adopted the good opinions and suggestions from all walks of life,” it said in its statement. Some of the illustrations were shared on China’s Twitter-like social media platform called Weibo and they continued to be one of the top trending items, with the hashtag on the subject receiving over 2.2 billion views. The textbooks depicted Chinese children with small eyes set wide apart and boys appeared to be shown with outlines of male genitalia on their pants. In picture: Illustration of the textbook posted on Weibo Some Weibo users pointed out that the illustrations were covertly pro-American as some children were depicted wearing clothing with stars and stripes on them in the textbook. “Absolutely there are traitors hidden somewhere, pro-US elements who have permeated our educational system,” said another user. China and the United States have been at loggerheads with each other with Washington supporting Taiwan's bid for independence. Carving the world into two decoupled blocs, both superpowers are attempting to push third countries into an alliance system. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Racist, pornographic illustrations in Chinese textbooks spark uproar

<p>In 2012, parents in Hong Kong made their children tear up textbooks of "model China" as booklets sought to brainwash young minds. Beijing had one aim - to turn Hong Kongers into loyal subjects of China.</p>

<p>Eight years ago, 90,000 parents and teenagers had marched in protest. In 2020, however, they cannot as protests have been banned. China is again re-writing textbooks in Hong Kong openly and legitimately with the over-arching power of the national security law.</p>

<p>This time if the parents say it leads to brainwash, they shall be put behind bars. The phrase separation of power has been removed, enshrining China as the sole ruler. Now, China says basic law will protect the press. Photographs of the Lennon Wall have been deleted which was one of the major artworks of the Umbrella Movement.</p>

<p>China wants to teach young kids in Hong Kong the fear of China, fear of law, fear of protest. China admits it is turning Hong Kong schools into correctional facilities to restore the Chinese identity. Beijing believes the earlier textbooks created radicals like Joshua Wong and Nathan Law. Now, China wants to nip dissent in the bud.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%2FaXU9LzExNDQwNDY1L1dpb25ld3NfVmlkZW8vV2lvbmV3c19QcmVyb2xsJmRlc2NyaXB0aW9uX3VybD1bcGxhY2Vob2xkZXJdJmVudj12cCZpbXBsPXMmY29ycmVsYXRvcj0mdGZjZD0wJm5wYT0wJmdkZnBfcmVxPTEmb3V0cHV0PXZhc3Qmc3o9NjQweDQ4MCZ1bnZpZXdlZF9wb3NpdGlvbl9zdGFydD0xIn19LCJoZWFsdGhBbmFseXRpY3MiOnt9fSwiaHRtbDUiOnRydWV9" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>However, China has failed to edit the newspaper Apple Daily with its owner Jimmy Lai being tried under the new security law. Lai believes China is sucking out the city's last-remaining freedom.</p>

<p>"It's the oxygen is getting thin, and we are all choking, but when we're choking we are still taking care of each other and keep resisting and keep fighting for our rule of law and freedom," Lai said.</p>

<p>Despite being slapped with fresh charges, Jimmy Lai has hit out at China exposing the crackdown on civil servants and businessmen.</p>

<p>US President Donald Trump is all praises for him.</p>

<p>"I feel bad for him because I hear he's a good person. I don't know him but I hear he's a good person, obviously a very brave person," Trump said.</p>

<p>Jimmy Lai says China is running a state censorship factory banning books in libraries and re-writing school curriculum. He says it is like a scene out of George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. Some Hong Kongers are comparing China to the Nazis and how Adolf Hitler's schools brainwashed young people. Just like the Nazis and Mao, Xi's China is hunting down professors and teachers who don't comply.</p>

<p>At least two prominent lecturers have been fired and at this rate words like human rights and civil disobedience will slip out of the tongue first, then, out of the minds. China's cultural revolution in Hong Kong has begun.</p>


In 2012, parents in Hong Kong made their children tear up textbooks of "model China" as booklets sought to brainwash young minds. Beijing had one aim - to turn Hong Kongers into loyal subjects of China.

In 2012, parents in Hong Kong made their children tear up textbooks of "model China" as booklets sought to brainwash young minds. Beijing had one aim - to turn Hong Kongers into loyal subjects of China. Eight years ago, 90,000 parents and teenagers had marched in protest. In 2020, however, they cannot as protests have been banned. China is again re-writing textbooks in Hong Kong openly and legitimately with the over-arching power of the national security law. This time if the parents say it leads to brainwash, they shall be put behind bars. The phrase separation of power has been removed, enshrining China as the sole ruler. Now, China says basic law will protect the press. Photographs of the Lennon Wall have been deleted which was one of the major artworks of the Umbrella Movement. China wants to teach young kids in Hong Kong the fear of China, fear of law, fear of protest. China admits it is turning Hong Kong schools into correctional facilities to restore the Chinese identity. Beijing believes the earlier textbooks created radicals like Joshua Wong and Nathan Law. Now, China wants to nip dissent in the bud. × However, China has failed to edit the newspaper Apple Daily with its owner Jimmy Lai being tried under the new security law. Lai believes China is sucking out the city's last-remaining freedom. "It's the oxygen is getting thin, and we are all choking, but when we're choking we are still taking care of each other and keep resisting and keep fighting for our rule of law and freedom," Lai said. Despite being slapped with fresh charges, Jimmy Lai has hit out at China exposing the crackdown on civil servants and businessmen. US President Donald Trump is all praises for him. "I feel bad for him because I hear he's a good person. I don't know him but I hear he's a good person, obviously a very brave person," Trump said. Jimmy Lai says China is running a state censorship factory banning books in libraries and re-writing school curriculum. He says it is like a scene out of George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. Some Hong Kongers are comparing China to the Nazis and how Adolf Hitler's schools brainwashed young people. Just like the Nazis and Mao, Xi's China is hunting down professors and teachers who don't comply. At least two prominent lecturers have been fired and at this rate words like human rights and civil disobedience will slip out of the tongue first, then, out of the minds. China's cultural revolution in Hong Kong has begun.

'Model China': Why the Dragon is rewriting school textbooks in Hong Kong