{"id":1148,"date":"2023-10-24T03:59:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/2023\/10\/24\/how-the-feather-duster-became-these-parents-weapon-of-choice\/"},"modified":"2024-07-04T01:47:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T17:47:32","slug":"feather-duster-became-these-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/feather-duster-became-these-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Feather Duster Became These Parents\u2019 Weapon of Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been said that the first feather duster originated in China, all the way back to the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070 \u2013 c. 1600 BC).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s been said that the first feather duster originated in China,<\/a> all the way back to the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070 \u2013 c. 1600 BC).<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190159.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

At the time, a man known as \u201cLittle Kang\u201d saw a wounded pheasant drag its body. He noticed that the path where it \u201ccrawled\u201d had less dirt, and from there, thought it must be due to the feathers.<\/p>\n

Soon, he grabbed a bunch of pheasants and took their feathers, brought them together and fashioned the very first feather duster.<\/p>\n

\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190202.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

How Little Kang intended to use the original feather duster would be the same as to how it is used today: to get rid of dirt.<\/p>\n

Feather dusters make effective furniture cleaners, working well in hard-to-reach spaces. In addition, they don\u2019t leave untoward scratches, unlike other dusting equipment.<\/p>\n

Somehow, Chinese mothers who traditionally managed the house ingeniously found yet another purpose of the feather duster. It\u2019s far from cleaning, and while they thought it was brilliant, their children weren\u2019t exactly pleased.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190205.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

That\u2019s because the feather duster has been turned into a weapon of corporal punishment.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190207.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

From that moment sprung the cries of thousands of Chinese children promising to behave better. As most Chinese know today, the feather duster is easily among the most popular methods of discipline, working just as fine as it is for cleaning.<\/p>\n

As Chen Chenchen put via the Global Times:<\/p>\n

\u201cChinese children are familiar with the dreaded expression \u2018chicken feather duster.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my childhood memories, my mother\u2019s words \u2018Where\u2019s my chicken feather duster?\u2019 was enough of a deterrent to make me shiver and change my behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190210.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: Xiao Baiyou\/NPR<\/p>\n

\n

Xiao Baiyou, a Chinese media sensation known as \u201cWolf Dad\u201d and a firm believer in corporal punishment, swore by the mighty feather duster in raising his four children. He abides by the parenting approach \u201cspare the rod, spoil the child,\u201d and while controversial,<\/a> put absolute faith in it.<\/p>\n

Through such, he, after all, sent three of his kids to China\u2019s Peking University, the most prestigious in the country \u2014 and wrote a top-selling book about it.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190212.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: china<\/a>daily<\/p>\n

\n

Xiao told the National Public Radio in 2011:<\/p>\n

\u201cI have more than a thousand rules: specific detailed rules about how to hold your chopsticks and your bowl, how to pick up food, how to hold a cup, how to sleep, how to cover yourself with a quilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t follow the rules, then I must beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190215.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: Xiao Baiyou\/China Hush<\/p>\n

\n

Xiao\u2019s rules are pretty straightforward: no TV (except for news<\/a>), no coke-type soft drinks and no air-conditioner, among others. For every rule broken, he would hit his children with a feather duster on the legs or palms.<\/p>\n

It must also leave a mark \u2014 otherwise there\u2019s no impact, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn China, beating kids is part of their upbringing. It\u2019s not violence. It\u2019s not against the law. If this kind of beating is legal, scientific and in the interests of the kids, then fine. I\u2019m all for beating since it\u2019s effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

But of course, not everyone takes delight in the supposed wonders of corporal punishment. Joseph Lau, a clinical psychologist, had seen hundreds of children smacked by the parents. He believes that these kids, unfortunately, can\u2019t do much about it.<\/p>\n

He told the South China Morning Post in an earlier interview:<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190218.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo:baidu<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt many Chinese parents believe in spanking. They also expect blind obedience and have an attitude of \u2018you\u2019ll do it because I\u2019m your parent, that\u2019s why.\u2019 They are not generally democratic parents and like to be firmly in control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lau also acknowledged their affinity to the feather duster:<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving hidings with a feather-duster is almost a Chinese tradition \u2014 it hurts and only leaves a little mark. Parents also use other cooking utensils, clothes hangers or the first thing they can lay their hands on. This is when spanking becomes dangerous and degrading to the child.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190221.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

As corporal punishment remains lawful in Chinese homes, the feather duster continues to send chills to the spines of countless children. It\u2019s amusing to ponder how a fluffy stick that supposedly removes dirt and dirt alone can be used for something else, but sad for what it\u2019s turned out.<\/p>\n

Until then, you kids have to behave well.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247_20171222190224.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Photo: nextshark<\/p>\n

\n

As for us adults, I hope those feather dusters didn\u2019t just help us learn our \u201clessons,\u201d but what\u2019s right to do in life \u2014 to our children, to our children\u2019s children, and the future.<\/p>\n

Have you ever been beaten with a feather duster? What did\/do you think of the punishment, then as a child and now as an adult? We\u2019d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments!<\/p>\n

Source: Nextshark<\/p>\n

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