Individuality and free will
Not only did Lang Guoren's rearing techniques attract controversy, Lang Lang's personality also stirs up the tabloids.
Differing from other classical musicians, Lang Lang enjoys speaking publicly to the media. He also films various commercials. His celebrity-like behavior has been criticized by some.
Lang Lang explained that a musician should not just focus on music but also on other aspects, especially a domestic musician who wants international acclaim. He said that this is why he understands his father. Breaking through in Western music is hard for Chinese musicians. He told the Global Times that it was not until he was in his 20s could he really see his father's point of view.
Lang senior admits that he passed his personal unfulfilled dreams onto his son.
"Do you [think] a child has independent will and space?" a journalist asked Lang Guoren.
Lang senior said yes, though it depends on the kind of parent as well as the child.
"Lang Lang had less time to play. But he was not unhappy about that," Lang Guoren said.
He also said his actions were not unreasonable. "When you inspire him with music, severe ways are not suitable," he said.
As Lang senior wrote in the letter, only him and his son know the effort they put in, to persevere in times of pressure and difficulty.
He told the Global Times that each parent has his own way of educating a child; he does not mind if he is misunderstood by the public.
Channeling dreams
The family has experienced many hardships. Lang Guoren chronicles Lang Lang's rebellious time when they were in the US.
"Tyrant," Lang Lang once called his father. But when Lang Guoren tried to leave, the son apologized.
As Yang Lan said, Chinese parents are not used to expressing their feelings. But now, Lang Guoren has learned to say "I love you" to Lang junior.
Lang Lang said both he and his father have changed over the years, though the way Lang junior would educate his children will be different from his father.
Wang Tao, a member of China Publishing Group, publisher of the book, said at the conference that he disagrees with a so-called "failure education," a term to describe the phenomenon of an older generation passing on unfulfilled dreams to the next generation.
He said that such high expectations for a child to contribute to the country and society is part of traditional Chinese culture.
By Liao Danlin (Global Times)
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