A deeper inspection into the popularity of Guandan also reveals interesting changes in Chinese society.
To some extent, the game has proliferated as many government officials are “lying flat” to avoid taking risks. It implies an inward-looking mentality in China’s ruling apparatus. After all, what is the point of meeting new people or trying out the latest imported fads when you can easily spend the day playing a familiar card game with close workmates?
It is hard to estimate how much time has been spent on Guandan, but there is anecdotal evidence that the game is quite addictive. Ji Jianye, former mayor of eastern Nanjing city, told reporters in 2011 that many officials had been spending so much time on Guandan that it had started to affect government work. Ironically, in 2015, Ji was sentenced to 15 years in prison over corruption.
The game’s influence is spreading to the private sector, particularly where interactions with government officials are frequent. In the Chinese financial industry, Guandan has replaced Texas Hold ’em, said to be popular among Wall Street professionals, as the preferred game because it is considered more important to rub shoulders with local officials than Western capitalists.
Private sector employees have to learn the norms and culture of the government to be seen as “one of our own” and get things done. Just like dressing up in the so-called bureaucrat style, playing Guandan offers a sense of cultural affinity. In this regard, Guandan is playing a positive role in aligning the interests of the public and private sectors.
This article was first published on SCMP.