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The History of Chinese Animation
China has been one of the first countries to develop its own aesthetic for
dynamic images and to create animation films with distinctive character-
istics. In recent years, however, and subject to the influence of Western
and Japanese animation, the Chinese animation industry has experienced
several new stages of development, prompting the question as to where
animation in China is heading in the future.
This book describes the history, present, and future of China’s anima-
tion industry. The author divides the business’s 95-year history into six
periods and analyzes each of these from a historical, aesthetic, and artistic
perspective. In addition, the book focuses on representative works, themes,
directions, artistic styles, techniques, industrial development, government
support policies, business models, the nurturing of education and talent,
broadcasting systems, and animation.
Scholars and students who are interested in the history of Chinese anima-
tion will benefit from this book, and it will appeal additionally to readers
interested in Chinese film studies.
Sun Lijun, Professor, Vice President of Beijing Film Academy and Presi-
dent of China Animation Institute of BFA. He was appointed as the Vice
President of BFA in 2012. Sun Lijun is one of the experts who receive State
Council special allowance. He has directed several animated feature films,
such as The Little Solider, Happy Running, Legend of a Rabbit, and Harvest,
among others. Since 2005 his animated feature films have been screened
internationally, including at the Berlin International Film Festival, Annecy
Film Festival, Ukraine International Film Festival, Seoul International
Film Festival, and more. His films have won many top awards both domes-
tic and abroad, such as the Best Animated Film of 28th and 29th Golden
Rooster Awards, which are the top awards given by Chinese government to
the most outstanding and talented artists.
China Perspectives
TRANSLATED BY
Preface vii
Acknowledgments viii
List of figures ix
List of contributors xvi
PART I
1978–1988 – Chinese animation after
the reform and opening up (I) 1
PART II
1989–1999 – Chinese animation after
the reform and opening up (II) 129
vi Contents
PART III
After the year 2000 – Chinese animation
stepping into the new century 171
Bibliography 219
Index 221
Preface
This book won’t have been possible without the research and interviews
done by editorial board members including Wang Hao, Liu Mengya, Ma
Hua, Zhang Yu, Zhang Wenzheng, Yu Luo, Li Guyu and Tan Hui. I am
immensely grateful to the book’s associate editors Li Jianping and Wang
Hao. The two led the editorial board members, mostly PhD candidates and
professors, to untiringly search for archival materials and interview a num-
ber of longtime animation experts at Shanghai Animation Film Studio, in-
cluding Yan Dingxian, Zhang Songlin, Duan Xiaoxuan, Hu Jinqing, Qian
Yunda and Huang Yushan, among others. These experts created the first
prosperity of Chinese animation industry and left us an enormous legacy
in animation art. This book represents our heartfelt gratitude and tribute
to them.
My thanks also go to Professor Zhu Yuhua at the New York Film Acad-
emy, Professor Cao Xiaohui at the Beijing Film Academy and Taiwanese
animation export Yu Wai-ching, who did their utmost to make this book
possible.
The book is selected in the program of 2019 “China Book International”,
and has attracted attention of people of all circles around the world. Here,
we’d like to express our special thanks to the New York Film Academy for
its huge support and contribution to the making of the book.
Sun Lijun
Figures
Cao Xiaohui, Vice President of the BFA China Animation Academy, under-
graduate in Art and Design from the Soochow Silk Academy (the previ-
ous name of the College of Textile and Clothing Engineering of Soochow
University), mainly researches in animation creation and education.
Chen Shan graduated from Peking University and is Professor and PhD su-
pervisor at the Department of Literature of Beijing Film Academy; Head
of the film history and theory research group of the BFA Department of
Literature; and member of the China Film Association, China Taiwan
Hong Kong Film and Research Association, China Film Critics Associ-
ation, China Collegial Association for Visual Arts, and Modern Chinese
Literature Association.
Joy Yuhua Zhu, Executive Vice President of the New York Film Academy,
is a Chinese-American who got a PhD degree in Management and an
MA degree in British and American Literature. To promote exchanges
between the U.S. and China in film and television education, he estab-
lished long-term inter-university exchanges and cooperative relations
with Chinese colleges and institutions, in which professionals urgently
needed by the film and television industry in both China and the US are
trained. He is invited by many universities to serve as a visiting profes-
sor. He judged several Student Film Festivals and is always working to
promote exchanges in film and television culture between the U.S. and
China.
Li Jianping is Professor, Chair of the Animation School of Beijing Film
Academy, Executive President of BFA China Animation Academy,
Secretary-General of the Animation Arts Committee of the China Art-
ists Association, Vice Secretary-General of the China Animation Asso-
ciation, President of the Beijing Film Animation Association, and Vice
Director of the Cartoon Arts Committee of the China Television Artists
Association.
Ma Hua, Professor and PhD at Beijing Film Academy, mainly researches in
animated movie creation.
Contributors xvii
Wang Hao, staff of Beijing Film Academy, master in animation creation and
theories, mainly teaches The History of Chinese Animation, Introduc-
tion to Animation, Animation Creation, and Appreciation of Animation
Works.
Zhang Yu, PhD at Film School of Griffith University, is animation teacher
at Jilin Engineering Normal University.
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
http://taylora ndfra ncis.com
Part I
1978–1988 – Chinese
animation after the reform
and opening up (I)
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
http://taylora ndfra ncis.com
1 Overview
Note
1 A special school for intellectuals uprooted from their academic and research
institutions to live with the peasants in the countryside under military control
during the Cultural Revolution.
2 Creation and exploration
1. Expression forms
The concept of animation creation in this period was mainly reflected in
two breakthroughs. One was to break through existing expression forms to
deeply explore the audio-visual language of films. The other was to look for
new animation themes.
2. Audio-visual language
The concepts of creation in the Cultural Revolution, namely typification
and three highlights,1 already have disappeared after the reform and open-
ing up. Animators have deepened characters’ personality in audio-visual
creations and made use of audio-visual language to depict their psycholog-
ical transition. For example, Xu Jingda’s Butterfly Spring has no dialogue
throughout the whole animation, all changes of plots and contradictions are
driven by music, and the liner style of decorative paintings is used in terms
of the art style. The director of this animated film dealt with the scenario
“Farewell” in the following way: in the beginning, we can see scenes starting
6 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
slowly downward the moonlight sky, then the panoramic view of the open
world. In front of the twinkling scene stand a couple who are facing and
confessing to each other under a big tree. The whole picture presents a pure
silence. After the panorama, there are medium-range, close, and close-up
scenes presenting to the audience at the same rhythm. The audiences are
emotionally rendered. The young man takes out a small red flower and gives
it to the beautiful girl. Lifting flowers, picking flowers, and holding each
other, these three actions are superimposed on the original scenes, show-
ing their first love is timid and heart-wrenching. Then, there appears a fea-
ture on their gaze followed by three scenes that change at the same rhythm:
close-up, medium-range, and panoramic.
3. Creation themes
After the reform and opening up, animated films with different themes
sprung up. For example, Snow Kids was adapted from the children’s liter-
ature work which was themed at depicting friendship; Butterfly Spring was
themed at extolling love; One Night at Gallery and Super Soap were aimed at
satirizing real-life phenomena. One Night at Gallery satirized the arbitrary
thoughts of blindly denying all arts in the Cultural Revolution between the
1960s and 1970s. The hats and sticks in the film symbolized the impression
on the Cultural Revolution, and the art gallery stood for all artworks. Super
Soap satirized some social phenomena in the 1980s.
The animation creation team boasted three generations of animators. The
old generation of animators could provide guidance on creative ideas; the
middle-aged generation of animators had new creative ideas and rich pro-
duction experience. The younger generation of animators also had a strong
passion for work. At that time, animation creation reached a peak. The main
audiences were formed of teenagers and children who were interested in
myths and legends themes. Therefore, most animations in this period used
these themes.
Figure 2.1 Stage photo of animated feature film Nezha Conquers the Dragon King.
Figure 2.2 Stage photo of animated feature film The Legend of Sealed Book.
8 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
Figure 2.3 Stage photo of animated feature film Golden Monkey Conquers the Demon.
Figure 2.4 Stage photo of animated feature film Reynard the Fox.
Figure 2.5 Stage photo of animated short film The Fox and the Hunter.
Figure 2.6 Stage photo of animated short film To Shoot without Shooting.
10 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
Ding Ding Challenges the Monkey King (1980), The Miraculous Child (1984)
with exquisite production, and Nüwa Fixing up Sky (1985) with the refined
line, and so on represented the sci-fi animated short films. Snow Kids (1980)
stood for the lyrical animated short film. A Daoist from Laoshan Mountain
(1981) was a symbol of the animated short film that combined with the ink
scenes. Monkeys Fishing for the Moon (1981) was one of the animations that
used the ink-wash fine-fibre technique.
Animated short films reflecting the theme of ethnic minorities include The
Good Boy Xia Wudong (1981), Fruit of Immortality (1981), and Fire Child (1984).
Nine-color Deer (1981) was an animated short film adapted from
Dunhuang murals; Strawman (1985) had meticulous painting style; and
Water Deer (1985) was adapted from Taiwanese folktales.
Figure 2.8 Stage photo of animated short film Nüwa Fixing up Sky.
Figure 2.9 Stage photo of animated short film A Daoist from Laoshan Mountain.
Figure 2.10 Stage photo of animated short film Monkeys Fishing on the Moon.
Figure 2.16 Stage photo of animated short film The Blind Girl and the Fox.
Figure 2.17 Stage photo of animated short film Jia Zi Saves a Deer.
14 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
The Naughty Golden Monkey (1982) was a funny animated film for chil-
dren, and Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant (1982) was an animation short film
with the wisdom theme.
The Blind Girl and the Fox (1982) was an animation short film that was
moving and refreshing; Butterfly Spring (1983) was elegant and beautiful.
Porcelain Dolls (1982) represented animated short films made of ceramic
materials.
Thirty-six Chinese Characters (1984) was a story made of Chinese characters.
Jia Zi Saves A Deer (1985) was an animated short film that extolled kind
heart; Single-plank Bridge (1988) was an animated short film that was ex-
aggerating and funny. The Super Soap (1986) was an animated short film
that was sarcastic. These artistic films won many awards in domestic and
international film festivals. Apart from the above animation short films pro-
duced by the SAFS, many animation production institutions in other places
also made a lot of good animations.
6. Ink-wash animation
In 1982, the ink-wash animation The Deer’s Bell was released. This meant the
recovery of the ink-wash animation creations. The Deer’s Bell had beautiful
pictures which fully demonstrated the unique flavour of ink-wash paintings.
The success of this animation could also be attributed to its continuation of
lyric style of ink-wash animation.
In 1983, the ink-wash paper-cut film The Snipe Grapples with the Clam was
launched. Ink-wash fine-fibre technique was also applied to this paper-cut
film in which each character’s model had a furry texture resembling the
brush painting on the rice paper and realizing the artistic effects of ink-wash
paintings. This film was well received at home and abroad.
In 1988, the ink-wash animation The Land was produced, which was an
ink-wash animation masterpiece. The deeply hidden realm and the tech-
nique of splashing landscape paintings were also a new exploration in the
Creation and exploration 15
production of ink-wash animation. The Land won a grand prize at the first
Shanghai International Animation Film Festival. John Halas, the British
animation artist and chairman of the jury, said,
We are glad that China’s aesthetic taste has gained global value. The
Land won awards because of its beautiful artistic style and skillfulness,
including animation skills and a harmonious musical image. Its success
once again proves the great potential of Chinese traditional art.
Figure 2.20 Stage photo of ink-wash paper-cut film The Snipe Grapples with the Clam.
16 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
7. Animated TV series
From 1984 to 1987, after the release of the animated series Sheriff Black Cat
(5 episodes), a warm response occurred among children audiences. The film
won the first Calf Award of Chinese films and You Wa Award.
From 1986 to 1987, the paper-cut series Calabash Brothers (13 episodes)
was gorgeous, and the plot was tense and loved by children. The film won
the third Calf Award of Chinese films in 1989, and the third prize of the first
China Film and Television Animation Program.
From 1986 to 1987, the animated series Dirty King Adventure (13 episodes)
educated children to pay attention to hygiene and eat healthily and not to litter.
From 1979 to 1988, the puppet series The Story of Avanti (14 episodes) was
based on folktales in the Islamic region and had exaggerated film style and
humorous language, which was popular at home and abroad.
The animation series Mang Ka’s Journey around the World (1986, 10
episodes) and The Little Bunny Feifei (1987, 10 episodes) produced by the
Shanghai TV Animation Studio were also very welcomed.
1. Continuation of glory
1. Where Is Momma?
In 1961, at the 14th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, the
ink-wash animation Where Is Momma? shocked the entire international
animated film community and won the Silver Sail Award for Short Films.
In 1962, it won the Children’s Film Award at the 4th Annecy International
Creation and exploration 17
Animation Film Festival in France, and in 1964, it won the Honorary
Award of the 17th Cannes International Film Festival in France.
This film is comparable to the myths in the Bible and the folklore of
Greece. They are all full of endless originality, fascinating events, heroic
behaviors and excellent fun... The film has become a highly influential
work through outstanding art design.
The Associated Press’s report at the London Film Festival showed the same
respect:
In June 1983, the animated film Havoc in Heaven was premiered at several
theaters in Paris. In just one month, the audience exceeded 100,000 people.
France’s L’Humanité wrote: “Havoc in Heaven is a true masterpiece of
cartoons, like a beautiful picture of a symphony.” In the introduction, Le
Monde said, “Havoc in Heaven not only has the beauty of American Disney
works, but also the plastic art that cannot be done by Disney’s art films, that
is, it perfectly expresses the traditional Chinese art style.”
Havoc in Heaven won a grand award at the London Film Festival. One
year later, the ink-wash animation The Cowboy’s Flute won the gold medal
at the 3rd Danish Odense International Fair Festival.
Figure 2.25 Poster of the 1st Shanghai International Animation Film Festival in 1988.
Figure 2.26 International judges having a heated discussion during the 1st Shanghai
International Animation Film Festival in 1988.
22 1978–1988 – Chinese animation
3. Inviting international judges and films from all
over the world
The first Shanghai International Animation Film Festival sent letters to five
authoritative judges from the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Yugoslavia,
and China: The “Father of Animation” John Halas from Britain (the then
honorary Chairman of the International Animation Association); Japan’s
Osamu Tezuka; Canada’s Ke Hedman, who won the Academy Award for
best short cartoon; Yugoslavia’s Zlako Palinck; and China’s Jin Xi. Once
the list of judges was announced, the people’s trust in the China Anima-
tion Film Festival also increased. Many countries and individuals actively
signed up for the yearning for having access to the “Chinese School” and the
ancient Eastern country. In November 1988, the first international anima-
tion festival in Shanghai took place. There were 386 films from 28 countries
and regions, and 52 works were selected for competing for six categories in
the competition. The International Animation Association fully affirmed
the success of this event.
Note
3 Representative works
The excellent Chinese animated works of the “Chinese School” were like
miscellaneous stars which shed light on generations of audiences, including
a large number of junior students in a pleasant and inspiring way. Profound
Chinese culture was the origin and nutrient of creators. The good policies of
the CPC were the enthusiasm and driving force.
There is a story about this. At that time, Wang Shuchen had a script called
Prince Nezha’s Triumph against Dragon King. The script was written in
1958 and was prepared to be filmed with the Soviet Union. The Soviet
director came to China in 1958 to discuss the script, but there were some
arguments regarding its humanity aspects. We wanted to remove the
superstitious contents, but the Soviet director thought it should be kept
because foreigners were curious about those things. After the argument,
the script was put on hold. After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Te
Wei noticed the script of Nezha Conquers the Dragon King and thought
it was not bad. He decided to make it into an animation. At that time,
Wang Shuchen was the screenwriter. He focused on the theme of this film.
Animation design was my duty, A Da was responsible with the scene and
photography, and the three directors performed their own duties.
3. Awards
1 In 1979, it won the Outstanding Film Award of the Ministry of Culture
and the Young Excellent Creation Award (Yan Dingxian and Jin Fuzai).
2 In 1980, it won the Best Art Film Award of the 3rd Chinese Film
“Hundred Flowers Award.”
3 In 1983, it won the special prize of the second Manila International
Film Festival in the Philippines.
4 In 1988, it won the Jury Award and the Widescreen Feature Film Award
of the 7th Bourbon Cultural Club Youth International Animation Film
Festival in France.
Figures 3.1–3.7 Title: Nezha Conquers the Dragon King; Original work: The Inves-
titure of the Gods; Screenwriter: Wang Shuchen; Director: Wang
Shuchen, Yan Dingxian and Xu Jingda; Length: 63 minutes;
Producer: Shanghai Animation Film Studio.
Figure 3.2
Figure 3.3
Figure 3.4
Figure 3.5
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She was surprised to find that this seemed to place no restraint
upon Lawrence. He whispered as much as ever and lost every recess
like a little soldier.
When this had been going on for two weeks, one day Sarah, who
sat just behind Freddie, hung around Miss Blair’s desk plainly trying
to get up courage to say something. Finally, Miss Blair said, “What is
it, Sarah?” Sarah replied, “Freddie makes Lawrence whisper.” Miss
Blair said in astonishment, “How can that be?”
“Why,” said Sarah, “Freddie can’t tell just what you want, or he
can’t spell the words and he punches Lawrence in the back and
Lawrence tells him what to do or how to spell the words.”
Here, then, was the key to the situation, which Freddie had been
too selfish and Lawrence too manly to disclose.
Freddie was given a seat near Miss Blair’s desk where she could
help him, and Lawrence ceased to whisper. The sadness which had
shown in his face at every recess was replaced by happy relaxation.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
The Bavaria system has revealed the great need of individual
instruction. This question of getting help on the difficult parts of a
lesson is not, in itself, wrong. The evil comes from the confusion of
haphazard whispering. The whispered help which one pupil gives
another, without the teacher’s consent, is attended by more than one
evil. The attention of two pupils is shifted from the central interest.
The teacher is deceived as to the real knowledge which the helped
one has of the subject and he can not therefore correctly estimate his
work.
Yet the physical well-being of a child demands that he have his
recess period of relaxation. The teacher who does her duty in the
matter of supervised play will abandon “keeping children in” as a
punishment for misdemeanors.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
Take time to see yourself at work in the school-room. Test out your
own influence as a noise maker by adopting some very quiet methods
of doing your own work; see if the children do not imitate you also in
maintaining better order.
Abandon the haphazard method of curbing whispering. Think the
whole situation over; measure each pupil in respect to the
whispering nuisance; classify the room as a whole in respect to the
matter. Probably you will adopt two or three methods
simultaneously for different types of pupils.
Apply these methods unobtrusively. By working with individuals
have the rumor pass around that you are becoming stern about
whispering. This can be done without provoking enmity.
Use a number of stories on self-control, neighborliness, etc., but do
not connect them with your campaign against whispering. If some
story makes a great hit, allude to its leading character when dealing
with certain individual offenders.
COMMENTS
Mrs. Steward taught a room of pupils in the fifth and sixth grades.
Near the end of the second week she felt that she had the confidence
of her pupils and could count upon their coöperation.
On Friday morning just before recess she Taking a Vote
said, “How many of you would like to try to
have no whispering at all between now and recess time? It is only ten
minutes.” A majority of the children voted that the trial be made. The
silence was really restful. Just before dismissing for recess she asked
how many liked the silence. Again a majority of them held up their
hands. About twenty minutes before noon she again allowed them to
vote as to whether or not all should refrain from whispering until
noon. This time more even than before voted for silence. Half an
hour before school closed they again decided against whispering for
the rest of the day.
On Monday one or two sessions were voted upon with success.
Before the end of the third week the children from choice had voted
whispering out of the school for the rest of the term because they
liked complete silence better.
They followed the teacher who used the method of leading
suggestion.
Thereafter when someone forgot and whispered, they were
reminded, kindly, that they were not following the wish of their
fellow-pupils. On this subject of majority rule, stories were told of its
value in human history.
Many teachers make use of the honor system in determining
deportment grades, especially asking for self-reporting on
whispering and similar offenses.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
Nine times out of ten the one who laughs in school is not the real
culprit. A person scarcely ever regards himself as “funny” or
ridiculous. A pupil laughs at another’s error, blunder or joke.
If the sense of humor is enkindled, laughter is the only natural
outcome; the control of one’s impulse to laugh must of course be
taught, yet for school-room purposes it is far more important to be
master of the conditions that provoke laughter.
The treatment recommended for Charles will help to make a man
of him, and other pupils will respect the teacher all the more if he
prizes a talent which wins the applause of all the school.
A teacher who is unable to laugh or to share in that which is
positively humorous is an unlovely person.
“’Twas the saying of an ancient sage that humor was the only test
of gravity, and gravity of humor. For a subject that would not bear
raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious
examination was certainly false wit.”
—Shaftsbury.
Joseph Levy and Sadie Higgins, two pupils in the fourth grade of
the Pittsburgh Avenue School, Minneapolis, were talking without
permission, when Miss Bowen, who was conducting an arithmetic
lesson on the other side of the room, saw them.
“Joseph and Sadie! Did anyone give you Talking Without
permission to talk?” she inquired. “I want Permission
you all to know (she rose from her seat and addressed the whole
room) that hereafter there is to be no talking without permission. If
it is absolutely necessary that you speak to someone, hold up your
hand.”
The next day Sadie “forgot.” Miss Bowen was busy helping another
pupil. She waited until she had finished. In the meantime, several
minutes had passed. Sadie had found out what she wanted and was
working on her arithmetic lesson, when Miss Bowen went over to
Sadie’s desk, pulled her out of the seat by her arm, and said so the
whole room could hear, “Sadie Higgins, I’m not going to tell you
more than once that you have to ask permission when you want to
speak. Do you hear me?... Well, sit down and see that the next time
you wish to speak, you ask my consent before doing so.”
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
Miss Bowen disturbed the whole room much more than any
talking between Sadie and Joseph did when she called the attention
of the other pupils to the fact that Joseph and Sadie were talking
without permission.
Every teacher should remember that children need constantly to
be reminded of what they should do until the act becomes a habit.
Miss Bowen did Sadie an injustice, since the child had not been
accustomed to ask permission when she wished to speak.
It was very well for Miss Bowen to wait until she had finished the
work at hand before speaking to Sadie, but she should have
remembered that the child had had time to forget that she had
spoken. To pull her out of her seat and publicly scold her was entirely
out of place.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
Do not over-indulge a talkative child. In a kind but firm way tell
her that you have some important work to do or that you must see
Miss Belmont before school begins. If she persists in talking with you
after school, answer her questions politely but hurriedly, while you
put on your wraps and say as you go out of the room, “I have to leave
now. Are you ready to go home?”
COMMENTS
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
Insist that the work in hand shall not be interrupted. If for one day
the teacher will persistently refuse to recognize questions spoken
aloud without permission, a long step will have been taken in the
direction of correcting the bad habit.
Allow two or three minutes between classes, if necessary, for
answering the questions of the division which has been studying.
Henry should be led to raise his hand if he needs help, and his
difficulty should be settled in turn—after Joe’s has been explained.
The bold pupil would lose some of his smartness if he were fully
occupied with work. Keeping the pupils constantly busy in the
arithmetic class, by dictating rapidly and putting a premium upon
getting through quickly, prevents discussions upon unessential parts
of the work, such as whether or not the same example had been given
out before; the children do not have time to consider the matter.
COMMENTS
It is not difficult to make children see that the rights of others are
infringed by interruptions such as speaking aloud without
permission. Once this is understood, the teacher must stick to her
refusal to recognize such interruptions. When the children
understand that they are expected to keep silent, they form the habit
of waiting for permission before asking questions. Unless the teacher
shows respect for the lesson in hand—not allowing her attention to
be distracted from it—she can not expect the pupils to do so.
Some teachers are afraid to refuse to answer questions at the time
they arise in the child’s mind, fearing to bring the child to a standstill
in his work and that he will be idle unless his difficulty is settled. It is
a part of a child’s education to learn to be independent, to solve his
own difficulties. Too much dependence on “Teacher” unfits the pupil
for progress in his lessons or in anything else.