Used in the political and administrative context, it means a permanent dossier or archival system that records the "performance and attitudes" of citizens of mainland China.
[3][4] There are two copies for adults: one held on behalf of their work unit by its supervisory organization, and the other at the local Public Security Bureau (PSB).
[8] During the Maoist era, these dossiers were consulted by work unit officials as they made decisions about the major life events of those under their control.
As late as 2003, academic Zhou Jinghao could write that, "A work unit controls employees basically through the dang'an (personnel dossier) system.
According to BBC journalist Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, "A black mark against you – a bad school report, a disagreement with your boss, a visit to a psychiatrist – all can travel with you for the rest of your life..."[11] They are also used in investigations by the Ministry of State Security.
Consequently the dossier discourages any 'errant' behaviour and is seen as aiding the harmonious nature of the person’s work unit.An embryonic dang'an is created when individuals enter the school system.
[18] American education activist John Taylor Gatto, for example, draws comparisons to dang'an in his critique of the United States school system.