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Just another WordPress.com weblogWhat are the Summer Palace’s 12 Bronze Animal Heads?
According to the Chinese zodiac, 12 animals, namely, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig rotate in an established order for every 12 years, as well as every day. For example, 2008 was the year of rat while 2009 is the year of ox. Similarly, in ancient China, one day is also divided into 12 sections, with each section covering two hours. From 11pm to 1am is the first section called ‘Zi Shi’, which means ‘the time period of rat’. In short, the zodiac is used in not only naming years but also measuring hours. 
And these twelve bronze sculptures depicting the twelve animals were made for a Zodiac fountain, or water clock in the Old Summer Palace, also known as Yuanmingyuan on the outskirts of Beijing.
Cai Mingchao: A National Hero or a fool for his auction?
There are the two Qing Dynasty bronze animal heads, taken away from the Old Summer Palace. They used to belong to China, but after 19th century colonial invasions of China, these animal heads, 12 in total were stolen and disappeared for almost a century. In recently years, under the help of some patriotic collectors of antiques, 5 of them have already back to China. But some of the rest were still not heard of and some of them belong to certain collectors. Since these animal heads are indispensable part of Summer Palace and Chinese culture, we are longing for their returning to China some day. Surprisingly, after the traditional Chinese New Year, two of them were reported to be part of a giant Yves Saint Laurent art auction in Paris. Since they were stolen by someone, Chinese people believe that they belong to China and no one has the right to auction them without Chinese government’s permission. However, Yves Saint Laurent art auction insisted on doing it without any concerns about hurting the Chinese feelings. Therefore, on March 5, these two animal heads were auctioned and taken by some mysterious collector at the price of 31.49 million euros. Just when all the Chinese wondered who the buyer was, he, Mr. Cai Mingchao as an antique collector, stepped up and claimed in a conference press that he took it upon himself to secure both bronze pieces, but he was refusing to pay for them as a mark of political protest. Therefore, recently, most of Chinese newspapers ran with the story of Cai Mingchao and the whole nation launched a heated discussion on whether Mr. Cai was a nation hero or a fool for his auction.
Some people stood by his side, proclaiming that the Chinese government had tried to block the sale of the antiquities with official complaints and an 11th-hour legal challenge, but the French government intentionally refused that, he was a hero who succeeded in avoiding these heads’ falling into foreigner’s hands. Others challenged him saying that his individual action damaged the Chinese long-lasting hospitality and credit. Thus, the controversy has escalated and the bronzes have become too hot to touch.
I watched a TV interview of Mr Cai tomorrow and listend to his motivation of doing that. It seemed to me that he considered his pirate move to bid up to €12m ($15.1m) on both pieces as a gift for China and it was totally the action of an individual. I can’t say whether he is right or wrong, though there are a number of discussions on that. But I do hope this auction controversy can end quickly, and someone or governments can stand out to work it out. Anyhow, these two bronzeds have been on the way back home and collecting all the 12 animal heads together is all the Chinese people’s dream for almost a century.
What will happen to these animal head? Let’s wait for the final result.
Here is the video!
Sorry for forgetting post the video! The link is http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/13/world/asia/20090313-malnutrition-audioss/index.html?ref=world#
India Struggles with Hunger!
This is my first time to see such a shock video, which I think I will never forget in my rest of life. Share the video with my friends and I hope everyone seeing the video can join with me to help these starving yet stuggling-for-survival babies out!
To be honest, since I grew up in a family in which my parents’ salary are enough to keep our family in comfort, I never think about this terrible famine problem and naively think all people on the earth will definitely have their way to feed themselves. However, look at those little babies. I am so ashamed of what I was thinking about in the past and I hope I can do something to help them. And I am pretty sure that besides these babies, there must be more of the same kind around the world, in India, China, and many African countries. I can’t help think how we can work out a project to protect them from being starved and to enable them to lead a happy and comfortable life. I know there are a lot of people who have been already working on this, but obviousely, the more people get invovled, the easier and sooner the problem will be solved. I am sure it’s not just about a call, but about an act! And I know it’s easier said than done.
By the way, I want to introduce a website, through which you can really contribute your love and help those who are in famine. There is the link http://www.freerice.com/. It’s not an ad! Have time and do it.
“Slumdog Millionaire” takes the best picture！
Slumdog Millionaire won best picture today, earning a total of eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards!
I saw this movie a long time ago. At that time, I thought it was an excellent movie, but I never thought it could won 8 Oscars today. When first seeing this movie, I found that it reflects almost the same theme as City of Angel. However, technically, they were on the different levels. Some one say that the reason for its success lies in the curiosity that developed countries show about the developing countries. Who knows? It finally proved it was a memorable picture.
I can remember the situation when I finished the movie in a theatre. I was deeply moved by the movie, especially by the subtitles added intentionally at the very end of the movie, “don’t leave for there is a dance right soon.” I followed their suggestion and didn’t rise but to shift a relaxing position to appreciate Indian-style dancing. It’s fantastic and full of vigor, which made me pretty excited. I knew this year 2008 would be different for the world because there was such a telling picture!
Kate Winslet and the Reader
It’s really wonderful to know that Kate Winslet finally won her Oscar Best Actress because she has been snubbed by the Oscars for 5 times. It’s really great! No wonder it is said that this year belongs to Winslet.
But don’t get me wrong! I am not a fan of her. But for me, to choose Winslet starring Hanna is a fairly wise act. I can still remember when I finished reading this novel The Reader at one setting in a bookstore 2 years ago, Winlet’s image as Hanna rose gradually in my mind. They were almost the same. Both of them, high in stature, show in themselves the beauty of chubbiness and fortitude. A German woman in her middle age who went through the horrible WWII! Luckily, the masculinity and femininity combine naturally as a whole in Winslet, and made her the only actress suitable for Hanna.
Honestly speaking, novel-adapted plays are difficult to be popular because there is a time limit in movies. Due to that, the high spot of novel have to be presented in a condensed 2-hour movie. Fortunately, The Reader makes it! It sufficiently presents the pith of the novel. Undoubtedly, it is partly due to the excellent performance of Winslet.
The Reader is a 2009-worth-seeing movie and Kate Winslet deserves her Oscar!
Melissa Leo, a wonderful actress breaks out!
Melissa Leo, a veteran of the independent film scene and shows such as “Homicide,” has succeeding in being recognized as an excellent actress in her work Frozen River, who is now nominated in Oscar Award.
I stayed up late yesterday to finish reading our book, and the author took Homicide: Life on the Street as an example to illustrate how African-American women’s roles were presented through the media. Still immersed in the story of Homicide, I found an article about an actress, who once participated in Homicide. It was an interview given by CNN and they talked with Melissa about her new movie Frozen River, the wide recognization of such a small starting-off movie, reflections behind the movie, her expectation on her nomination and her following works. Everything she gave seems simple, light and quick, but from her answers, I see an actress who really loves performing and regards it as her part of life.
I saw the movie a couple of days ago, at the suggestion of a friend of mine. She said it was the best movie of 2008. And I was impressed by it. It was a realistic movie, showing the present-day horrifying society problems, illegal immigration, ethnic tension, depressed real estate, high gas prices and dire poverty. It is a story of reality, totally different from the traditional “It-is-a-wonderful-life”. However, the heroine in it showed an indomitable courage of living on, which for me weighs even more. I was moved by the movie and got to know the actress Melissa Leo. It was quite a coincidence that she also gave her performance in Homicide, which made me know that she had been acting for a dozen of years and talented enough to finally get recognized by all. During the interview, she did’t give any ambitious comments about her recent artistic achievement, she was modest and gentle and always knew what she was talking about. Honestly speaking, I love her attitude to herself, which simutaneously teaches me a lesson.
Frozen River is really a worth-seeing movie and if interested in it, have a look!
I kind of love independent movies, especially
Welcome to my blog :)
Hi everybody,
I am Yan Shi, from China and I am a fist-year graduate student at Baylor University, majoring in American Studies.
I have to say that I have no previous experience in running a blog because I am not such well-arranged person, who can perfect all his stuff. To avoid kind of mess-up is my goal here. I hope you can really enjoy my blog and if you, all guys love to, we can make it a cozzy corner in the big world, sharing our thoughts, our insights, our viewpoints. Since I am from China, my perspective may be a little bit China-oriented and if there is anything not appropriete, do comment about it and let me know.
I really hope I a lot from your guys.
Thanks!
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