is that a root in your hand or are you just pleased to see me?

Apparently, Zheng Dexun, the chap in the picture, dug this thing out of the ground whole and entire: it’s a root, but the face supposedly resembles that found on idols and bronzes produced by the ancient Sanxingdui civilisation, which once inhabited the same part of Sichuan.

I think farmer Zheng is having a laugh. More generally, I think it’s another example of Shanzhai culture, especially the part pertaining to parody and tinkering. Culture jamming is supposed to be the property of the young, hip and urban, but the Chinese peasantry has quite a lot of form in this regard. Check out this lot: submarines, flying machines and UFOs, amongst other things.

On a sort of related note, here are some Chinese students praying to the winner of the local equivalent of the X factor for success in their examination results. More piss-taking? Maybe; probably even. On the other hand, acts of worship seem to be undertaken on a more generally casual basis in China – accepted in the spirit of why the hell not – and if you believe that success breeds success, then I guess you can see this belief being put into action.

Comments

[Richard J]

Maybe; probably even. On the other hand, acts of worship seem to be undertaken on a more generally casual basis in China – accepted in the spirit of why the hell not

I suppose the obvious thing that comes to mind here is the Taiping rebellion, with the rather awkward seniority problem caused by the second-in-command declaring (to resolve a short-term problem caused by the leader's absence) that whereas the leader was (as previously accepted) Christ's brother, he had a direct line to God...

[jamie]

I was thinking of the half hour or so I once spent watching a buddhist priest bang out blessings in calligraphy on an office table and fax them to his followers at fifty quid a pop.

[Richard J]

That doesn't sound too different to the Kabbabalalah red thread malarkey, to be honest...

[ajay]

On the other hand, acts of worship seem to be undertaken on a more generally casual basis in China – accepted in the spirit of why the hell not

"The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful."

[Richard J]

Enlightenment: John Locke and Edward Gibbon.

21st century: Irish twins with stupid hair.

Exhibit #245 for the collapse of Western Civilisation.

[Dan Hardie]

Richard, Gibbon's contemporaries couldn't watch 'The X Factor', but they could toddle down to Bedlam and pay a few coppers for the privilege of watching the lunatics being flogged.

[Richard J]

True, and bear baiting wasn't banned until 1835...

[Dan Hardie]

You know, Richard, you and I are going to regret our musings on our thread, just as soon as regular 'Blood and Treasure' reader Simon Cowell announces the launch of his new show 'Bedlam Idol'.

[ajay]

Nonsense, I'm sure Simon Cowell would never stoop so low as to put someone with learning difficulties in front of a TV audience of millions for his personal profit, never mind the psychological harm it might do her.