Angry Chinese Blogger
 |
 |
Angry Chinese Blogger:
The news and views about China that the big media can't, or won't, tell you The is no single truth Menu: Home |
|
Entries By Country
   |
Maozilla: It's big, it's ugly, and it's coming to Tibet.
«
H E
»
News and Politics :: Human rights and personal freedoms :: Sino-Tibet :: News and Perspectives ::
email
posted Tuesday, 18 April 2006
It's big, its grey, and it's just arrived in Tibet.
This month has seen the arrival of something new and exciting in the isolated mountain kingdom of Tibet; a giant statue of China's late Chairman Mao which is to be erected in 贡嘎县 (Gonggar County), 山南地区 (Shannan Prefecture), close to the Tibetan capital of 拉薩(Lhasa/Lasa), where it is to stand pride of place as part of efforts to commemorate the 30th anniversary the Chairman's death
According to Xinhua, China's state controlled news agency, the statue has been carved from granite and, when erected, will stand 7m meters tall and be mounted on a 5 meter pedestal; making it the largest carved representation of Mao anywhere in China.
The statue, which weighs in excess of 30 tons and took 9 months to carve, is to be the centerpiece of a newly constructed public square, which itself will measure an impressive 40,000*2 meter, and is scheduled for completion this summer.
It's base is said to have been been hardened sufficiently to withstand both earthquake and bomb attacks.
Sponsorship?
Part of the cost of the statue and the square is being born by sponsorship, with 6.5 Million Yuan coming from the people of 長沙市 (Changsha City) 湖南省 (Hunan Province).
長沙 (Changsha) was Chairman Mao's home during his teenage years and it is claimed that he developed his ideas on 'collective action' while studying there.
A New Look?
Although the statue depicts Mao wearing his customary 'Mao Suit' it differ slightly from most previous statues of the Chairman in that its features have been adjusted to better suit the present day mood, and the region it which it will be based.
According to Zhu Weijing, the President of the Changsha Sculpture Institute, and the statue's creator, Mao's image has been give a rounder face in order to better fit with Tibetan cultural preferences.
Zhu also stated that he tried to make Mao look more at ease, by giving the statue a more 'intimate' posture, that was designed to meet the needs of the present day, rather than to reflect those of the past.
Hail the Conquering Hero
Officially, Mao's statue is being built with the full support and cooperation of the local people, who showed a great eagerness to host a tribute to the former Chinese leader.
Unofficially though, news of the statue's construction has received a far colder welcome from some group, who have pointedly noted that Chairman Mao was the Chinese leader who ordered the invasion of Tibet during the 1950s, and the destruction of many of its temples during the Cultural Revolution. Meaning that many Tibetans see him as a Conqueror, rather than a liberator.
As such some China watchers have decryed the statue as being 'a blatant piece of Han triumphalism', designed to 'remind Tibetans that they are a conquered people living under foreign rule'.
Such has been the feeling that some have even gone further; describing the raising of a statue of Mao, within a stone's throw of the Tibetan capital, as being ' an insult on a par to erecting a statue of a 東条英機 (Tojo Hideki) over the mass grave of Nanking'.
State of Play
At the official level, Tibet is guaranteed a high level of independence under Section 6 of Chinese constitution; which provides the sub state with the legal right to maintain its own cultural and religious identity.
In reality though, Beijing commonly encourages native Tibetans to take on Han traits, under the claim that they are advancing by discarding their own 'outdated cultural epitaphs' in favor of 'more advanced' Chinese practices, and routinely bans any aspects of Tibet’s indigenous culture that separates Tibetan and Chinese identities, or which Beijing fears could be used to encourage Tibetan nationalism.
These cultural restrictions include a blanket prohibition on the possession of images of the Dalai Lama, or a recording of his voice.
Often, the only aspects of traditional Tibetan culture which are allowed to be practiced freely are those practiced in remote rural areas that remain outside of direct Han control, and those in Han areas which hold little bearing on modern day life and thus can be used both to promote tourism or to spread the idea that Tibetan traditions are ‘relics of the past’ that is maintained only out of respect.
On top of the erosion and prohibition of Tibetan culture, it is currently Chinese policy to encourage Han Chinese to migrate to Tibet, where they are often offered jobs that are unobtainable to Tibetans, and to provide 'sweeteners' to Han industries, including land confiscated from Tibetans, if they relocate to Tibet.
Even though a substantial amount of industry has relocated to Tibet, few jobs have been created for Tibetans, with many jobs going to Han migrants, and senior positions only being offered to Tibetans collaborators who are seen as being 'sufficiently Han-like'.
Current statistics do however indicate that there are now over 7.5 million Han Chinese in Tibet, and that they now outnumber the native Tibetans population by at least so 500,000 people.
Such figures exclude the 'floating population'; Han who are resident in Tibet, but who have not officially registered as being residents.
Head Count
In total, over 1 Million Tibetans are said to have died as a result of 'maltreatment' Since the PLA takeover of the region in 1951. However, these figures are disputed, and accurate statistics are almost impossible to obtain.
This month has seen the arrival of something new and exciting in the isolated mountain kingdom of Tibet; a giant statue of China's late Chairman Mao which is to be erected in 贡嘎县 (Gonggar County), 山南地区 (Shannan Prefecture), close to the Tibetan capital of 拉薩(Lhasa/Lasa), where it is to stand pride of place as part of efforts to commemorate the 30th anniversary the Chairman's death
According to Xinhua, China's state controlled news agency, the statue has been carved from granite and, when erected, will stand 7m meters tall and be mounted on a 5 meter pedestal; making it the largest carved representation of Mao anywhere in China.
The statue, which weighs in excess of 30 tons and took 9 months to carve, is to be the centerpiece of a newly constructed public square, which itself will measure an impressive 40,000*2 meter, and is scheduled for completion this summer.
It's base is said to have been been hardened sufficiently to withstand both earthquake and bomb attacks.
Sponsorship?
Part of the cost of the statue and the square is being born by sponsorship, with 6.5 Million Yuan coming from the people of 長沙市 (Changsha City) 湖南省 (Hunan Province).
| "[The statue] is a gift from Changsha Official, 長沙市 (Changsha City), 湖南省 (Hunan Province) |
長沙 (Changsha) was Chairman Mao's home during his teenage years and it is claimed that he developed his ideas on 'collective action' while studying there.
A New Look?
Although the statue depicts Mao wearing his customary 'Mao Suit' it differ slightly from most previous statues of the Chairman in that its features have been adjusted to better suit the present day mood, and the region it which it will be based.
According to Zhu Weijing, the President of the Changsha Sculpture Institute, and the statue's creator, Mao's image has been give a rounder face in order to better fit with Tibetan cultural preferences.
| “I tried to understand how Tibetans feel towards Mao. Because they have deep feelings about Buddha, I tried to make Mao more like that, with a plumper face.'” Zhu Weijing, President, Changsha Sculpture Institute. |
Zhu also stated that he tried to make Mao look more at ease, by giving the statue a more 'intimate' posture, that was designed to meet the needs of the present day, rather than to reflect those of the past.
| "I noticed that [Mao] liked standing with both hands behind his back. It made him look more intimate and more easygoing. [In earlier statues] Chairman Mao either waved his hand to lead us forward or stood to receive the Red Guards. But now the times are different and this statue is especially for Tibet." Zhu Weijing, Designer, Mao's Statue |
Hail the Conquering Hero
Officially, Mao's statue is being built with the full support and cooperation of the local people, who showed a great eagerness to host a tribute to the former Chinese leader.
| "Many Tibetan people suggested we should have a statue of Chairman Mao to show our gratitude," Communist Party Official speaking though Xinhua |
Unofficially though, news of the statue's construction has received a far colder welcome from some group, who have pointedly noted that Chairman Mao was the Chinese leader who ordered the invasion of Tibet during the 1950s, and the destruction of many of its temples during the Cultural Revolution. Meaning that many Tibetans see him as a Conqueror, rather than a liberator.
As such some China watchers have decryed the statue as being 'a blatant piece of Han triumphalism', designed to 'remind Tibetans that they are a conquered people living under foreign rule'.
Such has been the feeling that some have even gone further; describing the raising of a statue of Mao, within a stone's throw of the Tibetan capital, as being ' an insult on a par to erecting a statue of a 東条英機 (Tojo Hideki) over the mass grave of Nanking'.
State of Play
At the official level, Tibet is guaranteed a high level of independence under Section 6 of Chinese constitution; which provides the sub state with the legal right to maintain its own cultural and religious identity.
| “In the past 40 years or so, Tibet has inherited and developed its cultural heritage, Tibetan customs and religions have been fully respected, and people have enjoyed full freedom of religious faith” Xinhua |
In reality though, Beijing commonly encourages native Tibetans to take on Han traits, under the claim that they are advancing by discarding their own 'outdated cultural epitaphs' in favor of 'more advanced' Chinese practices, and routinely bans any aspects of Tibet’s indigenous culture that separates Tibetan and Chinese identities, or which Beijing fears could be used to encourage Tibetan nationalism.
These cultural restrictions include a blanket prohibition on the possession of images of the Dalai Lama, or a recording of his voice.
| "The Dalai Lama is not a simple or a pure religious figure. He is a political exile who undertakes secessionist activities abroad" Liu Jianchao, Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China (2005) |
Often, the only aspects of traditional Tibetan culture which are allowed to be practiced freely are those practiced in remote rural areas that remain outside of direct Han control, and those in Han areas which hold little bearing on modern day life and thus can be used both to promote tourism or to spread the idea that Tibetan traditions are ‘relics of the past’ that is maintained only out of respect.
On top of the erosion and prohibition of Tibetan culture, it is currently Chinese policy to encourage Han Chinese to migrate to Tibet, where they are often offered jobs that are unobtainable to Tibetans, and to provide 'sweeteners' to Han industries, including land confiscated from Tibetans, if they relocate to Tibet.
Even though a substantial amount of industry has relocated to Tibet, few jobs have been created for Tibetans, with many jobs going to Han migrants, and senior positions only being offered to Tibetans collaborators who are seen as being 'sufficiently Han-like'.
Current statistics do however indicate that there are now over 7.5 million Han Chinese in Tibet, and that they now outnumber the native Tibetans population by at least so 500,000 people.
Such figures exclude the 'floating population'; Han who are resident in Tibet, but who have not officially registered as being residents.
Head Count
In total, over 1 Million Tibetans are said to have died as a result of 'maltreatment' Since the PLA takeover of the region in 1951. However, these figures are disputed, and accurate statistics are almost impossible to obtain.
View Comments/Add a Comment (2)
