Lijia Zhang's Blog, page 9

A disturbing incident involving someone throwing feces in China has reignited the debate about the country ’s moral decline.

A disturbing incident involving someone throwing feces in China has reignited the debate about the country’s moral decline.
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3281313/china-should-make-its-economy-work-its-youth?module=perpetual_scroll_1_RM&pgtype=article As usual, anyone interested in the piece feel free to get in touch.

Han Kang

Delighted to hear that South Korean writer Han Kang has become the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. It’s about time! I read and enjoyed her novel “The Vegetarian”, which powerfully portrays one woman’s mental unraveling. Max Porter, who edited the translation, praised Han as “a vital voice and a writer of extraordinary humanity.”
The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/10/south-korean-author-han-kang-wins-the-2024-nobel-prize-in-literature)

Silk Road

Silk Roads Exhibition at the British Museum

Why has the Silk Road—perhaps more aptly called the Silk Roads, as it was never just a single route—become such a buzzword lately? Can anyone explain this surge of interest? It seems fitting to wonder, especially with two major exhibitions unfolding simultaneously: one at the British Museum, the other at the British Library, focusing on Dunhuang.
The Silk Roads has always captivated me. I’ve wandered through many of the storied cities that dotted its vast expanse: Xi’an, Kashgar, Samarkand, Bukhara, Palmyra, Chennai, Istanbul, and Venice. The name itself stirs visions of caravans snaking across wind-swept dunes, laden with spices destined for bustling bazaars. Yet, it wasn’t only silk or spices that traveled those roads, but ideas, languages, and entire cultures.
The exhibition at the British Museum enchanted me. It was meticulously curated, and many of the displays stirred memories of my own travels. One particularly evocative exhibit featured the legendary “blood-sweating horse.” Ancient Chinese rulers sought swift, powerful horses to outpace their enemies on the battlefield. Zhang Qian, the famed diplomat, discovered such a breed in Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Valley—a region I’ve visited several times. These “heavenly horses” were said to run like the wind, and legend held they sweated blood. Modern scholars now suggest that parasites may have caused this phenomenon, the blood mixing with sweat during exertion.
Another fascinating piece of history highlighted the arrival of the first Christian missionaries to China. Syriac missionaries from the Church of the East, or Nestorians (景教), reached China in 645. In Xi’an, a stele still stands—erected in 781—to commemorate this momentous event.
Next week, I plan to immerse myself in the British Library’s take on the Silk Roads. There’s always more to discover along these ancient routes.

Zionism?

Yuval Noah Harari Wants to Reclaim Zionism

I thought Zionism has a negative connotation. When I saw the title of the interview with the renowned Israeli historian, the author of “Sapiens”, I was intrigued.

https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2024/10/yuval-noah-harari-q-and-a-isreal-palestine/680137/?gift=NfwWKJGW2kZfBeKu-Rl7FRjtF2KGl6lV7-6V5gyhH-w&utm_source=email&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social

My review of black dog

“Black Dog”– A Canine-Themed, Cannes-Winning Chinese Film

What a film! The synopsis might not grab you at first glance, but “Black Dog”, a western-meets-noir, exceeded my expectations. Starring Eddie Peng as Lang, an ex-convict, the story follows his return to his semi-deserted hometown on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert after serving time for a local man’s death. As Lang navigates a barren landscape haunted by packs of stray dogs, he joins a dog-hunting team and encounters a scrappy black stray. The bond they form transforms Lang’s life. Like the dog, Lang is an outsider, and their connection reflects his own struggle for redemption.

This Cannes Un Certain Regard winner stands as a richly deserved accolade—a poignant narrative beautifully told. The film’s themes of friendship, redemption, and the profound relationship between humans and animals thread seamlessly through the story, touching on the universal human experience of seeking belonging in an indifferent world.

Watching “Black Dog” felt like a breath of fresh air—original and enigmatic. From the first frame, I was drawn into Lang’s world, captivated by the tension of what might come next.

The cinematography is stunning. The Gobi landscape feels vast and unforgiving, providing a fitting backdrop for Lang’s quiet internal journey. Both leads, the black dog and the brooding and handsome 帅哥 Lang, captivate in their own way. Even the film’s deadpan humor cuts through the solemnity, adding layers of charm.

The film is undeniably Chinese, rooted in the gritty realism of its setting: dilapidated residential buildings, the character “拆” (demolish) on crumbling walls, a grandmother sitting stoically as life passes by. Yet its story transcends borders—at its heart is a tale of a lonely man and a stray dog, something people from anywhere in the world can relate to.

One minor complain is that there are too many accidents – buses and motorbikes crash too many times – that it feels a bit contrived there. Overall, however, “Black Dog” is a triumph of subtle storytelling, its landscape and characters lingering long after the credits roll.

Srebrenica Genocide

In July 1995, an unspeakable horror unfolded in the quiet mountain town of Srebrenica, nestled in eastern Bosnia, near the Serbian border. Over five harrowing days, more than 8,372 Bosniak Muslims—mostly men and boys—were slaughtered. The perpetrators were soldiers from the Bosnian Serb army and paramilitary units from Serbia, all driven by a chilling vision of ethnic purity. This atrocity would become the first legally recognized genocide in Europe since the close of World War II.

Just last week, I found myself in Sarajevo, upon the invitation of my dear friend Dana, who is currently writing a book chronicling ten genocides from around the globe. Together, we took an organized tour to Srebrenica, a mere three hours’ drive from the capital. The museum and memorial we visited there painted a portrait of devastation that words can scarcely convey. I remember the voice of a mother, breaking as she recounted how her twelve-year-old son was torn from her arms—never to return.

Listening to an audiobook on the Srebrenica genocide prior to our visit, I’d been disturbed by unimaginable details. One horrific story told of Serbian soldiers who brutally cut open a pregnant woman, ripping her unborn twins from her body, only to crush them before her eyes. As in countless other genocides, mass rape was rampant, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives.

This massacre occurred amidst the chaos of the Bosnian War (1992-1995), fueled by the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Decades of religious and ethnic tensions between the region’s Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks flared into open conflict. Bosnian Serb leaders, in a fever of nationalism, sought to carve out a Serb-only state, cleansing their territory of non-Serbs through systematic violence. Thousands of Bosniaks had flocked to Srebrenica, a United Nations-declared “safe area,” in the hopes of protection. But in July 1995, led by General Ratko Mladić, Bosnian Serb forces stormed the town, seizing it despite the presence of UN peacekeepers.

The carnage in Srebrenica stands alongside the brutal four-year Siege of Sarajevo, which claimed 12,000 lives, but in Srebrenica, the death toll climbed over 8,000 in just five days. The tragedy deepened as the world watched and failed to act. Srebrenica, once a symbol of refuge, became a testament to international indifference.

How could such a genocide of this scale occur in the heart of Europe, at the twilight of the 20th century? It defies reason, but history has a cruel way of repeating itself. Today, as I reflect on the echoes of Srebrenica, I cannot help but think of Gaza, of Lebanon—different lands, different times, yet the same heartbreaking refrain: never again.

And yet, it happens again.

My review of All the Lovers in the night

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

I listen to many audiobooks—during the restless nights when sleep eludes me, which is often; on my journeys into town to meet friends, or when traveling abroad, which is also quite often. Years ago, when life was quieter, I used to take notes diligently and write reviews for myself. It was a good habit. I should revive it.

I just finished listening to All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami, the acclaimed author of Breasts and Eggs. My expectations were modest, but I found myself thoroughly absorbed.

Told in the first person, All the Lovers in the Night follows Fuyuko, a woman in her mid-thirties who lives a life steeped in isolation. As a freelance proofreader in Tokyo, her days are spent poring over manuscripts in the confines of her small apartment, her only real connection to the world being Hijiri, her editor—a woman of the same age but with a personality that couldn’t be more different. By a twist of fate, Fuyuko strikes up a friendship with a physics teacher in his fifties, and they begin to meet regularly for coffee. He is the first person with whom she feels a genuine connection.

The novel delves into themes of loneliness, human connection, and the quiet search for meaning. As an extrovert with a busy social life, I am the opposite of Fuyuko in every way, yet I found myself deeply engaged by her story. Her quiet existence resonated with me, in part because Kawakami’s prose is so thoughtful, so attuned to the nuances of solitude.

The ending, with its open ambiguity, is something I particularly appreciated. There is no neatly packaged conclusion—no romantic resolution between these two lonely souls. It’s a smart choice, as the novel is less about the potential for love and more about Fuyuko’s inner transformation. There’s a certain beauty in leaving things unresolved, much like life itself.

Movie Lee

My Review of Movie Lee

The film “Lee”, inspired by the life of model-turned-war photographer Lee Miller, should have been a tribute to a trailblazing woman. I’ve always admired stories of female pioneers, yet this film left me disappointed, despite Kate Winslet’s compelling performance. Winslet, the driving force behind the project, brings depth to her role, but the film itself lacks the originality and complexity such a remarkable figure deserves.

The narrative follows a predictable path, relying on the well-worn interview format. Lee Miller was an extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life, yet in this telling, I struggle to understand what shape her into who she becomes. What compels her to risk her life at the frontlines of World War II, capturing images of devastation? The film offers little insight into her motivations.

There is so much potential material to explore. Lee’s traumatic childhood, marked by sexual assault, is brushed over in a single, fleeting line, with no further exploration of how it influences her character or choices. Likewise, the tension between Lee and her son, who turns out to be the interviewer, hints at unresolved conflict—another missed opportunity to delve deeper into her personal life. “Lee” offers glimpses of a fascinating life but shies away from the very complexities that could have made it truly memorable.

BTW, the film is adapted from her memoir written by Lee’s son, her only child.

My article on the disabled in China

It may be hard to believe, but just before the curtain fell on the Paralympic Games in Paris, an incident involving a disabled individual shocked the nation: a young woman was mocked and attacked for her passion for physical exercise. This is my investigation into the situation for people with disabilities in China. If you’d like to read the full piece, feel free to reach out. Cheers,
https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3276485/rare-disease-china-doctor-wheelchair-top-university-inspires-students?module=perpetual_scroll_1_RM&pgtype=article

Book talk

Online book club with Zhang Lijia
We invite you to the 4th round of our book club! The book club takes place in cooperation with the Confucius Institute Frankfurt. Here’s a revised version of the text:

In this compelling memoir, Zhang Lijia recounts her experiences growing up in Nanjing during the 1980s. She vividly describes the challenges of living in poverty and her defiance against societal norms and expectations. At just 16, she was forced to leave school to take over her mother’s job in a state-owned military factory. However, Lijia was not content to accept her fate. She fought for her freedom and personal growth, ultimately becoming the organizer of the largest workers’ demonstration in Nanjing during the summer of 1989.

Zhang Lijia will join our discussion in person to share insights from her book and her remarkable journey. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the political and social upheavals of the time from the perspective of a courageous and resilient woman!

Book: “Socialism is Great” – A Memoir by ZHANG Lijia
Date: September 13, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This event will take place via the video conference platform Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2164672202
Meeting ID: 216 467 2202
https://www.konfuzius-institut-frankfurt.de/buchclub4/
To register: https://www.konfuzius-institut-frankfurt.de/buchclub4/ To the book: https://www.drachenhaus-verlag.com/es-lebe-der-sozialismus/