Archive for the 'History' Category
Millionaire to build Chinese Hollywood
One hundred and forty eight years ago, the Garden of Perfect Brightness (also known as Old Summer Palace) - a famous Chinese landmark was burnt down and pillaged by the British and French during the Opium War. The garden desiplayed its beauty through its many lakes, gardens and palaces that entertained and pleasured many emperors. At present day, a rags to riches Chinese millionaire named Xu Wenrong hope to, in his words, ‘wipe away this disgrace’ through the construction of an imitation of the 18th Century garden that has become a memorial of national humiliation.
Mr. Xu, who made his fortune from the entertainment industry will be recreating this ‘Chinese Hollywood’ as Mr. Xu describes it as, in Zhejian which will be used for Chinese imperial soap operas and as a tourist attraction - combining his patriotism and instinct of a good business opportunity. The idea faired well with China’s Communist Party, winning their approval.
The 400 hectare garden near Hengdian Town is predicted by Mr. Xu’s company, Hengdian Group to take 5 years (Opens in 2013). Something to add to your places-to-vist list in China soon?
If you are in a very generous mood in ‘restoring China’s wealth and cultural pride, you can help donate some of the 20 billion yuan ($A3.09 billion) that is required to complete the project. People who donate 500 million yuan or more would be honoured with full-body golden statues of themselves on the site.
Source:
TheFirstPost
SMH
Samurai dog
We all know of Ein, the data dog from the Bebop crew or Kiba’s comrade and best friend, Akamaru, but have you heard of a samurai with a dog as a sidekick?
A high-ranking samurai in the mid to late Edo period (18th-19th Century) had a one of a kind four legged companion! Proof of this is shown through the world’s only authentic armour of a wooden helmet and coat of black-lacquered scale mail that is fitted for a dog. However, it’s suggested that the dog has never worn the armour into battle and more likely have worned it for parades.
Historians believe that the armour belonged to a samurai named named Hata Roku Ryouzae-mon Tokiyoshi who had a dog called Inu-jishi (meaning Dog Lion).
The samurai dog armour is now located in a UK museum. Gives a whole new meaning to man’s best friend indeed!
Source:
Pink Tentacle
Toraba
Creepiest place in Asia
Looking to make this Halloween special? Well, why not visit Bhangarh a little town in the Rajasthan region north of Jaipur, India. It is ranked as the world’s number two creepiest place, and India’s most haunted place. Bhangarh, is arguably Asia’s creepiest location!
So how did Bhangarh, a surely harmless and abandoned town that’s swarmed by tourists in the day and residence to jumping monkeys earn its name as Asia’s creepiest place and also an entrance sign that says “STAYING HERE AFTER SUNSET IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED”?
Read the rest of this entry »
China’s most expensive painting: Execution
Execution, is its name and its the most expensive Chinese comtemporary art sold to date at 2.9 million pounds ($5.9 million) in a London Auction! The oil painting was painted by Yue Min Jun, a famous Beijing artist for his other works such as “The Pope” which sold for 2.15 million British pounds ($4.37 million) and “The Massacre at Chios” which sold for $4.1 million. But none has been as successful as ‘Execution’!
But all great paintings must have a greater meaning behind it to make it so controversial, and for the ‘Execution’ its no different. So what make this artwork worth 2.9 million pounds apart from the fact that they’re all laughing in a creepy way? Well, as the name has hinted, Yue Min Jun was inspired to paint ‘Execution’ by the 1989 Tian an men Square event. For those that don’t know, it was a protest that resulted in what many has called a ‘massacre’ by the Chinese government. It was also the event which created ‘Tank man’, an unknown protester that stopped advancing PLA tanks. However, the artist said that:
“But while Tiananmen served as the catalyst, the oil painting should not be seen as depicting what happened at Tiananmen” - CNN
Lost city of Mu discovered: The Asian Atlantis
An underwater rock formation site off the Island of Yonaguni Jima, Japan is said to be an ancient city that sunk during an earthquake 2-3,000 years ago. Masaaki Kimura, the geologist that puts out this claim is convinced that the underwater site is a 5,000 year old city that might just be the Lost city of Mu, which is the equivalent of the ‘Asian Atlantis’.
Mr Kamura believes the city had a castle, a shrine, a triumphal arch, Moai-like statues found on Easter Island and even a coliseum once upon a time, when the city was above water. - Channel 4
However, skeptics such as Robert Schoch, a professor of science and mathematics who has dived at the site believe the rock formation are formed naturally. He said:
“It’s basic geology and classic stratigraphy for sandstones, which tend to break along planes and give you these very straight edges, particularly in an area with lots of faults and tectonic activity.” - National Geographic
In rebuttal, Mr Kamura says that some of the rock are shaped too similar to animals to be natural and must have been man-made. He further stated that the ruins must have looked like an ancient Roman city!
Here is a footage from Reuters showing the underwater site at Yonaguni Jima Island:
Source:
Channel4
Reuters
National Geographic