Campus goddess statues get academics' features
By Xu Chi |
December 8, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A UNIVERSITY in northwest China has attracted scorn and ridicule for erecting statues that combine the bodies of mythological goddesses with the features of female board members.
The two "guardian" statues in the Modern College of Northwest University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, are ostensibly classical Greek goddess Athena and Chinese mythological figure Nuwa.
But closer examination reveals that the robed statue of Athena - goddess of wisdom, among other things - has the face of a Chinese woman.
An inscription on the statue explains that the likeness is that of a university board member, surnamed Guo.
The statue of Nuwa - an ancient Chinese goddess said to have created mankind and repaired the wall of heaven - bears a resemblance to another university board member, surnamed Li.
The statues were erected in May this year to honor the two women.
But the gesture has led to heated online debate after photographs were uploaded.
Many web users were amused but embarrassed by the statues, which one described as "a mixture of images of familiar goddesses and of women I don't know."
Some web users said the statues showed a Chinese trait of deference toward authorities.
"It's disgusting. It seems like the university is expending more effort in flattering bosses than teaching students," said one netizen on Weibo.com.
Others made a link to wealth. A netizen on bbs.ifeng.com asked: "Are the statues trying to enlighten us that in China anyone can be a god or goddess, as long as they are rich enough?"
A university official, surnamed Cao, told Shanghai Daily the statues were simply artworks given features from life.
He said they were to honor the two board members for their contributions to the university.
However, Cao admitted that the university hadn't considered the possible interpretation that they were placing two founders on a level with goddesses.
The two "guardian" statues in the Modern College of Northwest University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, are ostensibly classical Greek goddess Athena and Chinese mythological figure Nuwa.
But closer examination reveals that the robed statue of Athena - goddess of wisdom, among other things - has the face of a Chinese woman.
An inscription on the statue explains that the likeness is that of a university board member, surnamed Guo.
The statue of Nuwa - an ancient Chinese goddess said to have created mankind and repaired the wall of heaven - bears a resemblance to another university board member, surnamed Li.
The statues were erected in May this year to honor the two women.
But the gesture has led to heated online debate after photographs were uploaded.
Many web users were amused but embarrassed by the statues, which one described as "a mixture of images of familiar goddesses and of women I don't know."
Some web users said the statues showed a Chinese trait of deference toward authorities.
"It's disgusting. It seems like the university is expending more effort in flattering bosses than teaching students," said one netizen on Weibo.com.
Others made a link to wealth. A netizen on bbs.ifeng.com asked: "Are the statues trying to enlighten us that in China anyone can be a god or goddess, as long as they are rich enough?"
A university official, surnamed Cao, told Shanghai Daily the statues were simply artworks given features from life.
He said they were to honor the two board members for their contributions to the university.
However, Cao admitted that the university hadn't considered the possible interpretation that they were placing two founders on a level with goddesses.
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