Chairman Mao souvenir statues mustn't deviate
Source: Xinhua |
June 22, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CENTRAL China's Hunan Province has had enough of substandard Chairman Mao statues.
From now on, mass-produced statues must pass a strict examination by at least five experts to ensure that the expression, hairstyle, facial and body features, costume and posture reflect Mao's real appearance.
The Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision in Hunan Province officially promulgated new technical standards yesterday in Shaoshan City, hometown of the founder of the People's Republic of China.
"The move is expected to curtail the production and sale of low-quality Mao statues that harm the tourism market and people's feeling for the great man," said the bureau's chief engineer, Jiang Tao.
Tourists visiting Shaoshan have complained about the inferior quality of the statues sold by peddlers and small stalls.
Some of the souvenirs on sale were physically disproportional while others were made with low-quality materials in a slipshod way.
"Many statues don't look like the man himself. Some have a weird appearance and others have obvious quality defects," said 67-year-old Shaoshan resident Mao Anping, a relative of the "Great Helmsman."
Starting in July, Mao statues failing to meet the new technical criteria may be confiscated and destroyed, said Yu Guoxin, a Shaoshan government official.
Mao Xinyu, a grandson of Chairman Mao, said the enactment of the technical standards is "unique, extraordinary and significant."
"The establishment of the standards reflects people's respect and love for my grandfather," he said.
"It will have significant bearing on the promotion of China's revolutionary traditions and patriotism," said the 40-year-old Mao Xinyu.
The regulation lays out specifications for the statues' appearance, thickness, hardness and materials.
Copper alloys, silver and unsaturated polyester resin are OK. Gesso, plastic and composition brass are out.
The Shaoshan souvenir market reported sales income of 124 million yuan (US$18.2 million) in 2009, 70 percent of it from Mao statues, the city's tourism bureau said.
A survey conducted by Beijing-based Horizon Research Consultancy Group in 2008 in 40 Chinese cities and towns showed 11 percent of Chinese worship Mao statues at home.
A lot of people ask Mao to bless their career, studies, luck and life.
Only a few companies in Shaoshan are able to produce qualified statues, said Yu.
"Many people only recognize the image of Mao impersonators, and I'm afraid the new products may not become popular," said Xia Youxin, curator of Shaoshan Mao Zedong Memorial Museum.
From now on, mass-produced statues must pass a strict examination by at least five experts to ensure that the expression, hairstyle, facial and body features, costume and posture reflect Mao's real appearance.
The Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision in Hunan Province officially promulgated new technical standards yesterday in Shaoshan City, hometown of the founder of the People's Republic of China.
"The move is expected to curtail the production and sale of low-quality Mao statues that harm the tourism market and people's feeling for the great man," said the bureau's chief engineer, Jiang Tao.
Tourists visiting Shaoshan have complained about the inferior quality of the statues sold by peddlers and small stalls.
Some of the souvenirs on sale were physically disproportional while others were made with low-quality materials in a slipshod way.
"Many statues don't look like the man himself. Some have a weird appearance and others have obvious quality defects," said 67-year-old Shaoshan resident Mao Anping, a relative of the "Great Helmsman."
Starting in July, Mao statues failing to meet the new technical criteria may be confiscated and destroyed, said Yu Guoxin, a Shaoshan government official.
Mao Xinyu, a grandson of Chairman Mao, said the enactment of the technical standards is "unique, extraordinary and significant."
"The establishment of the standards reflects people's respect and love for my grandfather," he said.
"It will have significant bearing on the promotion of China's revolutionary traditions and patriotism," said the 40-year-old Mao Xinyu.
The regulation lays out specifications for the statues' appearance, thickness, hardness and materials.
Copper alloys, silver and unsaturated polyester resin are OK. Gesso, plastic and composition brass are out.
The Shaoshan souvenir market reported sales income of 124 million yuan (US$18.2 million) in 2009, 70 percent of it from Mao statues, the city's tourism bureau said.
A survey conducted by Beijing-based Horizon Research Consultancy Group in 2008 in 40 Chinese cities and towns showed 11 percent of Chinese worship Mao statues at home.
A lot of people ask Mao to bless their career, studies, luck and life.
Only a few companies in Shaoshan are able to produce qualified statues, said Yu.
"Many people only recognize the image of Mao impersonators, and I'm afraid the new products may not become popular," said Xia Youxin, curator of Shaoshan Mao Zedong Memorial Museum.
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