![\"0136093172\"](\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20121103065746im_\/http:\/\/www.danwei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/0136093172.jpg\" "\\"0136093172\\"")
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This week\u2019s digest takes us on a trip to the West, to a less familiar part of China. The large inland province of Qinghai is a traditional point of contact between Tibetan, Central Asian Muslim, Mongolian and Han Chinese cultures; but with the lowest GDP of all Chinese regions and the second lowest GDP per capita, it is among the least developed parts of the country. \u2018Memories of Qinghai\u2019, Carrie S\u2019s short travel narrative reflects on the contrast between cultural wealth and economic poverty, giving us insight into the way an East coast dweller may look at Western China. Li Yehang\u2019s \u2018Trip to Qinghai\u2019 focuses more specifically on the practice of Tibetan Buddhism and its broader connection to the Qinghai environment.<\/span><\/p>\n Memories of Qinghai<\/strong> Poverty is the first thing that Carrie S notices when approaching and reaching Qinghai \u2013 a poverty she says people from the coast are no longer familiar with. Later, in the capital city of Xining, what strikes her more precisely is the contrast between the dilapidated 3 star hotel she stays at \u2013 a failed attempt at reproducing the developments of Eastern China \u2013 and the dynamic secret life of halal foodstalls across the street, and the cultural vitality of the Muslim city \u2013 includes the religious assertiveness of Hui women wearing headscarves. Marco Polo translation:\u00a0Memories of Qinghai<\/a><\/em> A trip to Qinghai<\/strong> A visit to Qinghai with a friend \u2013 a Buddhist monk attending religious ceremonies related to a funeral \u2013 is an occasion for Li Yehang to reflect on the origins and evolution of the local religion.<\/p>\n Li Yehang is a Chinese Christian, and often writes about religious issues. His position on Tibetan Buddhism is mixed. He does not share the prejudices of other Buddhists, but sees potential dangers in that particular form of religious practice. Many people have joined the religion as a reaction to the complexities of the modern world, in order to get a sense of belonging. For Li Yehang, such a motivation to join a religion can often go wrong, and lead to idolatry. This is particularly risky in the case of Tibetan Buddhism, which invites practitioners to follow the teachings of a guru to reach enlightenment, with the risk of personality cult developing.<\/p>\n As he travels through Qinghai, Li Yehang is impressed by the vastness and emptiness of the landscape \u2013 large expanses of grass, with no town on the horizon. He reflects on the way this environment shaped the religious traditions of the place, and interprets Tibetan Buddhism as a practice to prevent madnesss on the vast emptiness of the Qinghai\/Tibetan plateau. Three characteristics emerge from his reflection:<\/p>\n As the trip takes him higher up the mountain, Li Yehang starts experiencing altitude sickness, and notices changes in the features of the people, as well as the demography \u2013 most are children or grand-parents, but most of the young people are gone.\u00a0This observation leads him to reflect on the way development and capitalism have disrupted the traditional balance of the culture. Mining and herding fortunes have bred inequalities, which damaged friendships and trust. The young people who went to the cities starting seeking fun, and forgetting old traditions. And in the cities, \u00a0a new trend emerged of businessmen joining the religion to make contacts, and giving donations in order to seem generous \u2013 disrupting the whole system, and encouraging fame- and\u00a0money-seeking among the monks.\u00a0After suffering persecutions under the Cultural Revolution, Tibetan Buddhism has grown back; but its form is changing under the influence of modernity, and some of these new practices are in contradiction with the roots of the religion.<\/p>\n Marco Polo translation:\u00a0A trip to Qinghai<\/a><\/em> All articles in this digest and a large range of other Chinese readings are accessible at\u00a0Marcopoloproject.org<\/a>. Some are available in English, French and Spanish translation. (You can\u00a0join the project<\/a>\u00a0if you\u2019d like to help with translations.)<\/em><\/p>\n Danwei is an affiliate of the\u00a0Australian Centre on China in the World<\/a>\u00a0at The Australian National University. This posting is a result of one project that is part of that on-going collaboration.<\/em><\/p>\n The China Story<\/a>,\u00a0China Heritage Quarterly<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0East Asian History<\/a>\u00a0are publications of the Australian Centre on China in the World.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is the 1510 Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published on\u00a0the Chinese web, with links to translations on the\u00a0Marco Polo Project. This week\u2019s digest takes us on a trip to the West, to a less familiar … Continue reading
\nThis is the 1510 Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published on\u00a0the Chinese web, with links to translations on the\u00a0Marco Polo Project.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\nBy Carrie S, 30 October 2012<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOn her visit to the plateau, she notes that the rich resources, rare plants, or large photovoltaic installations often do not benefit the locals \u2013 who, in the case of solar energy plants, don\u2019t even understand what these fields of black panels might be. Yet she also notes an interest for maintaining traditional ethnic cultures, and hopes that a balance can be maintained between modern civilization and a traditional lifestyle in harmony with the local ecology.
\nHer post finishes with a sentimental declaration of love to the people and land of Qinghai, wishing that they can escape poverty, while maintaining their traditions. But this wish is accompanied by an \u2013 ironic? \u2013 acknownledgement of how she herself misses the comfort of coastal cities, lattes and high-speed rail travel.<\/p>\n
\nOriginal link:\u00a0\u5fc6\u9752\u6d77<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\nBy Li Yehang, 07 August 2012<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\nOriginal link:\u00a0\u9752\u6d77\u4e4b\u884c\u968f\u611f<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n