Recent events have prompted Chinese to re-examine the artwork shown above – not for its rather tasteful depiction of naked young girls, but instead for its hidden allegorical subtext, showing as it does with some clarity the power struggle over the future of Taiwan and the wider East Asian region.
The work, by Toronto-based Chinese artist Liu Yi, generally goes by its English title of “The 2008 Beijing Mahjong Game.”
First exhibited in 2005 in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics, the piece has over the years been subject to a wide variety of searching interpretations – the latest coming from Chinese left pondering it in light of recent developments.
A reasonable interpretation is translated below:
Firstly, the girl wearing a traditional article of Chinese lingerie with her hand in a fruit bowl represents Taiwan.
The four mahjong players also represent countries – America faces the viewer, and opposite her is China. To the right, the reclining girl is Russia, and to the left, naked and scrutinising her tiles, is Japan.
The image depicts the situation facing Taiwan, but Taiwan herself is not at the table. Only the four players of America, China, Japan and Russia will determine the outcome of this game. The skies beyond the window are dark and unsettled, as is the current situation.
The clothing the four girls at the table are wearing expresses their respective strengths. America is in a strong position, and confidently watches Taiwan for a chance to strike without being overly concerned about the state of the game.
Russia lies languidly with one leg resting on America, and an arm outstretched to China, stealthily assisting China with her concealed tiles. But Russia has no interest in Taiwan, and her tiles are not strong. She is only interested in exploiting the Taiwan situation to her advantage, sympathising with America whilst selling weapons to China.
China herself is half-naked, much of her body obscured from view by the table, preventing anyone from seeing how strong she is. One of her tiles is “East,” representing the DF-31 “East Wind” long range missile (ICBM). China also keeps some of her tiles hidden behind her, ready for any change in the game. Just how strong she really is, who can say.
On the left, the naked girl is Japan. She has no clothes at all – she is the weakest of the four. She scrutinizes her tiles intently, completely oblivious to the artful tricks the other players are employing. Japan only conceives of the Taiwan issue in terms of how she can gain regional power – she is blind to the global aspect of the game. Whilst she may have a good hand, little does she realize the game will not be won through tiles alone.
On China’s shoulder is a tattoo – the Fenghuang, or “Chinese phoenix.” This signifies the fact that in China traditional culture runs only skin deep – she is otherwise just the same as the west. On the contrary, it is Taiwan, with her traditional attire, who is the real heir to Chinese culture.
Taiwan holds a fruit knife, but it is of no use in a game of mahjong and she cannot bring it to bear. All she can do is hold onto her fruit as the game plays out.
Let it not be said that looking at pictures of naked girls cannot be educational.
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fap fap fap fap
Life action Saki? Fuck yeah! ^_^
Life action Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku without politicians? Fuck yeah! ^_^
corrected
let me also analyze this art piece.....in private.
scrutinizing with too many liberties. and it was too specific.
'One of her tiles is “East,” representing the DF-31 “East Wind” long range missile.'
/facepalm.
So either, you're saying everyone should gang up against china for playing dirty, or you might have gotten the countries wrong, because china does not have any tricks up their sleeve. USA seems to have sleeves tho', perhaps there's something hidden!? :O
In any case, is it OK if I fap to this?
I like the description about China. Ohoho.
They should ask the creator instead of guessing what he tried to express. After all he's still alive, isnt he?
Or is this some sort of guessing game? I draw a picture and you have to guess what my thoughts were while drawing. ^^
My thoughts are easily guessed through loli drawings.
@Anon 9:37
Agreed; that was a bit of a stretch...
The East tiles represent Eastern Wind though....
It's really not that much of a stretch, and the fact she has an open hand with a East Pon can't possibly just be a coincidence, anyhow.
Even if the interpretation were wrong, there's no doubt the choice of tile has some significance, especially if you're going to go with a National Relations angle of interpretation.
I don't think the tiles in the table matter. Most combinations of tiles could be matched with one or another aspect of Chinese/Russian politics.
However, the faces of the depicted girls do match the description, as well as the haircut (in case of the Chinese girl), and even the fact that Taiwan is the youngest nation in the group.
The interesting thing about this is that, being written by a Chinese, it can't help but brag about their country and defame Japan.
Damn. That's some deep thinking. All I was thinking was how cute "taiwan" over there seemed.
I thought she looked like the 3DPD of the picture.
"China also keeps some of her tiles hidden behind her, ready for any change in the game"
A more accurate description would be
"China will happily lie and cheat in order to win"
When naked girls meet art and international affairs it's an special fap you're conducting sir, litle are there cases when such combine as good as this one.
Bukkake them all and cause an international incident. ^_^
And in steps Kim Jong Il...
don't or your country wont win Miss World
But your country gains a Nobel Prize instead.
But countries does not matter... We are on the internet.
And that's why we fap without care. ^_^
ohhhhhhh yeeeeaaaaaah....
Gay Test: If the first thing you do when you see this pic is talking/thinking about the subliminal political message, I have bad news for you..
GUILTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Hmmm... the artist could have drawn the girls clothed and still achieved the same relative effect, but... he didn't.....
I like this guy's style :)
To quote Namiko from Geijutsuka, the artist was just using "art" as an excuse to draw nakky girls :3
That's a really excellent painting. The whole message in it is awesome.
I'm so tempted to print it out as my room's decoration. X3
As Dr. Bean once said, 'I sit and look at the paintings.'
*draws a similar picture of naked girls*
Let me analize it: The girl on the right, positioned in doggy-style, is China. The girl on the left, inserting a huge strapon dildo in the right's girl ass is Japan. And that silhoutte of Pedobear reflected in the window represents the whole world (except for china) fapping on chinese misery.
The artwork shown above depicting 5 girls spending their time (playing scrabble, chatting, and eating some fruits) while waiting their master (me) to come home and fuck them...
I bet the Japanese girl was thinking, 'Keikaku doori!'
(Just as planned)
Some of these points are just way too contrived.
"One of her tiles is “East,” representing the DF-31 “East Wind” long range missile (ICBM)."
Really?
I was surprised by the sensibility of the interpretations offered. That one was one of the weakest, though.
Who cares about ICMB if Taiwan has such a nice DFC?
Oh, you should care. ICBMs being vehicles for nuclear warheads will kill your beloved 'DFCs'.
Just press the red button!
Well, isn't it possible that the artist offered those explanations, including the tile=missile thing.
In mahjong, calling the east winds usually informs the other players that your hand is progressing.
Under the right circumstances, it can allow you to form close to yakuman level hands if the player is competent enough.
Even if the player is not that skilled, it is still a pretty big advantage in most cases.
I liked the Chinese being like the West with the skin deep culture. Notice she also has the tramp stamp.
I also noticed China's underhanded cheating tactics.
lol you wouldn't expect the america, russia, japan to cheat when they have the chance?
In war, the cheaters wins(well have higher chance), cause war is all about winning, sure there is different ways to win a war, but winning is highest priority.
How about America?
There is no way to win against cheater without cheat. And in the picture, America is fully clothed(never lose) against the cheater. So you can see who is the biggest cheater.
Russia is sleeping and still did not loose all clothes. I guess the others just suck at mahjong.
Like Schrobby said: sometimes a mahjong tile is just a mahjong tile...
Schrobby, it also seems like Russia is either playfully kicking USA's thigh or just plain resting her foot on it.Can't help but notice that Russia is lazy or bored in the game.
Maybe Russia wants some hot yuri action with USA. We want it, too. :3
Well since she probably has a pon of the east winds, they would be pointing at one of the player she took it form. if she took it form america, the middle tile would be in side ways,but it is not. so it indicates that it can be pointed AT the US or to everyone for there is no indication of who. Or they're playing something other than japanese mahjong....
Since the artist was Chinese, I presume they are playing with a Chinese ruleset.
US have more ICBMs
The East tiles represent Eastern Wind though....
It's really not that much of a stretch, and the fact she has an open hand with a East Pon can't possibly just be a coincidence, anyhow.
...and what of the portrait hanging above "Japan"? does it not represent something too? as in the rest of the world watches from afar?
That pic above Japan shows Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, who conquered large parts of China. It's a symbol that Japan will defeat China.
Interpreting pics is fun. lulz.
Genghis Khan was just a really pro leader. And during that time China was fighting a internal conflict. Its like having japan attack America during the civil war. The thing is Genghis Khan had the numbers to win, japan right now doesn't.
nice interpretation there schrobby ^.^ you're really confident of Japan winning this thing
China has quantity, Japan has quality. It might take a while, but in the end quality always wins.
But in WWII it was quantity over quality.
depends schrobby
one elite cannot win against 2000 screaming peasants can they?
With the right weapons it's possible.
well if anything happens i know the U.S. would step it to intervene (if not Russia)
has anyone noticed how Korea was literally "left out" of the portrait? which is odd considering how they're located right in the "thick of it" if you will
Korea is not that influential in Taiwan-China issue. They only come in when it is about 'Japan bashing'
They aren't involved in any of the major diplomacy relating to Taiwan.
@unsung The US? Aren´t they indebted in China?
All the more reason to attack so they can get rid of those debts.
So it´s Kill your money lender and you´re free. I've never seen it from this side.
Quality vs Quantity = Quality Wins...? Well, whatever, Japan is loosing in both quality and quantity anyway. I haven't talked about how Japan relies on USA only. Japan doesn't even have nuclear weapon. Nah, don't even talk about nuclear weapon; Japanese government doesn't even have the ball the fight China in Senkaku matters. Scream all you want, the fact is too clear to the world: Japan with no USA support is....well nothing. Sad but it is true. Good thing their anime and manga is free though...
I would think this rather means that there is a rich historical precedent of Chinese imperialism and regional domination, and that shadow looms over this game, pushing China toward a new regional domination, so that it can please its ancestors and reconcile itself with its own domineering history.
The portrait means China is playing to win by any means necessary. That is what looms over the game. The other players need to learn their Chinese history or they are doomed.