Beijing 2008

 Today, I happened to cross this picture on Facebook, the erotic and the beautiful body caught my eyes and I just have to read it. This is a oil painting, titled "Beijing 2008", drawn by Liu Yi (劉湓), a Chinese living in Canada. This painting has been drawing a lot of attention and becoming controversial on the Internet. Being a curious person , I googled it both it. And it seems that it's very popular in China and Taiwan. The painting basically is showing 4 ladies playing MahJong (A kind of Chinese game) and a little girl serving fruits. 

So from what I have read and to my understanding. The lady facing her back with the tattoo is China. On the left, focused on the game, is Japan. The one with the shirt, opposite China is America. Lying provocatively on the floor is Russia. And the little girl standing to the side is Taiwan.

China’s visible set of tiles “East Wind” means that China has control most of the East side of the world. On another hand, China appears to be in a good position, but we cannot see the rest of her hand so we don't know if she is winning or losing. Additionally, she is also handling some hidden tiles below the table.

America looks confident, but is glancing at Taiwan, trying to find something off of Taiwan’s expression, and at the same time seems to be hinting something at Taiwan.

Russia appears to be disinterested in the game, but this is far from the truth. Being a communism country, it's understand able why she place one foot hooks coyly at America, while China being a communism country Russia is passing a hidden tile to China, this tells me that both countries can be said to be exchanging benefits in secret. But for Japan is all seriousness while staring at her own set of tiles, and is oblivious to the actions of the others in her self-focused state. This tells me that Japan doesn't know what is going around with the world. She is just too focus on her own states. 

Taiwan wears a traditional red slip, symbolizing that she is the true heir of Chinese culture and civilization. In one hand she has a bowl of fruit, and in the other, a paring knife. Her expression as she stares at China is full of anger, sadness, and hatred, but to no avail; unless she enters the game, no matter who ends up as the victor, she is doomed to a fate of serving fruit.

The four ladies' state of undress represent the situation in each country. China is naked on top, clothed with a skirt and underwear on the bottom. America wears a bra and a light jacket, but is naked on the bottom. Russia has only her underwear left. Japan has nothing left.

America appears to be most composed and seems to be the best position, as all the others are in various states of nakedness. However, while America may look radiant, her vulnerability has already been exposed. This tells me that America can offer a lot but she have showed all her secrets to the world. While China and Russia may look naked, yet their private parts remain hidden. It shows that they can't offer much to the world and they have hidden their secrets.

If the stakes of this game is that the loser strips off a piece of clothing, then if China loses, she will be in the same state as Russia (similar to when the USSR dissolved). If America loses, she also ends up in the same state as Russia. If Russia loses, she loses all. Japan has already lost everything.

America may look like she is in the best position, but in fact is in a lot of danger, if she loses this round, she will give up her position as a world power. Russia is the most sinister, playing along with both sides, much like when China was de-occupied, she leaned towards the USSR and then towards America; as she did not have the ability to survive on her own, she had to weave between both sides in order to survive and develop.

There are too many of China’s tiles that we cannot see. Perhaps it's showing that China has several hidden aces? Additionally China is also exchanging tiles with Russia, while America can only guess from Taiwan’s expression of what actions have transpired between Russia and China or America is being a busybody thinking why Taiwan is looking at China that way. Japan on the other hand is completely oblivious, still focused solely on her own set of tiles.

Taiwan stares coldly at the game from aside. She sees everything that the players at the table are doing, she understands everything that is going on. But she doesn't have the right or permission to join the game, she isn't even given the right to speak. Even if she has a dearth of complaints, she cannot voice it to anyone, all she can do is to be a good page girl, and bring fresh fruit to the victor. 

The final victor lies between China and America, this much is apparent. But look closely; while America is capable, they are playing Chinese Mahjong, not Western Poker. Playing by the rules of China, how much chance at victory does America really have?