Description
In 2023 I and my friend Wang Huan first visited the famous Grandma Temple in Houshan, Yi County, Hebei Province, which had become so popular on the Internet that it had “changed beyond recognition.” Many highly concerned statues have been removed, and here has become a typical representative of the rectification of the “three vulgar”, any temple on the mountain, as long as you take out a mobile phone or camera, there will be relevant personnel to stop immediately, and emphasize that the superior unit is monitoring the situation of the whole mountain through the camera.
On the way up the mountain I noticed that the whole mountain was scattered with various red and occasionally yellow colors. When I got closer, I found that it was originally the peace symbol “tied” by the pilgrims who came to worship the Buddha, which is different from the red rope tied to the tree at the entrance of the ordinary temple. The peace symbol here is made of local materials by the pilgrims, who randomly picked up the stone or mineral water bottle on the ground and tied it to the two ends of the peace symbol, and then threw it out, and randomly hung on the top of a tree. The whole action is similar to the hammer throw in sports.
A Grand Overview of Vernacular Aesthetics is a book series established by artist Zhang Xiao, with the objective of exploring, showcasing, and interpreting folk art, folk culture, and vernacular aesthetics. This series encompasses a diverse range of folk art forms from various regions across the country, as well as the everyday practices of the people, highlighting the richness and unique allure of vernacular aesthetics. It also reflects the general public’s comprehension of art, culture, and aesthetics. Through extensive research and the collection of samples from different cultural backgrounds, this book series provides readers with a window to comprehend the contemporary pursuit of vernacular aesthetics in China.
