Okay, it's been a while, but I still have lots more pictures and stories!
This is one picture that deserves it's own blog-
This is a "boat" made completely of Marble, that "floats" at the Summer Palace in Beijing. The most hated Leader of all time in China, "The Dragon Lady" had it built. She became leader in the mid 1700's after poisoning her husband, (who was the current Emperor) her son, who was to become emperor, and then her Nephew who was next in line. Anyway, and ancient Chinese proverb said that the people of China are like the water, and a boat is like their Emperor/Empress... the water can hold up a boat and help it move forward, but the water can also sink a boat and ruin in. Just like the people will love and support a good leader, but hate and overthrow a bad one. So, the Dragon Lady who taxed the people terribly and didn't care at all for China, only her own comfort and riches, had this boat built at her RIDICULOUSLY OPULENT summer palace. It is a boat made completely out of marble, and sits on a marble base, and can never be sunk. She did this to show the people that no matter how hated she was, the people would never be able to do anything about it! SERIOUSLY...THE NERVE!!!!
2 comments:
wow, that is beautiful
Whoa. We saw some seriously decadent palaces in Russia. But this marble boat? Wow.
And the fact that it's on a marble base to mock all those who would try to overthrow her? Dang.
She really was a "Dragon Lady".
Did she eventually get overthrown? Just curious.
Oh, but that is an absolutely gorgeous pic. It definitely deserved its own post.
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