A Study of the Xuhui Jiaotong Academy — With a Discussion of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Historical Origins
By Sima Xiaoqian (This work was funded by DreamBubble, Co. and the Parallel World Press Agency)
Tag: #social commentary
17 posts
Yao Beina: This World—I! Was! Here!
This is the last lyric of "Heart Fire." If you've heard it, you know: those three exclamation marks were sung by Yao Beina. It is a song brimming with emotion, yet she sang it with elegance, restraint…
She Is Elva Hsiao, and Also May: The Woman Who Won't Let You Know Her Daughter Is Your Daughter
Elva Hsiao appeared in Infernal Affairs for just a few minutes — a cultural icon's finishing touch on a film and an era. I don't remember when I first saw it, but whenever it was, it completed the ima…
"Xiao Ma Ge" from Still Life: A Spiritual Archetype of a Generation
In Jia Zhangke's Still Life, there is a quintessential "spiritual punk" character—the dock worker nicknamed "Xiao Ma Ge" (Little Brother Mark). He's a punk in the literal sense too, with his dyed yell…
Why I Don't Like the Word 'Involution'
I am a jianbing guozi enthusiast. I have consumed a considerable number of jianbing guozi in Xi'an, Beijing, and Tianjin — you could call me half an expert. But in recent years, I've rarely eaten jian…
Kyrie Irving: You Can't Simply Judge a Person
Sometimes the truth of the world is complicated — it is both what people say it is and not what people say it is. Take Kyrie Irving: the media and fans call him selfish, lacking leadership, brainless,…
On Su Shi's Criticism of the New Policies
On Su Shi's Criticism of the New Policies. Su Shi's criticisms of the New Policies were, on a micro level, often correct — but they make little sense. Governing a great nation is like kneading dough: …
Why I Support the Divorce Cooling-Off Period
I was recently scrolling through Douyin and saw a video by an American who goes by "Cao Cao." He told a story about how he said "Black people" to his daughter, and she corrected him, saying he should …
On the Pandemic
Shock. I remember when the pandemic first started in China, everyone was wary of people from Hubei and Wuhan. A truck driver from Hubei drifted on the highway for several days before our kind-hearted …
Reflections on the Xuanwu Gate Incident
Possibly even more handsome than Li Shimin himself. Before the Xuanwu Gate Incident, while the three brothers were locked in fierce struggle, Li Yuan came up with a harebrained scheme to sacrifice the…
Starting from 'Lord of the West'
Every version of The Investiture of the Gods features a character called Xibo Hou — Lord of the West — who is none other than King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang. But what does "Xibo Hou" actually mean? Some b…
On Five Thousand Years of Chinese Civilization
Two days ago, the Liangzhu Archaeological Site was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List, and China's archaeological achievements in recent years are finally gaining public attention. Some may…
Let's Talk About Crime
In middle school I listened to Jay Chou. One of his lyrics says, "We all have sins, each committing a different kind." I didn't quite understand it then, and I still don't quite understand it now—take…
On The New King of Comedy
In my understanding, The New King of Comedy tells the story of an actress who harbors a deep love for her craft but whom heaven has not blessed with talent. Each of us, living in this world, carries s…
Kang Youwei and the Daughters of Socialism
During the Hundred Days' Reform, Kang Youwei submitted the "Memorial Requesting the Prohibition of Women's Foot-Binding," petitioning Emperor Guangxu to issue an edict banning foot-binding and transfo…
The Worldview of The Three-Body Problem, and Other Thoughts
After raving about The Three-Body Problem in my recommendation on Duozhuayu, I felt there was still more to say, so here's a brief write-up. I believe The Three-Body Problem is a robust bestseller wit…
Busyness Is a Disease
I recently read a news story about a PhD in the aerospace system who devoted his life to the country until he literally worked himself to death. This kind of story is all too common in our country's n…