Blogs » Politics » Zhang Ziyi’s nude body double reveals casting couch in China’s entertainment circle
Blogs » Politics » Zhang Ziyi’s nude body double reveals casting couch in China’s entertainment circle |
- Zhang Ziyi’s nude body double reveals casting couch in China’s entertainment circle
- The Shaolin Temple (少林寺)
- Infographic – Background on the Qidong Protest
- Photo: Team China’s residence for the London Olympics
- Hackers Linked To China’s Army Seen From EU To D.C.
- Social Media Leads to “New Normal” in Chinese Crisis Management
- Massive Protest Near Shanghai Scuttles Wastewater Pipeline
- Pipeline Project Cancelled After Protests (Updated)
| Zhang Ziyi’s nude body double reveals casting couch in China’s entertainment circle Posted: 28 Jul 2012 02:13 PM PDT
Actress Shao Xiaoshan (邵小珊), known as Zhang Ziyi's stand-in in some bathing and sex scenes in Feng Xiaogang's 2006 blockbuster "The Banquet", recently revealed on her Sina Blog that the ugly casting couch is dominant in China's entertainment circle, and an A-list actress once pocketed 10 million yuan for trading a one night sex favor to a businessman. In an interview later, Shao also out-spoke that Chinese female celebs have clear price tags for their dinner services and sex services. And mostly, their agents help pimp them out for any kind of payoffs. Interestingly now, there are even actors who prostitute themselves too. "Casting couch is prevailing (in the entertainment circle). From little known new comers to A-list celebs, they all experienced various sex services requests." Shao Xiaoshan assured the public that the sex scandal allegations of celebs aren't groundless. But when asked who the A-list actress involved in the 10 million yuan sex service is, she refused to disclose more details, though there already were speculations among the public that she could refer to Zhang Ziyi who was ever rumored to have made 700 million yuan from sleeping with the rich and powerful figures, particularly with the deposed former Chongqing boss Bo Xilai, over the last decade. Shao only said that the actress was once asked why she made money that way as a famous actress, she replied, she had to earn as much money as possible while still young as one day she'll be old and unpopular.
In Shao's blog post, she also exposed that many models prostitute themselves for quick cash too, because they live in a luxury life style, renting expensive houses and hiring nannies. Then Shao recounted her own experience, telling that she was onced asked at a hotel room whether she was willing to trade sex to a bussiness from Macau, who offered 1 million yuan for a week long rumpy bumpy in the boss's luxury yacht. But she angrily refused it, throwing an ashtray to the disgusting pimp. By the end of the blog post, Shao also said she was confused one time on a news that a female singer was put to jail because of having sexual relationship with a government official. But later she learned that the singer has another title as a military personnel. So when the official was deposed, she was investigated too. The blog entity has received much attention on the Internet, with many criticizing it is a tasteless stunt to gab publicity for herself though. |
| Posted: 28 Jul 2012 10:36 PM PDT The 1982 Jet Li movie, "Shaolin Temple," was really something out of this world. As a boy, I was mesmorized by the feats of these kungfu monks. Never have I ever seen anything like it in my life. One of the scenes showed monks practicing the horse stance in a training hall in unison, with punches and feet pounding the brick floor, shouting out, "ha, haha" in rhythm. Where the monks held their stance, the brick floor gave and deformed into the ground. Dusts stirred at each strike. The monks were molding their bodies into instruments of force while nature gave way, more visibly from generations of monks pounding against it.  (Pictures I took within post below) Since watching the movie, I have longed to see the real temple itself. I wanted to see the monks in person. I wanted to witness qigong with my very own eyes. Over the years, I would be drawn closer to the temple by television series of the wuxia genre, many of which derived from famed Hong Kong-based novelist Jin Yong. In those stories, Shaolin Temple stood for righteousness, honor, and Budhist values. Shaolin monks epitomized kungfu power and detachment from politics. The Shaolin Temple is steeped in history as well. The school of Budhism that is now known in Japan as Zen originated from Shaolin's Chang. During heights of Chinese dynasties, the Japanese were avid students of Chinese culture. Budhism itself, however, came from India. In fact, one of the most famous Chinese classics, called, "Journey to the West" is about a monk and his desciples venturing to India to fetch Budhist scriptures. Some real scriptures have been lost over the years. During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin received assistance from Shaolin monks in fending off his opponents. The temple has received patronage by Li as well by subsequent emperors. Shaolin Temple is situated in Songshan, one of the five sacred mountains in China. The province where it resides, Henan, is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. The Yellow River flows through it, enriching the area with fertil soil for thousands of years. The province boasts the most number of ancient capitals, including Luoyang.  At the base of Songshan. Entry into large area where the Shaolin Temple compound is located. In it, there is a kungfu boarding school, a hotel, and a large theater hosting daily performances. Shops, restaurants, and other amenities are also on site.  Same entry gate looking from inside out.  Our beautiful guide. Perhaps a descendant from the Tang emperor's family line?  Another gate along the path towards the temple compound.  Pagodas. Resting place for revered monks.  Gate into the Shaolin Temple compound. The character, shi, was actually burnt during the 1927 "二七大罢工." When looked at carefully, one can tell that the character is slightly smaller than the other two characters.  A visiting group from Kentucky, USA.  A stone tablet with writing by 李世民 (Li Shimin), the Tang dynasty emperor. Li granted the Shaolin monks five privileges, among them the right to eat meat and drink wine. Obviously that privilege is not exercised.  Writing by Emperor Qian Long, boasting his greatness for upon visiting, the region finally received much needed rain.  A hallway with ancient writings carved into stone tablets.  Writing by famed Hong Kong based wuxia author, 金庸 (Jin Yong).  Mystical creature guarding one of the rooms.  In AD464, Buddhabhadra came to Shaolin Temple via India to spread Budhist teachings. He was the first abbot at the temple.  Songshan, one of the five sacred mountains in China. Place where the Shaolin Temple is situated.  At Songshan, the monks grow tea. Chinese leaders bringing foreign dignitaries to the temple are served this tea, freshly brewed. Visitors who like it could purchase it for enjoyment at home. The proceeds help maintain Shaolin Temple.  Monks dazzling the crowd with their kungfu feats.  Monk duel-wielding while leaping into the air.  Monk demonstrating kungfu.  Monk demonstrating kungfu.  Monkey fist style with a staff.  Audience invited unto stage to learn some kungfu forms.  Qigong preparation  Another monk showing audience a slab of metal.  After qigong prep, where the monk focuses his qi (inner energy) towards his head, he is ready to take on that metal slab.  The metal slab breaks into multiple pieces after struck with his bald head.  Another monk demonstrates qigong. Note the needle held in his right hand. He will focus enough energy into puncturing a piece of glass with that needle.  Monk strikes glass with needle with enough force to puncture it as well popping a balloon on the other side.  Balloon pops.  A hole in the glass is visible.  A souvenir shop outside the temple compound.  Students marching to kungfu class.  Some local villagers peddling Budhist inspired accesories.  Our tour guide brought us to a makeshift restaurant at a villager's home. We had yecai (wild vegetables), stir-fried with shredded pork. One of the best meals we had in China. |
| Infographic – Background on the Qidong Protest Posted: 28 Jul 2012 10:36 PM PDT An infographic circulating on Chinese social media provides some background information on the planned oceanic wastewater pipeline and a compelling call-to-action for local residents in Qidong, a small city north of Shanghai. Fierce mass protest forced local government to abandon the project on July 28, the second successful mass NIMBY protest in China in a month. Tea Leaf Nation translates some salient portions of the infographic here.
July 1, 2012. You came to know Sichuan's Shifang. Lately you should have often heard the name, Qidong. If you haven't, let me introduce you to Qidong. If the Yangtze River is a dragon, then the dragon's tongue is Chongming Island, the bottom of its mouth is Shanghai and the top of its mouth is Qidong [as clearly illustrated in the first picture]. Qidong is near the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Here, education, construction and electrical tools are all prominent local industries, but the seafood from Luisi (吕四) [on the north seacoast of Qidong according to the graphic] is famous both nationally and internationally. Luisi Fishing Port's annual production of fresh seafood exceeds 200 million kilograms, making it the world's 9th largest and one of the four largest fishing ports in China. Now, tens of thousands of people who work in the fishing industry at the Luisi fishing port, as well as the millions of Qidong residents, are facing a major catastrophe: A wastewater pipeline with a capacity of 150,000 tons per day is being built near the Luisi fishing grounds. The source of the waste is the largest Japanese investment in China, Oji Paper Group, which investment has been rejected by other local governments in China but accepted by the Nantong City government [where Qidong is located]. We mention this project because it's not a chimney pointing to the sky but a pipeline that extends right into the sea. The key point is that the pipeline will pump huge amounts of wastewater daily into the waters near Luisi's fishing grounds. The water cycle closely impacts all of us, not to mention Luisi's seafood has been welcomed across the country and abroad for so long. The water quality in the waters around Nantong is already bad, now it is on the verge of becoming dangerously bad. [The dark purple colored areas in Picture 3 show severely polluted areas of the ocean near Nantong City] The infographic goes on to outline some viewpoints of a former Nantong City official [voiced against the Oji project]: 1. From a global perspective, it's an example of a developed country transferring a polluting project to a developing country. 2. Japan's largest investment project in China sacrifices China's long-term economic and basic interests for political points and personal interest. 3. The project is completely in conflict with The People's Republic of China's environmental protection laws that stipulate a ban on building pollutant outlets in important fishing grounds. The numerous graphics following the oceanic pollutant map show protest posters calling for Qidong residents to take action against the project and includes an image of Japanese protesters protesting the re-opening of the Fukushima No.2 nuclear power plant as well as a picture of a protest by Qidong residents on June 9, 2012. The last images, showing alternating visions of Qidong's future, are self-explanatory. |
| Photo: Team China’s residence for the London Olympics Posted: 28 Jul 2012 06:52 PM PDT  Team China's residence for the London Olympics © Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |
| Hackers Linked To China’s Army Seen From EU To D.C. Posted: 28 Jul 2012 06:45 PM PDT Bloomberg reports in detail on a major hacking operation which targeted top officials and corporations in the E.U. and U.S. and may have links to the Chinese military:
© Sophie Beach for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |
| Social Media Leads to “New Normal” in Chinese Crisis Management Posted: 28 Jul 2012 09:13 AM PDT  Mourners amassed in Jixian It's the new normal in China. Skepticism and rumors about the death toll have seemingly followed every disaster or accident in recent years. The June 30 shopping center fire in Jixian County (蓟县), a suburb of Tianjin, is a typical example. Although the government announced later on the same day that ten people died, netizens were far from convinced. Rumors about the number of deaths flooded Chinese social media immediately after the accident. Two and a half weeks later, the doubt online began to diminsh. On July 17, both Caijing Magazine (@财经杂志), one of the most influential independent media in China, and China Central Television (CCTV) released detailed on-the-spot coverage of the accident. Both reports seemed to uphold the official number of deaths and invalidate most of the rumors. But even if people were relieved, the relief came too late. Indeed, the way the local government handled the situation exacerbated netizen rumors and doubts. According to Caijing, during the first few weeks after the accident, government officers guarded the hospital wards of the victims, driving away journalists who were trying to conduct interviews. Lawyers involved in the case were not allowed to give opinions without permission from the Justice Bureau. Those measures led to the inevitable online speculation that government was concealing a terrible truth. In fact, those measures had a purpose: To "maintain social stability"(维持社会稳定). In other words, the measures were designed to prevent mass disturbance, which is now considered the top priority in nearly all government decision-making. Even now, many government officials seem still to think that the less informed people are, the less unrest will spread, and the less likely mass disturbance to occur. As a result, unless it is confident that the situation is under its control, the government limits information revealed after emergencies happen, and sometimes even fabricates information to "mitigate social sentiment"(舒缓社会情绪). Time for an old dog to learn new media tricks The strategy worked well when traditional media was the only channel to share news, because traditional media are much more susceptible to government censorship. But the advent of social media drastically changed the communication landscape. With social media, since every netizen can be a news source, no one has the power to dictate what topics to discuss or what information to share. Even if censors block certain keywords, netizens are almost always able to share relevant information using coded language. Far from keeping people calm, the silence of China's traditional media now only ignites outbursts of skepticism and unauthorized hearsay online. In response, the government is forced not only to release information, but to act immediately, since the ever-increasing speed of communication on social media renders any reaction lag unacceptable. As @安迪斯晨风 points out on Weibo, China's Twitter: "Government officials are so outdated. The way they deal with emergencies, disclose information and interact with the media is just the same as 20 years ago, merely going through the motions. They don't see that the system of communication has changed so much." As the fire in Jixian shows, the strategy of concealment only engendered more risk of instability, countervailing its original purpose. There is some evidence attitudes are shifting, even if the old ideology remains deeply rooted in the minds of many government officials. Take the government response following recent the torrential (and deadly) rain in Beijing. On July 25, four days after the disaster, a government spokesperson consciously avoided talking about the increase in numbers of verified deaths. On the same day, the government quashed eight pages' worth of death toll coverage by the newsmagazine Southern Weekend (@南方周末) right before it could be published. The backlash on social media was immense. Another round of questioning and doubt gained momentum quickly, and netizens actively shared the cancelled coverage online.  A dynamic online memorial to those dead in the Beijing floods But this time the pressure from netizens seems to have pushed government officials to make a change. Just one day later, the government announced the updated number of deaths: 77. The Party-line People's Daily (@人民日报) and CCTV published a list of names of the dead, the first time in Chinese media history. A 22-page coverage was allowed to appear on The Beijing News (@新京报) the day after. Cautious optimism There is some reason to expect the government to be more candid in the future. On July 26, the People's Daily ran an editorial piece entitled "The number of dead is not politically sensitive," urging the government "to recognize the new features of communication on social media, to face social concerns due to a growing awareness of civil rights, and to establish credibility by interacting with the public." Even Hu Xijin (@胡锡进), the editor-in-chief of the conservative Global Times (@环球时报), thinks the impact will be profound. "Netizens' inquiry and doubts about whether the number of deaths is fabricated have generated huge pressure," he wrote in a recent Weibo post. "Now, the risk of concealing the truth are much greater than that of revealing the truth. I hope this risk can ensure the government does not lie about this again." |
| Massive Protest Near Shanghai Scuttles Wastewater Pipeline Posted: 28 Jul 2012 06:29 AM PDT
One netizen posted a dramatic image of an ocean of police confronting protesters, commenting: "Helmet-clad police tried to use the 'human ocean' tactic [to contain protesters], but they were in turn surrounded by the ocean of people from Qidong." Another netizen tweets, "Police cars inside the city government building have been overturned. Many police are now resting in the shade behind the government building. The mayor is running for his life…" The Nantong City government, which oversees Qidong, has announced in response to the protest that the waste project has been cancelled "forever" and is telling citizens to go home. However, a spokesman for the Japanese paper manufacturer, Oji Paper Co., said only that the project would be temporarily suspended pending further study.  The thick blue tide One netizen from Suzhou reports that a 'white terror' had descended on Qidong: "Shocking!! Qidong has entered a period of complete white terror. People from all walks of life have been banned from taking part in the anti-pollution movement. Teachers and students are being suppressed by the education bureau. Entrepreneurs and companies are being suppressed by the bureau of commerce. Ordinary civilians by police, local citizens' committees. The media doesn't dare to report this; it's actually the Japanese media that's reporting this. Translations of the Japanese reports on large media platforms like Sina, Sohu, Tencent have been removed within just a few hours." [chinese]  SMS and Letters seeking to nip the protest in the bud The series of pictures displayed at the right side show a series of text messages that were reported to have been received by students' parents in Qidong. The first message reads, in two parts: "Dear parents, after receiving instructions from superiors, we ask that, in order to maintain a harmonious and stable environment in Qidong, you do not organize, participate in, support or stand around to watch the group protests that have no permission from the government. We ask this so that you do not suffer any unnecessary harm! We ask that you cooperate! After you receive this please respond promptly with 'Child's name+Name of guardian+Acknowledgement+Guarantee to not organize, participate in, support or stand around to watch.' We thank you for your understanding of our work." The second image shows a text message that appears to have been sent by a local school to its students. "All Students: We hope that during the summer you will respect and follow the law, obey traffic regulations, watch out for your personal safety, finish your summer schoolwork; with regard to that certain movement organized by society persons, strictly adopt the stance of not being curious, not participating, not supporting, not standing around to watch. Have a cultured, safe and meaningful summer vacation. Zhegui School Administration." A quick search shows that Zhegui is the name of a middle school in Qidong. The third image shows a reported guarantee that students were asked to sign. The guarantee states: "In accordance with the National Protest Law, the planned protest on July 28, 29 and 30 to take place at Qidong's Yongan Square against the Nantong Large Scale Wastewater Sea Pipeline is an illegal protest. Any participation will be punished by the relevant public security law, and will impact university entrance and an individual's future. I solemnly promise: with regards to the July 28, 29, 30 illegal protest against the Nantong Large Scale Wastewater Sea Pipeline, I will strictly adopt a stance of not organizing, not participating, not supporting and not watching." However, as the pictures below demonstrate, plenty of people still turned up to organize, participate, support or just watch the spectacle of a grassroots citizens' movement like Shifang that has, once again, stopped government-endorsed development dead in its tracks.
Footnotes (? returns to text)
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| Pipeline Project Cancelled After Protests (Updated) Posted: 28 Jul 2012 01:53 AM PDT Riots broke out in the Jiangsu city of Qidong on Saturday during protests against a pipeline which locals feared would pollute the nearby coastline. From Peter Parks at AFP:
On Twitter, NPR's Louisa Lim recounted weibo reports that the Qidong mayor and another official had been stripped naked (or at least shirtless) by protestors. Despite this, and in contrast with recent protests in Shifang, police appear so far to have reacted with considerable restraint [See update below]. This has been commended by some netizens, including one quoted by Offbeat China:
A local resident told Global Times on Thursday, however, that efforts to resolve the situation by other means had already proven unsuccessful:
Offbeat China's post also includes photos of the crowds, police, ransacked offices, an overturned police car and the unclothed mayor; more photos can be found at QQ.com and at CDT Chinese. See more on the trend of environmental protests in China, including Han Han's take on 'The Liberation of Shifang', via CDT. [Updated at 16:40 PST]: At The New York Times, Jane Perlez explains the Qidong protests' context:
Reports circulated on Saturday evening of a crackdown in Qidong. A dramatic photograph by the AP's Eugene Hoshiko showed massed riot police in place of the conventionally uniformed officers pictured earlier in the day. These armoured police reportedly arrived late on Saturday to guard government offices.
At TIME, Austin Ramzy suggested that the violence could prompt harsher responses to future protests elsewhere, even as the pipeline's cancellation encourages others to take their complaints to the streets.
Having failed to satisfy the public through engagement, the local government instead tried to head off the protests with mass text messaging. (Their systems for this are apparently more advanced than the Beijing Meteorological Bureau's.) Tea Leaf Nation translated some of these warning messages:
Local authorities have not received all the blame, however. Those of the protesters who turned to violence and vandalism have prompted deep unease among observers. Jian Shuo Wang, for example, wrote on Weibo (via Bill Bishop at Sinocism):
© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |
The infographic begins:
Protests against a planned pipeline to channel wastewater into the ocean for a Japanese paper manufacturer near a major fishery on China's east coast (just north of Shanghai) has turned ugly. Thousands of angry protesters in Qidong in China's Jiangsu Province (江苏省南通市启东) have overturned police cars and threatened to overwhelm a massed police formation. 
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