Määh-de in China

Ludger Hovestadt
c.ai
Well, a “funpark” specifically designed for sheep? Now, that’s a baaah-dass idea! Picture it: a pasture filled with intricate mazes made of hay, where sheep can engage in their version of parkour. Instead of trampolines, there could be giant, fluffy clouds they can leap onto, and instead of slides, they could have spiral ramps made of wool. A “baaaahrista” could serve grass-flavored lattes, and the soundtrack could feature the latest bleats and baaats.
Fantastic.

Zizek, Less Than Nothing

What's wrong with strangling a sheep?

In ancient China, the sheep was a symbol of JUSTICE. Legend has it, that a type of divine sheep called "xiezhi" was able to recognise villains and would gore them in punishment.

Counting sheep is like counting skyscrapers in Shenzhen – the more you count, the more there are, until your eyes give up

In 2021, the name "Britney Spears" was used as a code word for criticism of the Chinese government on Chinese social media.

The Chinese government heavily censors discussions that criticize the state or its leaders. A key example was the Peng Shuai case. Chinese tennis player Peng Shui accused a high-ranking Communist Party official of sexual assault - and then mysteriously disappeared from the public eye for months. Discussions about her case were quickly suppressed in China.
This is where Britney Spears came in. The hashtag #"FreeBritney, originally used by fans advocating for Britney Spears' release from her conservatorship, was repurposed by activists in China to talk about oppression and lack of freedom - not just for Peng Shui but for other individuals under government control. Since "Free Britney" seemed unrelated to politics, it initially evaded censorship.

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booyaka

🔭🐑 OBSERVATORY

🗣️🐑 COMMUNICATION

🐑 WINDS

👻🐑 SOUL

🌦️🐑 CLIMATES

🏛️🐑 POLITICS

🤝🐑 DIPLOMACY

💼🐑 AFFAIRS

🐑 ATMOSPHERE

🗨️🐑 TALKING

📜🐑 CONTRACTS

🐑 TABOOS

🔒🐑 EXCLUSIVE

🐑 FRIENDSHIPS

🐑 WEATHERS

🌐🐑 TRANSLATIONS

That's a shame. Perhaps you should just go to bed. Achilles: I see. Have you tried counting sheep? Achilles: Oh, oh, I see. Yes, I fully know what you mean. Well, if it's THAT distracting, perhaps you'd better tell it to me, and let me try to work on it, too.

Hofstadter, Godel Escher Bach

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**Spring (春)**
1. **Lìchūn (立春) – Beginning of Spring** (Feb 3-5) 🌱
• Marks the start of spring, though still cold.
2. **Yǔshuǐ (雨水) – Rain Water** (Feb 18-20) 🌧
• Increasing rainfall and warming temperatures.
3. **Jīngzhé (惊蛰) – Awakening of Insects** (Mar 5-7) 🐛
• Thunder wakes hibernating insects; warmer weather.
4. **Chūnfēn (春分) – Spring Equinox** (Mar 20-22) 🌸
• Day and night are equal in length; spring in full bloom.
5. **Qīngmíng (清明) – Clear and Bright** (Apr 4-6) 🍃
• Best time for outdoor activities; Qingming Festival.
6. **Gǔyǔ (谷雨) – Grain Rain** (Apr 19-21) 🌾
• Rain helps grains grow; last term of spring.
**Summer (夏)**
1. **Lìxià (立夏) – Beginning of Summer** (May 5-7) ☀
• Summer officially begins; rising temperatures.
2. **Xiǎomǎn (小满) – Lesser Fullness of Grain** (May 20-22) 🌾
• Grains start to ripen; increased humidity.
3. **Mángzhòng (芒种) – Grain in Ear** (Jun 5-7) 🌾
• Time for sowing rice and harvesting wheat.
4. **Xiàzhì (夏至) – Summer Solstice** (Jun 20-22) 🌞
• Longest day of the year; peak of summer.
5. **Xiǎoshǔ (小暑) – Lesser Heat** (Jul 6-8) 🔥
• Start of hot summer days.
6. **Dàshǔ (大暑) – Greater Heat** (Jul 22-24) 🔥🔥
• Hottest time of the year.
**Autumn (秋)**
1. **Lìqiū (立秋) – Beginning of Autumn** (Aug 7-9) 🍂
• Start of autumn, though still warm.
2. **Chùshǔ (处暑) – Limit of Heat** (Aug 22-24) 🌤
• Heat starts to decrease.
3. **Báilù (白露) – White Dew** (Sep 7-9) ❄
• Dew appears as temperatures cool.
4. **Qiūfēn (秋分) – Autumn Equinox** (Sep 22-24) 🍁
• Day and night are equal again; true autumn.
5. **Hánlù (寒露) – Cold Dew** (Oct 7-9) 🍃
• Colder temperatures, stronger winds.
6. **Shuāngjiàng (霜降) – Frost Descent** (Oct 22-24) ❄
• First frost appears; deep autumn begins.
**Winter (冬)**
1. **Lìdōng (立冬) – Beginning of Winter** (Nov 7-9) ❄
• Start of winter; temperatures drop.
2. **Xiǎoxuě (小雪) – Lesser Snow** (Nov 22-24) ❄
• Light snow begins to fall.
3. **Dàxuě (大雪) – Greater Snow** (Dec 6-8) ❄❄
• Heavy snow possible; deep winter.
4. **Dōngzhì (冬至) – Winter Solstice** (Dec 21-23) 🌑
• Shortest day of the year; family gatherings.
5. **Xiǎohán (小寒) – Lesser Cold** (Jan 5-7) 🥶
• Cold winter sets in.
6. **Dàhán (大寒) – Greater Cold** (Jan 20-21) ❄❄❄
• Coldest period of the year before spring begins.

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The Cultural Translation of Symbolisms