The British Museum
Interesting Comparisons
In 1984, Qi Gong composed this couplet for a friend. At one level, he is simply describing historical features of their respective home towns--Beijing and Guangzhou. But the stupa (shrine) he refers to in Beijing is widely regarded as a symbol of authority, while the painted boats of Guangzhou conjure up sensual pleasures. So the couplet can be read as implying that life was more enjoyable in southern China, where Deng Xiaoping launched his economic reforms in the early 1980s.
In 1984, Qi Gong composed this couplet for a friend. At one level, he is simply describing historical features of their respective home towns--Beijing and Guangzhou. But the stupa (shrine) he refers to in Beijing is widely regarded as a symbol of authority, while the painted boats of Guangzhou conjure up sensual pleasures. So the couplet can be read as implying that life was more enjoyable in southern China, where Deng Xiaoping launched his economic reforms in the early 1980s.