Samhain Fallowturn Moon
As Mitt and Barack go into the ring for real tomorrow, my attention remains focused on an earlier political figure, Qin Shi Huang Di, and the Qin state. Of course, I’ll break out of my ancient Chinese reverie to head down to the polling place tomorrow. Can’t miss that. Haven’t done since I was old enough to vote. Which was, BTW, 21 for me.
I’ll be surprised if Obama loses, not sure I’ll be happy if he wins. There are, of course, those Supreme Court justices and the execution of the Health Care act. Still, he’s not made my lefty heart flutter and if Gus Hall were around I’d vote Communist again.
Meanwhile I’ve defined a tour route using the Bo Bell, the gold and iron dagger, the early tomb figures (small), the Hu vessel, the kneeling archer, a nod to all the various acts of standardization, the chariot horse and the various pits, the General and the water birds. My focus remains the rise of the Qin, including the reforms of Shang Yeng and the broader and deeper reforms of Qin Shi Huang Di. This is a wonderful moment to help people grasp a bit of Chinese history, and not just any history, but history that shaped and shapes the Chinese state.
The story, too, can be told using wonderful, beautiful objects. A great honor.
