Taiyuan City – Way Out West
July 16, 2010
Taiyuan City, Shanxi is really out west in China. Not as far as Sichuan or Xinjiang toward the Silk Road, but far enough to know that it is not Beijing or Shanghai with their style and power. This is coal town, coal province, is old in the culture and history of China. About 1 ½ inch of rain per year, they grow corn like the Midwest US and thereby quench the thirst in the big city for the exotic corn juice served as an appetizer at the beginning of a great Chinese dinner.
The International Antiques & Arts Expo Taiyuan is a very professional event, vetted by Chinese experts. No fakes here, thank you. Being the only American dealer here is quite satisfying to the ego. There are a few Brits, a Frenchman, several Hong Kong dealers, Taiwanese dealers and of course the professional dealers from Beijing. The items being sold are expensive, because they are fine works of jade, porcelain, scholar’s table items and of course some items from the imperial household. Our dear friends, Mohan from Nepal and Wai Wai from Hong Kong, offer exquisite items from Tibet and the Himalayas. The crowd for the last two days have been other Chinese dealers who have of come to buy items being offered here because of the success of the first of this show in Taiyuan last year. Many of the local people have come to see this incredible array of Chinese art that is unavailable anywhere in China.
Just had a fantastic dinner with friends after the show closed. The show closed late because the Governor of the Province decide to visit late. The governor and retinue represent the new Empire. How do you organize a new society? Well, you use a model that you understand. The comrades at the top are people that are intelligent and educated and can organize. But, the enduring model of the ancient empire of China is simply too strong to ignore. As Orwell said, everyone is equal but there are some that are more equal. Of course this is true in all countries. The elite always rule. It is just a little strange to experience the deference that is shown to certain people who are supposed to be embodiment of the “common man” treated in such a regal style.
Fellow Capitalist Roadies (derogatory put down for people suspected of business ability in the Mao era), I’m tired from the work today in improving the trade deficit between China and America, so, I will say good night and sweet dreams to all!
