Stages of History | Rent Collection Courtyard
The following text and images are taken from: Rent Collection Courtyard - Sculptures of Oppression and Revolt (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1968).
EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE SIX PARTS OF THE CLAY SCULPTURE GROUP
Part III. Measuring the Grain
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After going through the “trick” winnower two full baskets of grain are reduced to one. With leaden hearts mother and daughter bring it to be measured. —Rent Collection Courtyard (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1968) |
Tyrannical landlord Liu Wen-tsai used oversized measures when he collected rent but undersized ones when he loaned grain. With this trick alone he fleeced an extra 330,000 jin of grain every year from his tenants. A mother with her daughter, carrying a basket of grain which has gone through the "flying wheel winnowing machine", stares at the big measure, swallowing her tears. The peasants used to say, "When we see this measure we tremble all over. It opens its bloody mouth to gulp down our flesh and blood." Anger and hatred rise like burning flames in their hearts.