General Chao's Pork
January 24, 2007 10:13 PM Subscribe
6000 years of recorded human history and we are still sacrificing animals to gods.
Yeah, we've come a long way.
posted by quin at 10:19 PM on January 24, 2007
Yeah, we've come a long way.
posted by quin at 10:19 PM on January 24, 2007
Wow. They really went the whole hog.
posted by Effigy2000 at 10:20 PM on January 24, 2007
posted by Effigy2000 at 10:20 PM on January 24, 2007
I don't get it... how do dead pigs help to make General Chao's chicken so tangy and crispy?
Really, though:
.
posted by gurple at 10:21 PM on January 24, 2007
Really, though:
.
posted by gurple at 10:21 PM on January 24, 2007
Or less snarky; Damn, that's a lot of bacon. Pity it's verboten in so many cultures.
shit, I think that might have been snarky as well. Damn it, I don't think I have anything good to say here.
posted by quin at 10:21 PM on January 24, 2007
shit, I think that might have been snarky as well. Damn it, I don't think I have anything good to say here.
posted by quin at 10:21 PM on January 24, 2007
Holy shit! Does anyone have some background on this? Do they at least eat the pigs?
6000 years of recorded human history and we are still sacrificing animals to gods.
Who is we?
posted by LarryC at 10:25 PM on January 24, 2007
6000 years of recorded human history and we are still sacrificing animals to gods.
Who is we?
posted by LarryC at 10:25 PM on January 24, 2007
It's all for a good cause.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:32 PM on January 24, 2007
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:32 PM on January 24, 2007
Trichinostonishing!
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:54 PM on January 24, 2007
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:54 PM on January 24, 2007
Damn disturbing.
Think I'll see what info there is on AskMe about becoming vegetarian...
posted by ibmcginty at 10:57 PM on January 24, 2007
Think I'll see what info there is on AskMe about becoming vegetarian...
posted by ibmcginty at 10:57 PM on January 24, 2007
LarryC : Who is we?
Humans. In general. But I'm betting you knew I meant that.
And yeah, 6000 years might be overstating my point, (thinking back to my anthro classes a decade and a half earlier) 4000 years for sure.
Point is, we as a race and/ or lifeform, still believe that slaughtering animals will appease our god? I don't want to turn this into a gods vs. atheist debate, but really, when it comes to massive animal sacrifice, someone needs to talk about the giant elephant in the room.
And hopefully, no one will decide to kill the elephant.
Because that would just be rude.
posted by quin at 11:17 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Humans. In general. But I'm betting you knew I meant that.
And yeah, 6000 years might be overstating my point, (thinking back to my anthro classes a decade and a half earlier) 4000 years for sure.
Point is, we as a race and/ or lifeform, still believe that slaughtering animals will appease our god? I don't want to turn this into a gods vs. atheist debate, but really, when it comes to massive animal sacrifice, someone needs to talk about the giant elephant in the room.
And hopefully, no one will decide to kill the elephant.
Because that would just be rude.
posted by quin at 11:17 PM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]
Amateurs, maybe. But it's not really far to compare animals slaughtered for food for a state to animals slaughtered for a ceremony that may or may not feed people later.
Not that the animals care, either way it sucks for them.
posted by quin at 11:42 PM on January 24, 2007
Not that the animals care, either way it sucks for them.
posted by quin at 11:42 PM on January 24, 2007
I was listening to Koyaanisqatsi when I clicked the link. Seems fitting.
posted by homunculus at 11:44 PM on January 24, 2007
posted by homunculus at 11:44 PM on January 24, 2007
Point is, we as a race and/ or lifeform, still believe that slaughtering animals will appease our god?
We also believe in killing unbelievers and people who look different than us will appease our god. Yay for progress!
posted by yeloson at 11:47 PM on January 24, 2007
We also believe in killing unbelievers and people who look different than us will appease our god. Yay for progress!
posted by yeloson at 11:47 PM on January 24, 2007
Astonishing. Very beautiful in a horrid sort of way.
ibmcginty: I gave up eating all meat except seafood over five years ago and I never regretted it. It certainly broadened my palate.
Somehow I don't actually find this anywhere near as offensive as the factory machines turning pigs into meat. In a weird way, this ceremony is showing respect for the pigs. (And I went into this thinking, "Barbarians!" and I still think that with one part of my mind...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:03 AM on January 25, 2007
ibmcginty: I gave up eating all meat except seafood over five years ago and I never regretted it. It certainly broadened my palate.
Somehow I don't actually find this anywhere near as offensive as the factory machines turning pigs into meat. In a weird way, this ceremony is showing respect for the pigs. (And I went into this thinking, "Barbarians!" and I still think that with one part of my mind...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:03 AM on January 25, 2007
By the way, this guy is a kickass photographer, well worth checking out.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:14 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:14 AM on January 25, 2007
I was listening to Koyaanisqatsi when I clicked the link. Seems fitting.
Echoes on Meddle, Pink Floyd on iTunes. Me: under the desk, shaking.
posted by hal9k at 1:37 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Echoes on Meddle, Pink Floyd on iTunes. Me: under the desk, shaking.
posted by hal9k at 1:37 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
animals slaughtered for a ceremony that may or may not feed people later.
I'd bet that these pigs were indeed eaten by people after their ceremonial function had been achieved.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:48 AM on January 25, 2007
I'd bet that these pigs were indeed eaten by people after their ceremonial function had been achieved.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:48 AM on January 25, 2007
I would like to point out that I am listening to Pig Destroyer while reading this post.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:22 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by slimepuppy at 3:22 AM on January 25, 2007
> 6000 years of recorded human history and we are still sacrificing animals to gods.
Some people believe in God, and wonder where He is. Others believe in Human Progress, and wonder where it is.
posted by jfuller at 3:30 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Some people believe in God, and wonder where He is. Others believe in Human Progress, and wonder where it is.
posted by jfuller at 3:30 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
I like meat, but this is disgusting.
posted by thirteenkiller at 3:53 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by thirteenkiller at 3:53 AM on January 25, 2007
AND THEY WERE STILL HUNGRY AGAIN A HALF HOUR LATER.
posted by The Straightener at 5:14 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by The Straightener at 5:14 AM on January 25, 2007
Yes, they eat the pork.
I live in Taiwan and have seen similar sacrifices on a much smaller scale (only a couple dozen.) Here's a picture of a guy and a pig and here's a picture of someone cutting up the pig to get it ready for consumption.
posted by alidarbac at 5:30 AM on January 25, 2007
I live in Taiwan and have seen similar sacrifices on a much smaller scale (only a couple dozen.) Here's a picture of a guy and a pig and here's a picture of someone cutting up the pig to get it ready for consumption.
posted by alidarbac at 5:30 AM on January 25, 2007
6000 years of recorded human history and we are still sacrificing animals to gods.
Yeah, the average Taiwanese person is a bit more superstitious than the average American. But at least their religious beliefs don't interfere with the science and sex education here. I chuckle at how people are afraid to go swimming during Ghost Month, but when I tell people here that it is illegal to teach evolution because it is in disagreement with the religious beliefs of a certain sect of Christianity, their mouths hit the floor.
posted by alidarbac at 5:48 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the average Taiwanese person is a bit more superstitious than the average American. But at least their religious beliefs don't interfere with the science and sex education here. I chuckle at how people are afraid to go swimming during Ghost Month, but when I tell people here that it is illegal to teach evolution because it is in disagreement with the religious beliefs of a certain sect of Christianity, their mouths hit the floor.
posted by alidarbac at 5:48 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
It's pigs. Bacon is made out of pigs. They're making our food out of pigs. Next thing they'll be breeding pigs like cattle for food. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them!
posted by srboisvert at 6:08 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by srboisvert at 6:08 AM on January 25, 2007
2000 pigs sacrifice to the deity General Chao of Wudeh temple at a temple festival
I don't understand all this we (aka humans) talk. The pigs sacrificed themselves. Don't be so anthropomorphic.
(And, yeah, 6000 years of recorded history ... big whoop. Humans have supplicating to gods—receiving sustenance in return—for 100s of thousands of years.)
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 6:27 AM on January 25, 2007
I don't understand all this we (aka humans) talk. The pigs sacrificed themselves. Don't be so anthropomorphic.
(And, yeah, 6000 years of recorded history ... big whoop. Humans have supplicating to gods—receiving sustenance in return—for 100s of thousands of years.)
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 6:27 AM on January 25, 2007
Man, 6000 years of recorded human history and the human race is still addicted to meth, piling trash in our yards, and letting our neglected cats reproduce and take over the neighborhood.
Or my neighbor is anyway. Same thing.
posted by LarryC at 7:00 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Or my neighbor is anyway. Same thing.
posted by LarryC at 7:00 AM on January 25, 2007 [1 favorite]
Yes, they eat the pork.
All the pigs look like they're having a good time, so there's that, too. Mmm, sacrilicious.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:21 AM on January 25, 2007
All the pigs look like they're having a good time, so there's that, too. Mmm, sacrilicious.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:21 AM on January 25, 2007
I think this shows far, far more respect to the animals than factory farming, but I'm sure someone has already said that.
posted by empath at 8:14 AM on January 25, 2007
posted by empath at 8:14 AM on January 25, 2007
I think this shows far, far more respect to the animals than factory farming
What makes you think these pigs weren't factory farmed? I bet General Chao isn't picky about free-range sacrifices. And it is not respectful to kill something, spread its corpse on a folding table, and stick a jaunty little flag into its head. There's a reason you don't see many people choosing that funeral package when Grandma dies.
Anyway, no thread about Chinese pig sacrifice is complete without a word from Chuang Tzu. I like Thomas Merton's version of this best, but Lin Yutang's is probably more accurate, being a direct translation:
A soothsayer put on his priest's garb and approached the pig pen. He spoke to the pigs, "Do you hate to die? I shall feed you for three months, then fast you for ten days and segregate you for three days and then I shall put you on the sacrificial altar and cover your shoulders and haunches with white hay. What do you think of such a proposition?"
Then he thought that if he were in the pig's place, the pig would reply, "I would rather that you would feed me with bran and leave me alone in the pig pen."
But when a man plans for himself, he does not mind living with the honor and glory of badges and titles, and being put on a hearse inside its decorative arched cover. When a man thinks for the pig, he rejects such a proposition. But when he plans for himself, he accepts it. What difference is there between him and a pig?
posted by crake at 1:30 PM on January 25, 2007
What makes you think these pigs weren't factory farmed? I bet General Chao isn't picky about free-range sacrifices. And it is not respectful to kill something, spread its corpse on a folding table, and stick a jaunty little flag into its head. There's a reason you don't see many people choosing that funeral package when Grandma dies.
Anyway, no thread about Chinese pig sacrifice is complete without a word from Chuang Tzu. I like Thomas Merton's version of this best, but Lin Yutang's is probably more accurate, being a direct translation:
A soothsayer put on his priest's garb and approached the pig pen. He spoke to the pigs, "Do you hate to die? I shall feed you for three months, then fast you for ten days and segregate you for three days and then I shall put you on the sacrificial altar and cover your shoulders and haunches with white hay. What do you think of such a proposition?"
Then he thought that if he were in the pig's place, the pig would reply, "I would rather that you would feed me with bran and leave me alone in the pig pen."
But when a man plans for himself, he does not mind living with the honor and glory of badges and titles, and being put on a hearse inside its decorative arched cover. When a man thinks for the pig, he rejects such a proposition. But when he plans for himself, he accepts it. What difference is there between him and a pig?
posted by crake at 1:30 PM on January 25, 2007
Yep, that's religion for ya.
posted by luckypozzo at 3:18 PM on January 25, 2007
posted by luckypozzo at 3:18 PM on January 25, 2007
Bacon is made out of pigs.
You got that the wrong way around. Pigs are made out of bacon. Remember this when a pig looks at you with its 'smarter than dog' eyes, pleading not to be slaughtered: it's their own fault for being made up of bacon and pork chops.
Mmm... Tasty murder.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2007
You got that the wrong way around. Pigs are made out of bacon. Remember this when a pig looks at you with its 'smarter than dog' eyes, pleading not to be slaughtered: it's their own fault for being made up of bacon and pork chops.
Mmm... Tasty murder.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2007
It's not a sacrifice if you eat it. A sacrifice involves actually giving something up and burning it/leaving it to be consumed by the vultures, etc. This is just a mass public slaughter of pigs for consumption, with a religious ritual tagged onto it. Not nearly as appalling as a real, genuine, "let's waste a whole lot of meat so the big man in the sky will send us fortune" sacrifice.
posted by tehloki at 5:15 PM on January 25, 2007
posted by tehloki at 5:15 PM on January 25, 2007
In case anyone was curious about who sacrifices these pigs in Taiwan, it's part of tha Hakka culture.
February 18th 2007 will also be the Chinese Year of the Pig.
posted by nickyskye at 10:07 PM on January 25, 2007
February 18th 2007 will also be the Chinese Year of the Pig.
posted by nickyskye at 10:07 PM on January 25, 2007
It's a heck of a lot less offensive than tomato fights, which waste about a 100 000 lbs of fruit. Geesh.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:33 AM on January 26, 2007
posted by five fresh fish at 12:33 AM on January 26, 2007
Stupid tomatoes, being fruit. They've been in league with the vegetables for generations.
posted by tehloki at 8:31 AM on January 26, 2007
posted by tehloki at 8:31 AM on January 26, 2007
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posted by jonson at 10:13 PM on January 24, 2007