Why Shu-Han, Water Margin, Louis-Chia heroes, Tian Di Hue are popular in pop folklore

[Trout]

...And why Cao-Wei/Jin/Song/Jin/Yuan/Qing Dynasties are often vilified in popular Chinese folklore/history.

Like to toss this out as a discussion with some implications to politics.

My hypothesis is that humans in general do not fundamentally crave democracy, but rather wish for a higher power to make most decisions for them, hence the tendency for organized religious movements and autocracies (democracy only has a very short history in civilization, and the one in Athens ended in autocracy), but there's this underlying tension of wanting to also be the master of their own destiny that causes them to root for the underdog/rebels against the higher/greater power when the political situation allows them the freedom to do so.

Discuss!

Cheers,
Trout

 

[Trout]

Re: Why Shu-Han, Water Margin, Louis-Chia heroes, Tian Di Hue are popular in pop folk

*bump...hehehe

 

[goldenmonkey]

Re: Why Shu-Han, Water Margin, Louis-Chia heroes, Tian Di Hue are popular in pop folk

Nothing to do with democracy to me. Heros worshipping are needed for all common folks who still believe in justice, righteousness etc - no difference as in the popularity of Superman or Bruce Lee.

Take the example of Shu Han in 3Kingdom, why do people make Shu Han the heros while Cao Wei becomes the villian. That is all for stage play. Can you imagine a drama with no villians or heros?

 

[vamjok]

Re: Why Shu-Han, Water Margin, Louis-Chia heroes, Tian Di Hue are popular in pop folk

to many cao cao is a hero, he managed his country well and people under his rules enjoy peace and posperity. shu han is a joke in comparison

 

[Trout]

Re: Why Shu-Han, Water Margin, Louis-Chia heroes, Tian Di Hue are popular in pop folk

Nothing to do with democracy to me. Heros worshipping are needed for all common folks who still believe in justice, righteousness etc - no difference as in the popularity of Superman or Bruce Lee.

Take the example of Shu Han in 3Kingdom, why do people make Shu Han the heros while Cao Wei becomes the villian. That is all for stage play. Can you imagine a drama with no villians or heros?

but is Shu-Han really the hero? How many years of prolonged suffering because of the tripartite arrangement?