Babel of Chinese SF August Event
Lu Hang on “Tongji Bridge:” When Tradition Meets Robotics
To join us, send an email to babelofchinesesf@gmail.com for the event link!
Beijing Time: 20:00, August 11, 2023.
UK Summer Time: 13:00, August 11, 2023.
Fiction: “Tongji Bridge” by Lu Hang
Translated by Li Yi
Chinese Version: https://freewechat.com/a/MjM5OTAxMzMwMA==/2652021465/2
English Version: In Galaxy Awards 1: Chinese Science Fiction Anthology (https://www.amazon.ca/Galaxy-Awards-Chinese-Science-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0BR5Y8Q5Z/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)
Walk across Tongji, ward off worries.
[……]
I knew that the unison cheering would turn into diverse comments once I took off the Lion Head at the closing of the show. What a miserable imitator and disgrace to the national essence, some might criticize; or, what a genius innovator and ground breaker, others might applaud. However, I did not do this to get their feedback.
But, for my seventh great-uncle to watch a dragon and lion dance show once more.
Or better, if our performance attracted new interest, and new apprentices came to learn the traditional art from us. I would pass it on without reservation to anyone who would dedicate themselves to the art, no matter where that person was from, or rather, no matter that was a person or not. (From “Tongji Bridge” By Lu Hang)
If robots were flexible enough to perform the traditional dragon and lion dance, how would we feel about it? Would we rejoice in the prospect of a new generation continuing the martial arts legacy, or would we be anxious about the possibility of encountering the “uncanny valley”?
In “Tongji Bridge,” Lu Hang chose the former option. The entire story of “Tongji Bridge” is narrated from the perspective of the female protagonist, Huang Chujiu. It tells the story of a girl who grew up in a lion dance troupe and was passionate about robot development. She attempts to use robots to fulfill her family’s wish for the lion dance during the Lantern Festival’s “Tongji Activity”, and in this process, she also found her own life direction.
“Tongji Activity” is a traditional cultural custom in the Foshan area of Guangdong, where people carry lettuce while parading and praying during the Lantern Festival. The highlight of this event is the dragon and lion dance. Huang Chujiu’s seventh uncle is in charge of the magnificent Huamei Lion Dance Troupe. In his younger days, he was agile and highly respected, and his outstanding performances during “Tongji Activity” not only earned him a reputation in the martial arts community but also brought him love and family. However, the strength of the older generation of lion dancers gradually declined over time, and without new blood joining, the art of lion dance was on the verge of being lost.
Chujiu’s introduction of robot technology reversed the decline of lion dance. Through digital capture and simulation techniques, the results of the daily physical training of human bodies were quickly preserved, creating digital models of the skills that were once dependent on physical experience, saving them from fading away with physical strength. Moreover, the integration of new learning abilities helped solve the agility issues of the lion dance while also achieving the iteration of robot capabilities.
In “Tongji Bridge”, Lu Hang connects the traditional clan culture represented by Foshan with the advanced technology context represented by Shenzhen. The emotions passed down through generations have always been a driving force for technological development, and technology, within controllable limits, continuously helps people solve specific problems. Human emotions complement machine algorithms, and the past and the future are connected, together forming a tender present.
“Tongji Bridge” breaks free from the prevailing pessimistic and dystopian narrative atmosphere of the present with its simple “courage”. Like the blinking lion head, it naively reminds people not to be intimidated by the unknown, as technology may bring brightness as well.
In this symposium, we are fortunate to have invited Lu Hang, the author of “Tongji Bridge” to join us in the exploration of “Walk across Tongji, ward off worries.”
Lu Hang, a science fiction writer, holds a Master’s degree from Sun Yat-sen University and is a member of the Guangzhou Writers’ Association. She has published multiple articles in publications such as Science Fiction World, Science Fiction World – Youth Edition, and Hai Yan. Some of her works have been translated into English and published. She has received nominations for the Nebula Award, Light-Year Award, and Morning Star Award.