Painting depicting Chinese writer Lu Xun smoking sparks heated discussions

【CMHnews】Photo shows the wall featuring renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun holding a cigarette near the Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. (Photo from the official Wechat account of the Lu Xun Memorial Hall)

    A wall featuring renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun holding a cigarette near the Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, has sparked heated discussions.

    Some visitors light cigarettes or lighters to take pictures with the painting, causing criticism. A visitor surnamed Sun posted on social media in August, arguing that the painting will not only mislead teenagers, but also lead people to gather outdoors to smoke and endanger the health of others, and demanded that the wall painting be replaced.

    Sun on Sunday said she is a volunteer advocating for smoking control and often focuses on smoking bans in public spaces.

    "The original painting depicts Lu Xun smoking at home, not outdoors," Sun said, adding that she had researched many prints of the Chinese writer.

    However, some netizens argue that "this image is classic" and "the audience isn't that easily tempted." Others have pointed out that the "lighting up for photos in public" behavior prompted by the wall painting deserves more attention.

    Zhou Lingfei, the eldest grandson of Lun Xun, said he was surprised that his grandfather had frequently been trending on social media recently.

    He suggested that everyone has the right to express their opinion. "I respect those who put forward their own opinions," Zhou said. "Personally, I think it can be dismissed with a laugh. I believe everyone has their own judgment," he added.

    A staff member of the Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing said on Monday that relevant authorities would consider the dispute, but emphasized that not every complaint would necessarily lead to the replacement of the mural.

    On the same day, a staff member from the Shaoxing Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism confirmed that numerous calls had been received.

    "Everyone emphasized that this is part of history and a cultural landmark of Lu Xun's hometown. They said we cannot make blind decisions based on a single complaint," the official said, adding that no decision has yet been made on whether to alter the mural.

    The debate also drew the attention of the Lu Xun Research Society from Zhejiang Province. Zhuo Guangping, secretary general of the research society, stressed that the mural depicts an image of Lu Xun in daily life.

    He further argued that smoking, often linked with contemplation, can be seen as a reflection of Lu Xun's intellectual depth. "We should focus more on his profound ideas rather than fixating on a single moment of daily life," Zhuo added.

    He stressed that the mural carries lasting historical and cultural value. "As an artistic work that has stood for decades, it is a symbolic scene in Lu Xun's hometown and a collective memory for generations of visitors. To remove it over a single disputed gesture would be a disservice to both history and art. I believe most people would not support that," he said.

    A statement released by the society opposed what it called opportunistic attempts to exploit the "Lu Xun smoking" image for online hype.

    "Some attempts to exploit Lu Xun's legacy for online clout and sensationalistic points don't contribute to the dissemination of his spirit and should not be encouraged," the statement said.

    On Chinese social media Weibo, netizens revealed that Sun sells nicotine pouches on another social media RedNote.

By Zhang Dongfang

Reposting from ECNS.Cn