CNBC AI News, July 10th — A poignant and unconventional trend is unfolding at the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine in China, dedicated to the legendary strategist Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms period. A video capturing a visitor offering the revered statesman a printout of their triumphant mobile game scorecard has ignited widespread discussion online.
Far from an isolated gesture, the shrine’s memorial area now features an eclectic mix of tributes that blend ancient reverence with modern life. Alongside traditional offerings like flowers and letters, visitors find character cards from the popular “Sanguosha” strategy game, unexpected items like packs of cigarettes and headache powder, and even manipulated imagery placing Zhuge Liang alongside contemporary military hardware like DF missiles.
This juxtaposition of the historical and the contemporary has drawn crowds, turning the shrine corridor into a popular spot for observation and photography as visitors engage with these uniquely personal expressions of admiration.
Shrine staff confirmed the spontaneous nature of the phenomenon, stating, “These are all spontaneous offerings left by visiting tourists. We clean up the papers daily, but new items appear again by morning.”
The staff also noted the increasing frequency of such tributes over the past two months, adding, “While this trend has grown recently, there has been no effort to discourage it.”
This resurgence of public connection with Zhuge Liang highlights a broader cultural resonance. It prompts the question: What defines the distinctive romanticism deeply ingrained within Chinese culture?
This romance echoes in contemporary expressions, such as the overwhelming wave of collective farewells witnessed in online communities – millions sharing moments of tribute, reaching audiences numbering in the hundreds of millions. These digital gatherings represent a uniquely modern form of shared cultural reverence.
It manifests as a collective tribute and profound appreciation for Zhuge Liang’s enduring legacy – frequently summarized by the phrase he embodied: “To devote oneself entirely, until one’s strength is exhausted.” Hailed as both a brilliant strategist and loyal statesman, his life serves as a powerful narrative of sacrifice and dedication.
Classic television adaptations vividly recreate his era’s turbulence, allowing audiences to connect deeply with the historical weight and tragedy of his time. Zhuge Liang’s ultimate fate, specifically his inability to fully restore the Han dynasty despite his efforts, remains a poignant moment of unresolved emotion for many.
This enduring connection with history manifests in unexpected ways. The opening of the Xi’an-Chengdu high-speed rail line in 2017, reducing the travel time between the symbolic points of Shu Han (Chengdu) and the Han heartland represented by Xi’an (formerly Chang’an) to just three hours, carried a subtle historical acknowledgment. The standard fare of 263 RMB was widely interpreted as a deliberate cultural homage, referencing the year 263 AD when the Shu Han state finally fell.
This symbolic journey connects cities Zhuge Liang sought to link strategically, a dream unfulfilled in his own lifetime.
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