The China YEREN-BIGFOOT Writing Project

In 2009 at Xi'an International Studies University, China, American teacher Christa Harrison (see her BLOG, From the Redwoods to Red China) used Bigfoot as a writing project subject with her English language-learning Chinese students. In association with Bigfoot Books' BIGFOOT'S bLOG these papers are being posted here.

Students were encouraged to think of Bigfoot and their own native cryptid hominid-hominoid traditions such as the Yeti and Yeren. They were encouraged to write a Western-style research paper, but as you'll see, the perspectives are also uniquely Chinese. These students are preparing for study next term in the USA at Humboldt State University, Northern California.

Christa's full lesson outline and analytic aparatus:

"The original purpose of this assignment was, of course, to give the students a space to practice their developing writing skills. As a writing teacher, I am always trying to think of creative ways to give students an access point to their assignments, so that it’s not “just another paper.” The particular group of students I’m working with are Chinese University Freshmen headed to the US of A for at least two years of study. I teach in an intensive one year program designed to help students ease into their studies in the US as university life in China, as well as education in general, is quite different. Students in China are not taught how to research, and when they are taught how to write in English, they are not taught Western structure or format. They do not know how to use quotations or analysis. My job is to teach them these skills, necessary for survival (at bare minimum) and success at an American University where they will be competing with native speakers. We talk about culture a great deal in our class—Chinese culture, American culture, classroom culture, culture clash, counterculture—and thus I decided to introduce them to Humboldt County culture by using Bigfoot. It was also an opportunity for them to build a cultural bridge between China and the US. The students are always keen to talk about their own culture, but I wanted them to go beyond the usual topics of discussion: China's long history, Confucianism, chopsticks, Mao, food... Steve and I have often talked about Bigfoot, and my being in China led us to talk about Yeren and thus the project was born. I first asked the students what they knew about Yeren, and then explained that the US has a Bigfoot too. They watched the Patterson-Gimlin film, and a short film about searching for Yeren (http://current.com/items/76361782/bigfoot_in_china.htm). Once they had some ideas in their heads, I had them look at Bigfoot imagery and begin to brainstorm ideas for an academic essay about Yeren and Bigfoot. To practice their researching skills, and to further develop their ability to discern whether or not a source is reputable, I guided the students to a series of articles about the creatures. They were then asked to find their own sources. With all these ideas in mind, the next step was for them to put together some sort of thesis, and build an essay on said idea. Each essay went through a series of drafts, peer review, and revision. "

Class photo and most individual bio. images by Christa Harrison.Student works and text content on this blog remain copyrighted by their producers.Steven Streufert kind of claims credit for some of the other images and the general blogification of this. Other images are archival/historical or borrowed from friendly sources.

Donna: Thanks, Bigfoot

Donna, June 18, 2009

Thanks, Bigfoot

It was an unusual night. Quiet and dark from outside, the workshop is shiny with exhilaration and excitement because people are expecting something new that will shock the world. Clustered round by the roaring crowd, one middle-aged man came into the workshop. Then, seriously and cautiously, he took off the paper and sit down. One shutter. One confident pose. The next day, October 5, 1958, California and even the world exploded because of that man with one amazingly huge foot-shape plastic cast in hand. (Streufert)He is Jerry Crew, one of a forest road-building crew, along the northern border of Humboldt County, up on Bluff Creek. The crew some of whom are Hoopa Indians spotted shocking finding --- the evidence of Bigfoot, opening a new age of Bigfoot hunting.
Bigfoot is said to be a kind of animal who looks like human ancestors. People who have either searched the traces of Bigfoot for many years, or just “came across” the Bigfoot themselves, have a strong belief that Bigfoot does exist. Nowadays more people become interested in this unique mysterious species, and whether Bigfoot does exist or not is not fairly relevant because it has become an interesting topic that brings money and popularity. The fact is that thanks to Bigfoot, Many people from all over the world participate in the Bigfoot and other related industry, such as Bigfoot Products Company, and strengthen the connection of the world.
Having a long history and being a global culture, Bigfoot is not only a special phenomenon in North America. The earliest appearance of Bigfoot in literature can be traced back to 4000 years ago in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Native Americans call it Sasquatch, which means “the wild man of the woods”. In Nepal, there is Yeti, called the Snowman in the Himalayas. Whatever its different names, almost everywhere in the world “has” the trail of Bigfoot. Same to search for UFO and Crop Circles, people from all walks of life are engaged in revealing Bigfoot myth and exploring “truth” that rise people’s interests and attentions. Photos, videos, hoarse recording footprints of Bigfoot released from all over the world have been showed the track of Bigfoot is everywhere.
Looking at the reports that witness have offered to us, we have lively stories and vivid description of how the witness have encountered the Bigfoot, what the Bigfoot is like, and the surrounding where Bigfoot appeared. One witness said he met Bigfoot in person as he possibly hit him by car outside of Willits, Ca, on July 2008. It was only 25ft away from the witness to come across this unique creature. He also described that the animal, 7ft tall, 500 pounds and looked like giant human or ape, tried to climb the embankment. (bfro.net 2008)However, he saw it alone. What a pity! There are no other witnesses or proofs to testify his peculiar observation. One week later, the Field Investigator came to the original ground and said in public that according to the tracks, it shouldn’t be human behavior. (bfro.net 2008) such exciting news!
Bigfoot is also reported in China. The first government report dated back to 1976 in the forest in Shennongjia, Hubei Province. The appearance of Bigfoot may bring the humxan race research to a new era. Six government officials came across the mysterious creature which later was named Bigfoot on May, 14, 1976, but they had no equipment and instrument to catch that creature or record that scene. They specifically described the appearance of Bigfoot in a report to Chinese Science Institution which has a highest reputation in Chinese academic field. Later in November, 1976 110 scientists from all over the country came to Shennongjia to participate in this huge researching project. The government of Hubei Province even sent out one group of army, including 56 excellent scouts, to direct this action. After going to the forest three times groups by groups in twelve months, scientists concluded that the environment is good for Bigfoot living, though nobody have captured real Bigfoot and only found hair, footprints, shit and carves that supposed to be of Bigfoot. Scientists said that collecting information on the environment, including climate, landform, animals and plants formed the basis of subsequent researches. (cctv.com)
The amazingly same accounts of Bigfoot convinced many people; many investigators came to the place where witness have spotted the Bigfoot in person, justifying the situation of the locale is true of what the witness said. Though, with no bones, no DNA test and no scientific proofs, people believe things that any people made with whatever intention, neglecting the reliable scientific proof that need “live or dead bodies, or relatively complete skull or bones of limbs” (Zan44-45). Besides many of those compelling stories, we have no scientific proofs. Interestingly, money, fame and popularity come along.
Another two Georgians got more convincing proof on August 2008 --- they have Bigfoot’s Body! This time “science” was used to proof the existence of Bigfoot! As stories continued, they dragged the dead body of “Bigfoot” and they have video and photographs. Too sadly, it is said that the find is already kept in a secret place outside Atlanta. “But they promised even more proof, including video, a DNA test and, of course, a mission to capture one of the big guys.” (Mckinley) By far, no related news, no scientists declare anything and no open exhibition that showed the dead body of Bigfoot have been presented in front of the mass. Yes, not to our surprise, there is no even the so-called scientific proof thus that news is another hoax again. Despite the results, two Georgians are visited by reporters and advertisers for many times because of Bigfoot information. They published Bigfoot news, became spokesman of Bigfoot, make Bigfoot videos and certainly gain fame and money as they wish.
In China, since first report of Yeren in 1976, in the introduction part of Shennongjia we could see some changes --- added information of Shennongjia--- “it has also gained fame as the home of the mysterious Yeren, or Chinese Bigfoot. Rumors abound and stories of Yeren have only added to the appeal of this remote area.” (Zan44-45) Thanks to Bigfoot, thousands of hundreds of tourists came here; famous anthropologists, zoologists, botanists and geologists also came here to do research. More and more businessmen are serving these people who come here like waves.
In America and other places around the world, the Bigfoot industry is also thriving and expanding because Bigfoot came to be the global focus, driving more and more attention. Many people take Bigfoot hunting as their jobs, finding their meaning of life --- to look for a breakthrough. Witnesses or reporters, such as writers, businessmen who offers Bigfoot tours, and member of Bigfoot hunters became popular. One company even produced a set of oversized plastic bags on feet that you could use fooling your friends and family. In Willow Creek China Flat Museum there is also a $100, 000, 00 Reward for Bigfoot tracks! Whether there is Bigfoot or not, exploring this interesting topic rewards a lot.
Bigfoot is still a myth. Only two questions can be answered--- Who are the witnesses? What has really changed after those witnesses revealing Bigfoot reports? Till now the Bigfoot witnesses and believers provide no scientific evidence. Like a flash in the pan, more delicate proofs people create, more money and fame they will gain in a short time.

Work Cited

“$100,000.00 Reward for BIGFOOT TRACKS”, bigfootencounters.com, April 19, 2009 http://www.bigfootencounters.com/articles/reward.htm
Zan Jifang. “Hubei Bigfoot--Fact or Fiction?” Beijing Review, 50.51 (2007): p44-45
Jesse Mckinley, “Two Georgians Say They Have Bigfoot’s Body”, New York Times,
August 14, 2008, April 19, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15bigfoot.html?_r=1&scp=14&sq=bigfoot&st=cse
“Man Has Face to Face Encounter Outside of Willits”, bfro.net, Thursday, July 10,
2008, http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=24146
Stefan Lovgren, “Forensic Expert Says Bigfoot Is Real”, National Geographic News,
October 23, 2003, April 19, 2009
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1023_031023_bigfoot.html
Streufert Steven, “Bigfoot in Humboldt County – fifty years or 50,000?”, Weblog
entry. Bigfoot’s Blog. Monday, December 29, 2008, April 19, 2009
<http://bigfootbooksblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/bigfoot-in-humboldt-county-fifty-years_29.html>
“Chinese Bigfoot report” 17, September, 2004
http://www.cctv.com/program/zbzg/100658.shtml

[IMAGE above: courtesy of Duane Flatmo, preliminary sketch for the Willow Creek Ace Harware bigfoot mural.]

Donna. No biography yet submitted.

Yuting: The Translucent Actor---Bigfoot and Yeren

YUTING, MAY, 30 2009

The Translucent Actor---Bigfoot and Yeren

Being like a translucent actor playing on the stage, Yeren/ Bigfoot plays a mysterious role in the world because it includes both transparent aspect and opaque aspect. Its transparentness is that much phenomenon shows the possibility of its existence, while the opaqueness is that expects still have no strange evidence of its existence. However, in case that Yeren is existing in the world, how could they survive or make a living outside in the forest, where the summer is so hot while winter is so cold? What are the conditions making Yeren be able to live in forest, where they may live along with other dangerous animals as a human-like creature? What are the conditions making Yeren be able to live in the world without being known and discovered by human beings for such a long time? Observing all the places appeared this kind of creatures, we could find that these places have permanent common conditions- natural aspect and social aspect- that make mysterious Yeren present thus situation today. The social condition is that Yeren always lives in the dense forest, where human beings seldom enter, while the natural condition is that the natural environment Yeren lives in is so good that both the climate and plants have advantages for them to get enough food and move about.
Darwinism had showed that human was evolved from ape thousands years ago. However, at that time, there’re also apes, which hadn’t enough evolution and were left with keeping characteristics of original apes. Because of the effect of the change of their living environment at that time, parts of apes had to bring up stronger ability to get over the difficulties to make a living. Hence, those apes had ability to make instrument at first, and then gradually tried to do some brainwork and to use strategy to meet difficulties and beat enemy. With more and more use of brain, apes had a higher intelligent brain and the ability to walk by standing. The specialties, which apes got in the process of evolution, made them high-ranking animals, which had many characteristics similar with the fundamental characteristics of human beings. (Darwin)
However, after pars of apes evolved to human beings with the gradually increasing intelligence and ability to make conditions for themselves to make a living, what about the other parts of apes? Whether these kinds of apes exist in the world nowadays? Living in better environment so that they needn’t make a living so hard, the other parts of apes needn’t develop their ability to learn to make instrument and to walk by standing to make their living as those apes being in a poor situation. As a consequence, they didn’t have so enough evolution that they still kept some specialties of ape. What’s their situation now? There’s a word that the not enough evolved apes are still living in the world nowadays, and they’re called Bigfoot, Yeti, Yeren, etc.
Yeren’s so strange a creature that we seem never to see it in the zoo. “Generally described by witnesses as being between 2-3 meters tall, over 230 kg and having a footprint in the region of 30 to 40 cm long…” (Zan Jifang. 44) It’s the so-called Yeren’s/ Bigfoot’s figure according to some witnesses’ words. It’s a creature which is like human beings but seems too tall and heavy, also like a bear or an ape but still has many characteristics of human beings. Many witnesses misunderstood bears to the so-called Yeren or Bigfoot. For instance, “A team of paleoanthropologists from Beijing, local researchers and reporters have discovered 40-cm-long footprints, brown hair and chewed corn cobs in Shennongjia last October.” However, the creature is believed to be a bear by Yuan Zhenxin, “a well-known paleoanthropologist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences”. (Xinhua News) New sighting of human-like creatures occurred in China’s Shennongjia in 2003. Those human-like creatures are called Yeren in China; in addition, they also have other different names all over the world depending on different regions’ custom. “It's referred to as Bigfoot in the United States, Mapinguari in the Amazon, Sasquatch in Australia and Yeti (Abominable Snowman) in Asia.” (Zan Jifang. 44) These names show a fact that the so-called Bigfoot may exist all over the world. Apes evolved with big change of nature environment all over the world. However, because the changes of environment were different from this place to that place, the steps of their evolution were different. As a consequence of it, many apes may not enough evolve till today so that they’re rather like apes than human beings.
How could they live in a high-developing society nowadays? What are the conditions making them alive? Bigfoot’s living environment needs to be paid more attention to be researched, as a most important factor to search whether exist Bigfoot and how could they live till today. I think Bigfoot’s living environment needs two aspects – social aspect and natural aspect – that they need to live in places appeared seldom human beings and having proper climate and less dangerous animals. In China, Shennongjia is the most famous place which is said to appear Yeren in Hubei Province. However, no one has found strong enough evidence to support his expect about whether the Yeren exists in Shennongjia or not. Although investigations have different personal opinions about this mysterious problem and do many researches on it, it’s still a secret nowadays about Yeren’s existence.
What’s the origin of the name of Shennongjia? Locating in the verge of Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi, Shennongjia is a number of mountains filled with flourished virgin forest. There’s a word that the ancestor of Chinese named Shennong had developed his agriculture and made medicine here because of the diverse plants on these mountains. Then these mountains were named after this great man’s name. From the origin of Shennongjia’s name, it proved that there’re a great number of plants on the mountains of Shennongjia.
Shennongjia’s a good example to search the advantage of condition for Yeren’s living based on its social and natural environment. Although Shennongjia isn’t seemed to be a good place for living “according to the law of geographical distribution of animals”, its desolation makes it a place in which seldom human come into. Also, people in Shennongjia pay more attention on the quality of environment these years to make more spaces and better living condition for creatures to live in. Shennongjia has a very large space, many different kinds of natural scenery, rich plants and less dangerous mountain animals so that it has the richest ecological system in the world believed by many experts. So many experts believe that there must be Yeren in Shennongjia. For instance, “the Shennongjia forest area covers over 3,000 square km, with a complex natural environment and ideal climatic conditions for animals. It is very possible for unknown species to live in the dense forest or remote caves there,” said by Guo Jianwei, Editor in Chief of the Fossil magazine of China. He had doubted the existing of Yeren in Shennongjia, but his view was changed after he saw the environment of Shennonjia. “After I went to Shennongjia and researched the ecological environment, I changed my view,” he said. (Zan Jinfang. 45) According to compare the two kind’s attitude of Guo Jianwei, his word is a typical example to show that environment is a very important condition for Yeren’s existing.
The special creature, I research above, has its name known by people nowadays and is supposed to have proper conditions of environment to live in. What are they? They’re human-like creatures, called Yeren, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, etc. And how could they live? The strange human-like creatures need necessarily special conditions to live in. The conditions aren’t only seldom human beings’ entering as social aspect, but also, as natural aspect, there’re proper climate, rich plants and less dangerous animals, which are dangerous for Yeren’s living.

WORK CITED

Zan Jifang. “Hubei Bigfoot--Fact or Fiction?” Beijing Review. 20 Dec, 2007: Vol. 50 Issue 51, p44-45

Darwin, Charles. Darwinism: The descent of man and selection in relation to sex. Beijing: Science Press, 1996.
“Tourists Visit Location of ‘Bigfoot’ in Fall.” Editorial. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY [Wuhan] 26 May. 2000.

YUTING.

Bio not yet submitted.

WeiWei: The Authenticity of Bigfoot in America and China

WeiWei; May 25, 2009

The Authenticity of Bigfoot in America and China

We often see the creature who have hairy body, high stature, heavy weight, bigfoot, and some humanlike characters in fairy tale or old story. Who are they? There have many different names for them. In the United States, people called them Bigfoot. In Asia, Yeti or Yeren is their name. In stories, they are wild animals who are strong then people. They can climb mountain and swim the river very easily, and also run very fast. They eat anything, no matter the alive or dead, no matter it is fresh or rotten. There have common description for Bigfoot in ogre stories, “like us, but bigger, like an animal, but smarter.”(Loxton 96-97)
People know the things of Bigfoot just from different stories. Do they really exist in the world, or just a hoax from old story? Different people have different ideas, but from the characteristic of Bigfoot, some proofs about the existence of Bigfoot, and the good environment for Bigfoot living, I think they are really exist in the world.
From the characteristic of Bigfoot, I have many different ideas about the existence of Bigfoot. Bigfoot have similarity with people, like walk, so they are the creature which have half of human’s character, and half of animals’ character. Human and animals can exist in the world, why Bigfoot can’t exist? There have million creatures which are all different with others in the world. Maybe Bigfoot is one of these creatures. Bigfoot has some characters like human, and some characters like apes. People evolved from apes, so maybe Bigfoot is the creature which didn’t have well evolution to become people. Furthermore, “It is very possible that yeren could be the close ancestors of humans.”(Zan 44-45) Bigfoot can walk by their foot, and their appearance have similarity with apes which the ancestor of people. There must have close relationships between people and Bigfoot. We can presume some ideas from this information. Because Bigfoot and people have close relationships, Bigfoot should exist in the world the same with people.
Many people said they have seen Bigfoot in their life. Did all of them lie to us? When people found many things which Bigfoot left in the forest, did they make the fake proof to cheat others? In American, distribution of Bigfoot is “from upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, New Mexico, not just the Pacific Northwest.” (Streufert) But From the maps of “2009 Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization Expeditions”, we can found the dense area of Bigfoot is Pacific Northwest. The most dense distribution place of Bigfoot is in Willow Creek.
Steven Streufert who is manage the Bigfoot book store in Willow Creek have written the “Bigfoot in Humboldt County”. He talked about the phenomenon of Bigfoot in Humboldt county has 50 years history. Some people said they found many things about Bigfoot in Humboldt County, such as big footprints, and heavy sound from Bigfoot. From these proofs, we can know Willow Creek must be exist the creature, but are they Bigfoot? We don’t know. In “Bigfoot in Humboldt County”, Steve gave one example of “the hoaxers” about Bigfoot. Biscardi who is the member of Happy Camp said to people that he found the place where Bigfoot live in and know the people who have been seen the Bigfoot. People prepared all things to wait the Bigfoot, but nothing happened. It looks like a joke which Biscardi and witness play on everyone in order to improve fame of the county and cause people’s attention. (Streufert) According to these hoaxers who want to fake the Bigfoot, most things of Bigfoot are not real in Willow Creek. Except some frustrated examples to prove the existence of Bigfoot, I still believe Bigfoot exist in the Willow Creek. The reason why I believe that because on one hand, I think only a few people want to make the fake proof on purpose. One the other hand, many people in Humboldt County really saw the Bigfoot in their life.
The father of a local business saw the Bigfoot who has hairy body, bigger and taller than people in the bank. A customer saw Bigfoot family in Willow Creek, he found the creature like to see kids how to play, but they came back to woods quickly. (Streufert) From two examples, I think Bigfoot should exist in the Willow Creek. People couldn’t image a creature which doesn’t have foundation in their mind. Through many people’s experience, we can realize something about Bigfoot. So many people have seen the Bigfoot and told their story completely, it must have the creature in the world.
Compare with Willow Creek, there have same things in China, people also said they have seen Bigfoot in Shennongjia where is a beautiful place of HuBei Province. Tourists saw the two creatures near the Licha River. When two creatures saw the car of tourists, they run quickly, and disappeard in the wood. When tourists went to the place where they found the Bigfoot again, they found something left by Bigfoot, such as footprints, many broken plants.(Zan Jingfan 44-45) From this information, we can found Bigfoot is afraid of people. They have their own life which is apart from people. They don’t understand people, so the people don’t know them, either. In our eyes, they are strange creatures which are different from other animals. However, maybe we also are strange creatures in Bigfoot’s eyes. Not only we can confirm the existence of Bigfoot through the witness, but also we can find some information from environment of Shenlongjia.
There have some proofs about the existence of Bigfoot found from the environment. “According to the law of geographical distribution of animals, it is important for such kind of creatures to exist.”(Zan 44-45) I agree with this idea, because Shenlongjia has “complex natural environment and ideal climatic conditions”(Zan 44-45), so the environment must fit the life style of Bigfoot. Environment is the important factors to impel the growth of everything on earth. Because it is a good place for Bigfoot to live, it will appear Bigfoot easily in there.
There have different ideas about Bigfoot, so people still explore the authenticity of Bigfoot. From many examples from America and China, we can know more information about Bigfoot. In my opinion, first of all, many examples prove the existence of Bigfoot. It is impossible that many people make fake proofs. Through the characteristic of Bigfoot, we found there have close relationships between people and Bigfoot. Our world is magic, it can create different creatures and make them live together on earth, so we should believe Bigfoot exists in the world. Actually, Whether Bigfoot exists or not, we still want to find them, and know the lifestyle of them.
Works Cited
Streufert Steven. “Bigfoot in Humboldt County-Fifty Years or 50,000?” BIGFOOT’s Blog. 29 Dec, 2008. 19 Apr, 2009.
<http://bigfootbooksblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/bigfoot-in-humboldt-county-fifty-years_29.html>
Pyle, Robert Michael. “Where Bigfoot walks: Crossing the Dark Divide”
Loxton Daniel “Big Foot” Skeptic Vol. 11 Issue 2. 2004:96-97
Zan Jifang “Hubei Bigfoot--Fact or Fiction?” BeiJing Review.com.cn 20 Dec, 2007. 19 Apr,2009 Vol. 50 Issue 51, p44-45.
< http://www.bjreview.com.cn/culture/txt/2007-12/17/content_90919.htm>

WEI WEI BIOGRAPHY:

Hi, my name is WeiWei. I’m an outgoing and happy girl. I’m a Chinese student in Xi’an International Studies University. Now, I’m learning English in Humboldt College. The fall semester of 2009, I will learn Globalization in Humboldt State University. My birth place is AnKang. It is a small city where has blue sky and clean river of Shaanxi province. Reading, singing, dancing and playing piano is my hobby. I also like literature very much. In my article about Bigfoot, I think it should be exist in the world. I also gave some ideas about Bigfoot. Hope you like it.

The China Yeren-Bigfoot Writing Project, Papers Coming

In 2009 in Xi'an China American teacher Christa Harrison used Bigfoot as a writing project subject with her English learning Chinese students. In association with Bigfoot Books' BIGFOOT'S bLOG these papers are being posted here. Each student will have their own blog entry with a brief bio, and Christa will be writing an introductory project outline.

Students were encouraged to think of Bigfoot and their own native cryptid hominid-hominoid traditions such as the Yeti and Yeren. They were encouraged to write a Western-style research paper, but as you'll see, the perspectives are also uniquely Chinese.