As history has taught us, behind every great man is a women (or two or three), its the support behind the curtains in times of hardship and destiny. Behind the face of the strong man is always a women helping to hold it up, or you know...boss it around ( do the dishes!)

This is the daughter of a lord who is basically trying to hook them (the guy from my last photo) up, oh how the mighty have been brought down to our level.

Many famous stories of Beijing opera involve the relationships between a man and a women in the middle of the a complex plot of truly cultural epics that stem out of China. Its the same in many places, themes that tie us all together in unity and as a race.

An interesting fact is that very few women used to play in Beijing opera, and it is sort of true today although many roles are being turned over. Before women were played by men and it is sort of interesting to see how well they can often mask up a middle ages man to look like a young women (sometimes its sort of disturbing though). In a less phallocentric China, women have come to claim some of the roles that traditionally have belonged to men. In some ways it just seems more appropriate.

Canon 20D, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS L lens, 1/160 sec, f2.8, ISO 200