When the topic of butterflies comes up, many people think of the legendary romantic tragedy of the lovers Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, while many Westerners think of Madame Butterfly.
But the story of Monsieur Butterfly should not be neglected.
Not knowing very much about these legends or music, Guo Longsheng is an ordinary farmer in Shanghai's Nanhui County. Aged 71, he is thin; his skin is darkened by the sun; and he is a man of few words but with an honest smile.
The different background does not impede his love for butterflies.
Shanghai's Butterfly King has collected some 100,000 butterflies in the past 19 years.
Entering Guo's home, every visitor will be shocked by the piles of specimens. They virtually push people out of the house.
"They are my father's treasure," said Guo's second son.
"Actually, I have liked insects since as long ago as the 1950s," said laconic Guo.
Then, he sold specimens to institutions and schools. He also did some research on pests.
But day after day, butterflies attracted his attention. "They are very pretty," Guo said.
This country has a variety of butterflies. Of the world's 1,300 species, China has over 1,000.
In Guo's collection of over 600 species, the smallest butterfly is only 1.2 centimeters wide and the biggest almost 25 centimeters if it stretches out its wings.
Morpho menelaus is a kind of bright blue butterfly, but also has a slight purple color. Lycaenidae is gray, though its color is not very beautiful. If you look carefully, you will find that its wings are semi-transparent in the sunshine. Hypolimnas bolina has a dreamy color, something like purple. Its color will change in different lights.
Wolf hole
Catching these beautiful insects is not a romantic thing. "Dangers can't be avoided," Guo said.
Butterflies are mostly concentrated in South China's Hainan Province, Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region, and eastern China.
In 1989, 60-year-old Guo went to Niushoushan Mountain near Nanjing in Jiangsu Province to collect butterflies. Following the butterflies, unconsciously, he walked deep into the mountain.
"I didn't realize it until suddenly I heard barking, like that of dogs," he said. "I looked down to find I was in a wolf hole."
Five cubs were squeezed together in the hole. The adult wolf stood poised to attack.
"I shall never forget the wolf's eyes in the dark," he said.
He managed to get away in time, however.
The experience did not discourage him from pursuing his vocation. The number of mountains he has climbed is countless. But Guo still has a wish: to catch butterflies in the snow-covered mountains of Tibet.
Years ago, Guo used to climb the mountains of Tibet. But he failed at one 2,500-metre-high place. "I felt out of breath. My eyes become bloodshot. I could only turn back," he said.
Guo's four sons and four grandsons are addicted to butterflies. The usual entertainment of the family in their leisure hours is to catch and make butterfly specimens together.
Broken on the wheel
Even though he is so crazy about butterflies, Guo once thought he would quit this hobby because of a case in 1994.
A local butterfly collector posted several cherished butterflies to a butterfly company in the United States. The Security Bureau of Changning District learned about this and took it as an important smuggling case.
A total of five Shanghai butterfly collectors were involved in the case, because they used to exchange their collections. Changning District Court sentenced Guo to one year's imprisonment and was claimed to be engaged in speculation and profiteering.
The media paid a great deal of attention to the case because Guo was the famous “King of the Butterflies”. One newspaper printed a piece under the headline "Death of the Butterfly."
In 1995, after Guo's appeal to the Shanghai Intermediate People's Court, and after repeated investigations by a total of 88 experts from China Academy of Sciences, Guo was claimed to be innocent.
After the clarification, he had been in prison 222 days.
"I felt frustrated at the time. I almost didn't want to see butterflies anymore," Guo said. But after a few days of recovery, he picked up his net and went out to look for them again.
Colorful world
Guo is currently holding a butterfly exhibition, "Guo Longsheng and his Colorful World", at Century Park in Pudong until August 20. For five yuan you can enjoy over 600 species of about 10,000 butterflies.
But ticket sales are not very good. "With the high temperature, there are fewer people visiting the park," said an official at the exhibition hall. "We only sell an average of 153 yuan ($18.5) of tickets per day. It isn't enough to pay for the electricity."
Guo said he does not care very much about ticket sales. "It's okay if someone likes it," he said.
"It's his style, he just pays attention to butterflies but never knows how to promote himself and his collection," said Guo's friend Yan Guisan. "After 19 years, he is still a common farmer. With planning he could be a millionaire."
In answer to his friend's complaint, Guo smiled, wordless.
(Shanghai Star via CIIC 07/25/2001)
