Inside and Outside the Iron Cage: Who Is the Prisoner of the World?

In the concrete jungle of cities, zoos are the only places where we can come into contact with wild animals. Through the sturdy glass and fences, we watch the animals in the cages with great interest, and sometimes we sigh at these caged lives that have lost the freedom to roam the earth, as if humans are the ones living the most carefree and comfortable lives.

But when I went to the African savannah and sat in the sightseeing vehicle, the outdoor jacket I wore was heated up by the sun. Looking outside the cage, the lions were strolling leisurely, completely ignoring us; the cheetahs crossed the tire tracks freely, not caring about the vehicle at all; the zebras turned their heads in alarm at the sound of the vehicle horn, seemingly quite annoyed; and the wild oxen stared at us intently, as if silently challenging us, ready to attack at any moment.

On this vast grassland, the wildness and grandeur of life are fully displayed. I was shocked. We, who once observed the animals in the zoo in the guise of “freedom seekers”, are now confined in a cage car and have become the objects of observation, while those animals are the true protagonists of this grassland.

This huge contrast reminds me of Nietzsche’s saying, “There is no truth in this world, only perspectives,” which is most vividly illustrated at this moment. The truths we firmly believe in are merely measuring the world from a single perspective, simplifying the complex reality into black-and-white judgments.

Whether it’s humans observing beasts or beasts peering at humans, the predicaments of life often stem from the limitations of perspective. If we can let go of our preconceived notions, we will find that the answers we obtain vary depending on the angle from which we view the world; all the existences that are hard to understand have their own unique logic of life. Therefore, by changing our perspective, the world will present countless possibilities.

The photos I’m sharing with you all were not taken with sophisticated equipment, nor do they showcase the golden, dazzling sunlight that is characteristic of Africa. However, in my heart, they have left an indelible African sentiment!