Monday, March 16, 2009

Held down by one chain

chain

Photographer Chien Chi Chang achieved six years the permission to shooting of the underground psychiatric clinic located in monastery Lon Fa Tan which patients in the therapeutic purposes are chained to each other by chains.

Patients are defined by relatives who consider, that they are dishonoured by the mad member of household. Therapy includes poultry farming, sewing and others "useful skills". Patients are held down on two chains: more open and sociable with closed and unsociable. Such neighbourhood, according to monks, harmonises both.

In 1997 indignation of psychiatrists has led to hearings in parliament of Taiwan. Deputy Hu An has introduced the bill forbidding similar medical experiments. The law has been accepted, but the monastery exists till now.