The bull wasn't a prop; it was a worthy opponent to the leaper. Here, man competed not against another man, but against the forces of nature. A modern reconstruction of a bull leaper's journey. Image via Michael Lahanas.
Interesting facts about China : China is the most populous (1.36 billion - 2014 estimated) & fourth largest country in the world by total area (9,596,961 sq km). People's Republic of China is also known for largest standing army with second largest defense budget. China is the world second largest economy by nominal GDP and GDP (PPP).
The principal reason is that China is now an economic superpower and is fast becoming a military force capable of unsettling America. But our interest in China lies also in its politics: it is governed by a system that is out of step with global norms. In ways that were never true of post-war Japan and may never be true of India, China will both fascinate and agitate the rest of the world for a long time to come.