Communist Pheonix and Capitalist Ant

If you've been inside a Chinese restaurant, chances are you might have seen this picture, or framed embroidery.



It's called 百鳥朝鳳, or "Hundreds of Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix."  It's typically given to businesses to say many people support you.

The story of how the phoenix got it's feathers is common children's tale similar to the ant in Aesop's fables, but with a slight twist.  Here's how it goes:

"Once upon a time the phoenix was an ugly looking bird, but was very hard working.  When it was spring, all the birds fluttered around, playing and eating to their heart's desire.  The other birds would simply drop their half-eaten fruits to the floor, while the phoenix carefully tucked leftovers in a cave.  All the birds ridiculed the phoenix for working instead of frolicking with the other birds.  Winter came, and all the fruits disappeared.  All the birds were beginning to starve, but the gracious phoenix let all the other birds into the cave and survived winter.  Spring came again, and to pay homage to the phoenix, all the birds plucked the best feathers on their backs and gave it to the phoenix.  Hence, the phoenix looks all rainbow psychedelic."

The ant from Western tradition and the phoenix from the east expose a subtle difference on hard work.

The hard working capitalistic ant was able to live happily and out competed his grasshopper.  The communist phoenix was efficient while the bourgeois birds almost died from their over extravagance, only to be saved from the socialist comrade loving phoenix.

Okay, toning down the grossly politically incorrect interpretation, both cases seem to lack balance.  Was it heartless for the ant to leave the grasshopper to starve?  Was it unfair for the phoenix to do ALL the work to save everyone?

Perhaps one could argue that I'm creating a false dichotomy, and one should always use foresight and hard work to help those in need.  But when hear stories of a crack addict mother putting all of her 7 children up for adoption, or a woman with Mercedes car keys using a welfare debit card, I also want to see the grasshopper starve.

 

On My Laziness

〈詠慵詩〉

On My Laziness

 白居易

by Bai Juyi

Translated by Yoyo

With help from Stephen Owen's An Anthology of Chinese Literature

Owen, Stephen. An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996. 498-99. Print.

有官慵不選，有田慵不農。

With office I'm lazy to serve, With crops I'm lazy to farm.

屋穿慵不葺，衣裂慵不縫。

With holes on the roof I'm lazy to mend, With ripped cloths I'm lazy to stitch.

有酒慵不酌，無異樽長空。

With wine I'm lazy to pour, no difference pouring into eternal emptiness.

有琴慵不彈，亦与無弦同。

With zither I'm lazy to pluck, like the famous "Harp Without Strings."

家人告飯盡，欲炊慵不舂。

The family tells there is no more food, I'd wish for a bowl but too lazy to carve one.

親朋寄書至，欲讀慵開封。

Close friends send letters, I wish to read but too lazy to open the seal

常聞嵇叔夜，一生在慵中。

I often hear Xi Shu Ye, was lazy his entire life

彈琴復鍛鐵，比我未為慵。

He plucked the zither and smelted metal, he was not as lazy as me.

Amazon Prime and Du Mu

When I read Amazon Prime could ship any package to you door the next day.  I remembered a couplet from Du Mu:

一騎紅塵妃子笑

A horserider and red dust, the consort laughs

無人知是荔枝來

No one knows the lychee are coming.

Legend has it that consort to the Tang emperor Yang Guifei loved to eat lychee, but Chang 'an (modern day Xi'an) was too far north from where lychees, so Xuanzong sets up a modern day pony express system to relay lychees quickly to the consort.

Other texts of the period also record crops and farmers being trampled on, just so the consort can eat tropical fruit.  If she were alive today, she could book any fruit on first class and have it on her doorstep within 24 hours. In fact millions of us can order something from across the world at speeds Tang royalty can only dream of.

I'm reading the book "All Natural" by Nathanael Johnson.   In his chapter on sugar, he talks about how the word "sweet" is synonymous to momentary pleasure, not contentment.  In chemistry terms, it's the difference between feeling endorphines (content) and dopamine (pleasure).  Because consumers can't tell the difference, we equate one with the other.

Du Mu warns us of the impact of one individual's overzealous passion for pleasure.  Call me old fashioned, but being able to move items within a day of our desire for pleasure makes be cautious of greed with technology.  Not just with solid packages, but the attention we place on material pleasure.

I am reminded of another quote from Du Fu, (don't get this confused with Du Mu):

朱門酒肉臭

At the red gates, the odor of wine and meat

路有凍死骨

On the road frozen dead bones

When we attend to our pleasure, what do we neglect?

Comments?  Thoughts?

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 6

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 5

徐太太笑道："提起你妹妹，我還等他們的回話呢。"

Madam Xu laughed, "Bringing up your sister, I want to hear what they have to say."

流蘇道："七妹的事，有希望麼？"

Liu Su said, " 7th Sister's situation, is there hope?"

徐太太道："說得有幾分眉目了。剛才我有意的讓娘兒們自己商 議商議，我說我上去瞧瞧六小姐就來。現在可該下去了。你送我下去，成不成？"

"There's some general idea after talks.  I just thought about letting the ladies negotiate.  When I wanted to go listen 6th Sister came.  Right now I should go down.  Why don't you send me down, agree?"

流蘇只得扶著徐太太下樓，樓梯又舊，徐太太又胖，走得吱吱格格一片響。到了堂 屋裡，流蘇欲待開燈，

Liu Su felt obligated to help Madam Xu by the hand.  The stairs were old, and Madam Xu was plump, walking there was moaning and groaning.  When they reached the main room, Liu Su wanted open the lights.

徐太太道："不用了，看得見。他們就在東廂房裡。你跟我來，大家說說笑笑，事情也就過去了，不然，明兒吃飯的時候免不了要見面的，反 而僵得慌。"

"There's no need, I can see.  They are in the east room.  Come with me, everyone is laughie-talkie, the situations will pass over.  If not, tomorrow you have to see them all again, and you'll be stiff and panicky."

流蘇聽不得"吃飯"這兩個字，心裡一陣刺痛，硬著嗓子，強笑道："多謝嬸子——可是我這會子身子有點不舒服，實在不能夠見人，只怕失魂落魄 的，說話闖了禍，反而辜負了您待我的一片心。"

When Liu Su heard the words "eat," she felt a stab in her heart.  Her throat turned stiff.  With a strong laugh she said, "  Thank you auntie -- but this time my body doesn't feel too good, I honestly can't see people.  I'll be scared out of my wits, my words will bring disaster, instead I'll fail to live up to my place in your heart."

徐太太見流蘇一定不肯，也就罷了，自己推門進去。

Madam Xu saw Liu Su was unwilling, so she gave up.  She pushed the door and left.

門掩上了，堂屋裡暗著，門的上端的玻璃格子裡透進兩方黃色的燈光，落在青磚地上。朦朧中可以看見堂屋裡順著牆高高下下堆著一排書箱，紫檀匣子， 刻著綠泥款識。正中天然幾上，玻璃罩子裡，擱著琺瑯自鳴鐘，機括早壞了，停了多年。兩旁垂著朱紅對聯，閃著金色壽字團花，一朵花托住一個墨汁淋漓的大字。 在微光裡，一個個的字都像浮在半空中，離著紙老遠。流蘇覺得自己就是對聯上的一個字，虛飄飄的，不落實地。白公館有這麼一點像神仙的洞府：這裡悠悠忽忽過 了一天，世上已經過了一千年。可是這裡過了一千年，也同一天差不多，因為每天都是一樣的單調與無聊。流蘇交叉著胳膊，抱住她自己的頸項。七八年一眨眼就過 去了。你年輕麼？不要緊，過兩年就老了，這裡，青春是不希罕的。他們有的是青春——孩子一個個的被生出來，新的明亮的眼睛，新的紅嫩的嘴，新的智慧。一年 又一年的磨下來，眼睛鈍了，人鈍了，下一代又生出來了。這一代便被吸到朱紅灑金的輝煌的背景裡去，一點一點的淡金便是從前的人的怯怯的眼睛。

The door closed, the main hall was quiet, yellow lamplight from both sides  of the detail on the glass lattice of the door penetrated through, falling on the green brick floor.  Through the haze one could see the main call with it's high and low stacks of arranged book boxes, red sandalwood boxes, and carved green quotes.  In the middle almost naturally, in the shadow of the glass, stood an enamel bell chime, the mechanism was already broken, it was still for many years.  On it's two sides red couplets hung, the gold word for "longevity" was surrounded by flowers, each flower vase was saturated with big inky words.  In the glimmer, every single work was floating in mid-air, leaving the old paper behind.  Liu Su felt she herself was like a character on the couplet, floating, not falling on-site.  The Bai residence was little like an immortal's cave dwelling:  passing a fleeting drawn-out day, the moral world aged a 1000 years.  But if 1000 years passed here, each day would be roughly the same because each day is the same monotony and boredom.    Liu Su crossed her arms and held onto her neck.  With a blink of an eye 7, 8 years have passed.  You still young?  Don't worry, in two years you'll be old.  This place, youth is not rare.  Some are youths, children one by one are forced to be born, new bright eyes, new red supple lips, new intelligence.  Year after year it wears away, eyes turn dull, people turn drull, and the next generation is born.  This generation get sucked behind the vibrant red and shining gold splendor, bit by bit the fading gold is exactly the timid eyes of peoples past.

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 5

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 4

那人走到床前坐下了，一開口，卻是徐太太的聲音。徐太太勸道："六小姐，別傷心了，起來，起來，大熱的天……"

That person sat in front of the bed.  It was Madam Xu who opened her mouth.  She assured her, " 6th Sister, don't feel sad.  Come, some up, it's hot today...."

流蘇撐著床勉強站了起來，道：" 嬸子，我……我在這兒再也呆不下去了。早就知道人家多嫌著我，就只差明說。今兒當面鑼，對面鼓，發過話了，我可沒有臉再住下去了！"

Liu Su propped herself up from the bed and barely stood, saying, "Auntie, I..... I can't just sit in a daze here anymore.  I already knew people here resented me, I only said the truth.  Today one end gonged, the other end drummed.  After spilling words, I have no face living here!"

徐太太扯她在床沿上一 同坐下，悄悄地道："你也太老實了，不怪人家欺負你，你哥哥們把你的錢盤來盤去盤光了。就養活你一輩子也是應該的。"

Madam Xu pulled her to sit alongside her on the bed, she quietly responded, " You are too honest, no wonder people take advantage of you.  Your older brother and them took shuffled your money plate around leaving nothing.  They should provide for you for the rest of your live."

流蘇難得聽見這幾句公道話，且不問她是真心還是假意，先就從心上熱起來，淚如雨下，道："誰叫我自己糊塗呢！就為了這幾個錢，害得我要走也走不 開。"

Liu Su could hardly hear these truthful words, without paying attention to whether or not Madam Xu was acting, Liu Su's heart heated up, tears pouring like rain.  She said, "Who said I was confused! Just for the money, I can't leave if I wanted to."

徐太太道："年紀輕輕的人，不怕沒有活路。"

"Young people shouldn't fear not having a path ahead."

流蘇道："有活路，我早走了！我又沒唸過兩句書，肩不能挑，手不能提，我能做什麼事？"

" If was a way out I'd leave!  I've never ready to words in a book, my shoulders never carried anything, my hands never lifted anything, what can I do?"

徐太太道："找 事，都是假的，還是找個人是真的。"

"Finding work is a lie, find the right people."

流蘇道："那怕不行。我這一輩子早完了。"

"That won't do, my life is already over."

徐太太道："這句話，只有有錢的人，不愁吃，不愁穿，才有資格說。沒錢的 人，要完也完不了哇！你就是剃了頭髮當姑子去，化個緣罷，也還是塵緣——離不了人！"

"That's what only rich people say.  They don't worry about food or clothes, they can say that.  Poor people, you ending it still won't end it!  If you shaved your head to be a nun, and end your karma, you'd still be dust-- you can't escape people!"

流蘇低頭不語。徐太太道："你這件事，早兩年託了我，又要好些。"

Liu Su was silent as she lowered her head.  Madam Xu said, "This situation, if you came to me two years ago would have made things easier."

流 蘇微微一笑道："可不是，我已經二十八了。"

Liu Su laughed, "Exactly, I'm already 28 years old."

徐太太道："放著你這樣好的人才，二十八也不算什麼。我替你留心著。說著我又要怪你了，離了婚七八年了，你早 點兒拿定了主意，遠走高飛，少受多少氣！"

Madam Xu said, "Trying a person of your talent, being 28 isn't too bad.  I'll help you worry. Talking about me would be blaming yourself, I divorced for 7, 8 years already.  If you decided earlier, you would have long gone and had much less problems!"

流蘇道："嬸子你又不是不知道，像我們這樣的家庭，哪兒肯放我們出去交際？倚仗著家裡人罷，別說他們根本不讚 成，就是贊成了，我底下還有兩個妹妹沒出閣，三哥四哥的幾個女孩子也漸漸地長大了，張羅她們還來不及呢，還顧得到我？"

Liu Su said, "Autie, you must know this as well.  How could families like ours let us socialize? Ending my reliance on family, others say family don't agree, but they already did.  I still have two little sisters who aren't married, 3rd and 4th Brother still have two girls about to become adults, I can barely attend to them, how can I care for myself?"

Part 6

American Cool

Don't worry, I'm still going to talk about China.

I don't like violent movies, but Quentin Tarantino's movies violence perks my interest.  He always shows how to kill with style.

But there's only one clip I want to talk about.  Take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik-RsDGPI5Y

A little background.  Uma Thurman is a narc dealer's wife, and John Travolta is the same narc dealer's minion.  The narc dealer tells Travolta to show Thurman a good time.  Travolta is careful not to overstep his limits, and Thurman wants a little perk in the evening.  They have somewhat awkward dinner conversation, and Thurman spontaneously was Travolta to dance in a competition.

If a non-American watched only this clip, one would instantly know this is American.  Why?

Aside from the 50's music and diner, notice these are 90's people dancing to 50's music.  They're so serious about exuding a sense of cool.  This dance exudes a certain allure and confidence: "I'm so cool because I'm dancing to the beat and dancing to the dorkiest style music, but I'm not smiling because I'm still cooler than you."

The American can always take a style and transform it something else.  American art looks at a style from the past, and says screw it, I can do better.

American cool is neurotic and dangerous towards the past.  It impulsively reinvents, accepts and rejects the past.  A young country doesn't have to feel to guilty about how it chooses to interpret it's cultural history.

An old country like China is horrendously careful what it chooses how to express it's culture.   Let's revisit the 2008 Olympics.  I highly doubt Hu Jintao would have jumped off a helicopter to warm up the crowd.

But why can't the Chinese make fun of its own culture once in a while?

On the Middle of a Boat Reading Yuan Jiu's Poetry

舟中讀元九詩

On the Middle of a Boat  Reading Yuan Jiu's Poetry

白居易

Bai Juyi

Translated by 幽柚

把君詩卷燈前讀，詩盡燈殘天未明。

I take your poem scroll in front of a lamp, after reading your poem and blowing out the lights the sky is not yet bright.

眼痛滅燈猶暗坐，逆風吹浪打船聲。

My eyes hurt after blowing out the lights sitting there quietly, going against the wind the sound of the waves hit the boat.

***I just realized translating "Love in a Fallen City" might take 2 months.......