Play music.《枉凝眉》。
I’m reading the story of the stone by Cao Xue Qin. Let’s start off with the mini book talk. The Philosophy of the won-done song.
Here’s a passage from page 63.
One day, wishing to take his mind off his troubles for a bit, he had dragged himself, stick in hand, to the main road, when it chanced that he suddenly caught sight of a Taoist with a limp- a crazy, erratic figure in hempen sandals & tattered clothes, who chanted the following words to himself as he advanced towards him.
“Men all know that salvation should be won,
But with ambition won’t have done, have done.
Where are the famous ones of days gone by?
In grassy graves they lie now, everyone….
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Men all know that salvation should be won,
But with their riches won’t have done, have done.
Each day they grumble they’ve not made enough
When they’ve enough, it’s goodnight everyone!
Men all know that salvation should be won
But with their loving wives they won’t have done
The darlings every day protest their love:
But once you’re dead, they’re off with another one.
Men all know that salvation must be won
But with their children they won’t have done have done.
Yet though of parents fond there is no lack
Of grateful children saw I ne’er a one.”
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Shi-yin approached the Taoist and questioned him. “What is all this you are saying? All I can make out is a lot of ‘won’ and ‘done’.”
“If you can make out ‘won’ and ‘done’,” replied the taoist with a smile “you may be said to have understood; for all the affairs of this world that is won is done, and what is done is won; for whoever has not yet done has not yet won; And in order to have won, one must first have done. I shall call my song the ‘won-done song’.”
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Shi-yin had always been quick-witted and on hearing these words a flash of understanding had illuminated his mind. He therefore smiled back at Taoist: “wait a minute! How would you like me to provide your ‘won-done song’ with a commentary?”
“Please do!” said the Taoist; and shi-yin proceeded as follows:
“Mean hovels and abandoned halls
Where courtier once paid daily calls
Bleak haunts where weeds and willows scarcely thrice
Where once with mirth and revelry alive
Whilst cobwebs shroud the mansion’s glided beams
Would you of perfumed elegance recite?
Even as you speak, the raven locks turn white…
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Who yesterday her lord’s bones laid in clay
On silken bridal-bed shall lie today
Coffers with gold and silver filled;
Now, in a trice, a tramp by all reviled
One at some other’s short life gives a sigh
Not knowing that he, too, goes home to die!
The sheltered and well-educated lad,
In spite of all your care, may turn out bad!
And the delicate, fastidious maid
End in a foul stews, plying a shameful trade.
The judge whose hat is too small for his head,
Wear in end, a convict’s cangue instead.
Who shivering once in rags bemoaned his fate
Today finds fault with scarlet robes of state.
In such commotion does the world’s theatre rage:
As each one leaves, another takes the stage.
In vain we roam:
Each in the end must call a strange land home.
Each of us with that poor girl may compare
Who sews a wedding-gown for another bride to wear.
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The passage included a vivid description of the Taoist.
1. He was described as a “crazy, erratic figure”. And I think that People who seemed crazy or strange on the outside are more likely to have a clearer mind than those who are socially active…Well, in some sense. It’s a traditional Taoist way of thinking, to communicate with nature is the best way to reach the “道” as in “the way.”
2. There’s a lot of Comparison between ‘won’ and ‘done’. The philosophy behind it is too complex to explain…but the main understanding is that, when you gain something, that thing can be easily taken from you. And when you give up everything, you’ve got nothing to lose. It’s like one of the Chinese old sayings--Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme.
3. Contrasts and symbolisms could be found. You can simply scan through these. Mirth with cobwebs. Gold with tramp. Even though sheltered, things can turn out bad. Delicate maid ends up in shameful trades. And the size of a judge’s hat is supposed to indicate one’s rank in the political system. And a cangue is one of these things prisoners wear on their necks.
Stage means a position with great power everyone fights for. home means a place you think you belong to and wedding gown means all your gains, everything you’ve earned. These are all symbolisms.
All good or bad comes to an end, all the efforts made against fate are in vain.
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Change song<葬花吟>.
You might wonder…why did the author take such a negative approach towards life?
Here’s a little info about Cao Xue Qin.
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He’s a Novelist. Born in Nanking, China. During the rule of Qianlong emperor, Qing Dynasty. And he was born in a wealthy family. They were textile commissioners, favored by the emperor. However, his family reached highpoint of glamour and declined due to political reasons. And then he became very poor…that’s when he started writing the story of the stones…otherwise known as the red chamber dream. After 10 years, he finished the first 80 chapters, leaving the last 40 chapters unfinished. Cao died in his forties.
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The story took place in Rong-guo & Ning-guo mansion owned by the Jia’s, involving political conflicts, human relationships, the rising and downfall of a large clan, with a main line of Bao-yu & Dai-yu’s romantic tragedy.
Bao-yu and dai-yu were direct cousins…I guess incest marriages were allowed at that time. How ever…sad to say, with bao-yu’s parents’ disapprovals, Dai-yu died miserably and Bao-yu retired from the world and became a monk in the end.
Yes…He was actually referring to himself when created the character Bao-yu.
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Some photos….
Some clips….
THE END!
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