Chapter 352: 445 chapters, that beautiful thing

445 chapters, that beautiful thing

445 chapters, that beautiful thing

――――One red apricot branch growing out of the wall (18)

This person is sometimes strange. Things that originally had nothing to do with oneself, things in dreams, distant things, heavenly things, sea things—once one takes an interest in them, one must pursue and seek them out. Even if one were to pluck the moon from the ninth heaven or catch turtles in the five oceans. This is what a person is: rich in imagination; this is also what makes a person precious. Precisely because a person has imagination, they want to obtain it, yet they cannot; the more they cannot obtain it, the more they want it.

Perhaps the things we want but cannot obtain are the reason we live? This reason, put plainly, is the ideal. To live for the ideal.

If, in this world, everything one wants has already been obtained; then, although one is psychologically satisfied, that satisfaction often will, and will also, dampen our spirits. Even worse, it may cause us to lose the confidence and courage to go on.

The reason we go on living is not because we have already obtained it, but because we have not yet obtained it.

This is what a person is; this is what makes a person precious. A person will never obtain what they want; thus they will always want to go on living. Some people, unable to obtain it in reality, obtain it in their hearts (whoever says this, everyone knows: it's the Ah Q mentality).

Who said this? The thing one wants but cannot obtain is more precious than anything, better than anything. For example, the bright moon in the heavens. That bright moon in the heavens, in the hearts of people ancient and modern, near and far, is the most beautiful and precious thing in the world. Who knows how many people want to obtain this beauty, this preciousness――――

The moon rises, bright and white; it makes people yearn.

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That pure and beautiful moon, upon emerging from the heavens, causes the heart to generate endless longing. Is it perhaps a piece of beautiful jade? Or a beautiful place?

It is said that the great Tang poet Li Bai had a deep affection for the bright moon, being wholly devoted to it. He spent almost his whole life in companionship with the moon. No matter when or where, he never parted from the moon――――――

Among the flowers, a jug of wine; I drink alone, without anyone to keep me company.

I raise my cup to invite the bright moon; with my shadow, we become three.

The moon does not know joy; my shadow merely follows my body.

I sing, the moon wanders; I dance, my shadow is scattered.

When sober, we share joy together; when drunk, we each go our separate ways.

We forever bind the loveless road; how can we hope to avoid the Milky Way?

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Look at Li Bai: on a lonely, deserted night, when the bright moon rises from the east, he sets a small jug of wine beside the flowers. With no one to keep him company, he invites the bright moon in the heavens to drink with him. Between heaven and earth, there are only three of us: me (Li Bai), my own shadow, and a lifelong companion: the bright moon. In these beautiful moments, let us sing! Only sing! Let us wander! Only wander! I dance, playing with my shadow! Good! Let us dance, playing with our shadow!

Look, between heaven and earth, who could feel such deep affection for me? Only the bright moon. The bright moon! The bright moon! ――――――

When will the bright moon be?

I raise my cup and ask the azure sky.

I do not know the palaces and towers in heaven.

What year is it tonight?

I wish to ride the wind and return.

I fear the jade towers and crystal halls.

The heights are unbearably cold.

Rise and dance, playing with my clear shadow.

How could this be compared to being in the mortal world!

Zhuanzhuge, leaning low against the door.

It shines upon the sleepless; there is no cause for resentment.

When will it always be full when we part?

People have joy and sorrow, parting and reunion.

The moon has waxing and waning, brightness and darkness.

At this moment, it is hard for ancient times to be complete.

May people live long.

A thousand miles, sharing Chanjuan!

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Look at Su Dongpo: his devotion to the bright moon is no less than Li Bai's. This is not to say they have obtained it, but rather that they have not obtained it. What has not been obtained is surely good, beautiful. For what has not been obtained, one certainly longs for it, and that longing is infinite.

If it were truly obtained, then the beauty longed for in the heart would not necessarily be beautiful. Just like that moon in the heavens: if Li Bai, Su Dongpo, and other sentimental people were to actually see the beautiful moon they long for, they would find it a cold, uneven stone, on which humanity could not possibly survive. They would surely all be disappointed.

But, no matter how one says it, as long as one is a person, the heart harbors longing, and all longing is beautiful and noble. In this world, there is no one who would pursue ugly, evil deeds.

My thoughts will shine with the beauty that the heart longs for; my spirit will be gladdened by those beautiful things. Although that beauty is the moon in the heavens, I still cannot part with that distant beauty, the beauty of dreams. It is precisely those distant beauties, the beauties of dreams, that make our insignificant lives also become beautiful.

The Taiwanese female poet Ximurong has a poem that says (I only remember the general idea, I cannot recall the exact lines)――――――

I gradually came to understand

In life there is an unchanging main kick

That is the eternal pursuit of beauty.

That is like a strong, individualistic person.

Only then can it lead people to rise and transform.

I gradually came to understand those who persevere

Those who wait for the future

That is my whole life

My understanding is always gradual

It is that kind of hesitant yet alleviating realization

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(Exciting to be continued in the next chapter…………)

(Our hearts are with the disaster area, our emotions are with the disaster area: may peace, courage, confidence, and strength be with the people of the disaster area, accompanying them! Accompanying them!)