Final Ramble- A Thank you note

I would like to thanks those who have like, commented and given advice to this series. So I don't really expect these long stuff, I really treasure every like and comments it has been received.

I have th...ought of a similar idea like this two years ago, and the original idea is to translate what I have learnt during my course of study. However, I was reluctant to put it into action due to 2 reasons. Firstly, I don't believed I well trained enough to deliver quality, especially when the topic are sometimes up to discussions rather than facts alone. Secondly, I have to frankly admit that English is bad. I constantly, consistently struggled with my English since young (The is only one person in the entire class who pronounced titanic as Tatanic, Grand Theft Auto as Grand Thief Auto, pedophile as "Peter-Bao". That's me). I will be mortified to showcase my poor command over English by constant showing bad mistakes.

In recent years, I seems to encounter a rising anti-Chinese language sentimental among young Singaporeans (This is due to many factors of course. Perhaps 1 factor may be the mindset that Singaporean are suppose to speak their mother tongue badly and excel in English. Speaking good Mother tongue, especially Chinese, associate themselves with certain..... group of people). This is such a sad thing. Every where in the world regard studying a second language a great advantage. Only Singaporean regards that as an obstruction as it potentially pull them down in the great paper chase. Seeing how my future peers struggled to teach the language, I felt guilty for studying, and not joining the fight together with them as of now. But I can I do? That's when the idea came in. Instead of sharing what I learnt, how about an attempt to translated Chinese value and Culture in English. Most hated the language and culture due to a lack of understanding. How about to clarify those? If the worst has arrived and English is officially our Mother Tongue, can culture and heritage taught in this way? As for the concern for a lack a knowledge and poor mistake, I have to take the leap of faith and trust my peers to correct me if I made a mistake (Proven when peers told me that I spell rambling incorrectly). But how do I start? It is by chance that I rewatch les miserable on plane and remember a lecture about the similarities and difference between Confucianism and Christianity. That is how the first Rambling was cooked up. Although I may sometime take a little liberties a stray bit away, it is still fundamentally a tradition Chinese way of thinking and appreciating. I know that this is foolish attempt and will not have any impact. By despite the foolishness in this, It still something worthy doing it isn't it

As for why the name Mindless Ramblings? Mindless in a sense that it is not a thesis. Boring people with thesis is against the objectives. And beside, to a well trained minds, thought process like this should be Mindless isn't it. As I know I am not a very humorous person (Every time I try to be make a joke, the joke is always on me). My things entertaining is really not my forte. Thus, to be honest with myself, I named it ramblings.

I going back to Taiwan tomorrow. So I will be this project to halt. Studying is a process of construct, deconstruct and reconstruct (I refrain from using the word learning as learning is more like acquiring a certain knowledge and skill set. Constructing is to gather all you have learn and construct a holistic interconnected database). I will want to keep the construct away to prevent interruption to the deconstruct process.

At a last note, Thank you for your patience as I have been constantly spamming on FB. And as Fb is not a good site to keep references, I copied and paste all ramblings to a newly created blog for future references (Which I don't believe anyone would want to make reference to them). For people who think that this is a façade, an act just to show off knowledge, feel free to think so. I am not accountable to you btw. For those you hope for a "2nd season", I would not dare to promise anything and allow me to end in a terminator way. "I Will Be Back"

[The Final Ramble........For Now]

For a final rambling (Finally this guy can stop spamming), I will like a share a quote from Menfucian which (I believe) still have relevance in our society. And to commemorate its finale, I will come up with a Singlish translation before the English translation. But before that, please allow me to explain two basic words to better understand... it context. The two words are 仁 ren commonly as benevolence and 义yi commonly translated as Justice.(If you are familiar with the Dynasty Warriors series, you will know that there is a particular faction that like to use these words, overdoing it in fact to the extent that it become a recurring joke). If you aren't interested in the explanation of the two concepts, just skipped the appetiser.

仁- For this word. I will like to use 3 ways to interpret it. The first method is known as 音训, interpretation via how the words are pronounced. One common complaint to the learning of the language is its freaking huge vocab and word bank. 90000 characters in the dictionary, each having its unique stroke! But do you ever wonder how these characters are created? There are a fewer that a thousand words in the past. How does this monster evolve? Simple enough. Like Pokemon, when your monster reach a certain level, it evolve to the next stage. Life are much simpler in the past, there were no need for so many words as there is no need to express too much. But as life gets sophisticated though ages, there is a need for more precise, specified and enriched expressions. Thus, from existing words, they added "parts" to them and form new words. Of course, this is not a suka suka process (Singaporean slang for "anyhow") and their meaning are connected. And we know their connection since the "root" word and the new word supposedly sound similar. For the cause of 仁, its 音训 would be 人, which mean Man. 仁 and 人, benevolence (Use this word) and people, what is the connection? it means For a Man/human to be a Man/Human, one must have this Ren. In menfucian sense, this is what differentiate us from beasts (Not in a scientific sense of course). Ok, so this Ren is suppose to be something everyone should have. What is it then? How is it being achieved. This come to the second and third method.

The second method is to use how the word is structured. For those who know Chinese, 仁is form by a symbol representing people/Man/Human (亻) and the word two(二), which literally means two man. It will mean that this Ren can only be realised or discovered through interactions with people. A third method, is to use interpretation by those who come before. As characters are mostly a symbol where meaning are given by people who came before. The traditional explanation will mean 爱人, commonly translated as loving people. But that's a cheap way of explaining it. It means more about feeling for other. There is example given by Menfucian: When you saw a kid about to be knocked down by the car, you would experience this feeling of shock, a sudden pain in the car. Do you have these feelings just to boast and show off to others than you are compassionate. Or do you have these feelings to make friends with the kids parents. Evidently, this ability to feel for others is the beginning of Ren. The above is the interpretation of Ren.

义: Since the basic has been explained, I will go faster with this one. The 音训 of 义is 宜, which means suitable. A even more suitable interpretation will be: suitable as you feel settled down. From the structure of the words, its a goat (羊) and a I (我). The symbol of the Goat associated itself with words like beauty (美) and goodness (善) and the notion of I will mean that it is beauty and goodness that I want or aspire to achieve. From the third method, we know that the meaning is 已之威仪也,which means the majestic awe-inspiring aura portrayed by self. Although Justice is not really a accurate translation, we can see connection between as they are all awe-inspiring and beautiful. Though the Chinese's concept empathise more self initiative and action to pursue them.

Ok, straight for the Main course. The Singlish translation is as followed:

Mencius go visit King Hui of Liang. The king said: Uncle, you come from far far away, must have good plan to profit my kingdom right?

Mencius relied: ai yo, why talk profit. Got Ren got Yi can olready. The king ask how to profit my country. Civil servants ask how to profit my family. Ordinary people ask how to profit myself. Then people from top till bottom from bottom to top just reap profit from one another lor. Then like that country gone case already. Profit never enough, in the end snatch la. However hor, I never heard of Ren people who neglect their papa mama, and Yi people who put themselves as the first consideration. Talk of Ren Yi, no talk profit can?

For those who don't understand local flavours, the following is a proper translation:

Mencius went to see king Hui of Liang. The king said "Venerable sir, since you come from a far.may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?"

Mencius replied, 'Why must your Majesty use that word "profit?" What I am provided with, are counsels to Ren and Yi, and these are my only topics. 'If your Majesty say, "What is to be done to profit my kingdom?" the great officers will say, "What is to be done to profit our families?" and the inferior officers and the common people will say, "What is to be done to profit our persons?" Superiors and inferiors will try to snatch this profit the one from the other, and the kingdom will be endangered........ if righteousness be put last, and profit be put first, they will not be satisfied without snatching. There never has been a benevolent man who neglected his parents. There never has been a righteous man who made his sovereign an after consideration. Let your Majesty also say, "Benevolence and righteousness, and let these be your only themes." Why must you use that word - "profit?".'

When Sima Qian is writing the legend of Mencuis, he said "Whenever I look at the first line of his written works (Which is the quote I am sharing), I would put the book aside and gave a big sigh." I can totally relate to that. In a society where greed and lust are reverent as the savoir of the world, whereas values are swept like dust in the room. But what can be done? It is "necessary" for our world order as it determines economy success. Sighing is the only thing I can do.

[Mindless rambling 13]
It is interesting to note that the traditional interpretation of Chinese love poems is mostly not very romantic. Rather, the interpretation extend to areas like moral education, theory of management (Be it politics or business), attitude to life. The below are same iconic example. I will post the Chinese love poem (or Phrases from the poem) followed by an English translation... (Not by me obviously) and then the interpretation.

Example 1:
Chinese love Poem
关关雎鸠，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。
参差荇菜，左右流之。窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。
求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。
参差荇菜，左右采之。窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。
参差荇菜，左右毛之。窈窕淑女，钟鼓乐之。

English Translation

"Guan, guan!" go the fish hawks, on an islet in the river. The elegant virtuous maiden- the noble man would love to marry her.

The uneven water spinach-the water flows to the left and right. The elegant virtuous maiden- I will Seek her from day to night seek

Sought but cannot be gotten; Thinking of her day and night.Long, O long is the time; lying down you turn this way and that.

The uneven water spinach - pick it on the left and right. The elegant virtuous maiden- Befriending with the small and large zithers (Zither or string instruments are commonly used to symbolised harmony in a husband and wife relationship. Thus "befriending" is not a very accurate translation)

The uneven water spinach- pluck it on the left and right. The elegant virtuous maiden - gladden with the bell and drum.

Interpretation:
A women with pretty looks are common but Women with virtue are hard to come by. Thus, without the determination to endure long sleepless night seeking for them, wooing them, overcoming various test and obstacles, you won't be able to get what you want (Since they take pride in their virtue and will expect their counterparts to be of the same standards). The same applies for the business and politics, for they require talents to get things run. A talented man is easy to come by (Provide good Pays and benefits, they will come automatically. That's what the government says about pegging their pay with private sector isn't it?). Virtuous and talented men are however hard to come (Since they are more concern with the right cause rather than the right pay and benefits. they won't commit themselves easily as once they are committed, its loyalty to the bitter end. Thus they would want to spend time observing). Without determinate effort to search for them, to win their heart over, you won't get these talents. Furthermore, its important to note that one must still treat them with respect after successful courtship, like the last two verse of the poem describing harmonious marriage life.

Example 2:
Phrases
衣带渐宽终不悔 为伊消得人憔悴

English Translation:
Although my dress loosen gradually, I have no regret of getting more emaciated for you.

Interpretation:
Immediate stage when devoting time to a certain interest. One will relate to this feeling as we are willing to give ourselves up in an attempt to excel in it.

Example 3:
Phrases
众里寻他千百度，驀然回首，那人却在灯火阑珊处

English Translation
Having almost exhausted my energy searching for him/her , I suddenly turned my head, and there he/she is, standing at the far end of the street where the candlelight is the dimmest.

Interpretation:
The final stage when devoting time to a certain interest. As when we are dive deeper into the certain interest, we may lost our way - Perhaps being unable find the answer you want or forgot what we are seeking for. At the end of the journey, you will find that answer you are seeking for, is right there all along.

It is interesting to see the simplest things interpreted in different ways giving additional meaning that is fulfilling to life. It may seems funny for some, but I don't reject these "out of context" type of interpretation.

[Mindless rambling 12- part 2]

Most people assume that Filial Piety(孝) is simply obeying parents, making sure that they are well-fed when them are old. But in actual fact, they is much all to it.

Giving our parents money is how most of us trying to be filial towards our parents nowadays. However, that is what Confucian has warned against thousand of years ago. He said: "Most people think that being filial is to support our parents. However, we can do the same to dogs and horse (like pets). Without 敬(Jing, commonly translated as respect), how do we differentiate them?" As for the specific showing of this "Jing", Confucian made this comment when one of students queries about Filial piety.: "The difficulty is with the countenance. When their elders have any troublesome affairs, the young take the toil of them; When the young have wine and food, they set them before their elders. Is any of THIS to be considered filial piety?" As one can see, the feeling of respect is not just being held in our heart, it must be shown. Of course, one would say why the trouble. But I guess girls will understand this feeling, who always want their BF to show their love them rather than just having it. Is that all about filial piety? No. There is more to it.

The first thing to filial piety, is to take good care of yourself. As the ancient believed that our hair and body is a gift from our parents, taking care of it is to treasure their love and be filial (Thus ancient Chinese consider cutting the hair and tattoo the body as a mutilation to this gift and thus being not to filial). The second thing is to present yourself appropriately when you are outside your house, interacting with people. Simply because you actions represent your upbringing and how well your parents have taught you. If one do something disgraceful, it will reflected that your parents didn't really do a good job and thus shaming them. In Chinese language, we may scold someone as 沒家教 (not properly brought up) . It may seems normal when translated to English, but that is really a harsh and offensive remark to the Chinese as it is shaming a family. This are the foundation of Filial piety which is easily forgotten.

When someone asked Confucian what is Filial Piety, he said "When our parents, when alive, be served according to propriety; that, when dead, they should be buried according to propriety; and offering should be made them to according to propriety." Thus Filial Piety is continuous, from live, to dead, to afterlife. But why? What is the base of it? To put it plain, it is the acceptance of love and the reciprocity of it. We are loved unconditionally by our parents before we are born, taken care of when are weak and feeble. Is this loved be take for granted? Ancient Chinese to talk about feeling. How love to be felt and how it can to reciprocate back. After their passing, feelings of appreciations and loved will still being shown. As mentioned in previous, people may see that the "Living among living" , consistent offerings as superstitious, but isn't it good to believed that our loved one are still around us in other form of existence, loving us like the Movie Ghost (The main theme of the movie is Unchained Melody if it rings a bell)? There is this phrase in Chinese "信則有，不信則無" (If you believed in the existence of something, it will exist. If you don't believed it, it simply won't exist). Whether something factual exist is secondary. The most thing is whether we believed.

As an ending note, I shall share something interesting. During one of the offering rituals/ ceremony to the ancestors, the Grandson will wear a mask and play the persona of the ancestors, arriving to the offering site. He will have the honor to feast on the offerings and being serve by the family (Which are his elder obviously). It may seems funny, but it serve an education purpose. By serving the Grandson (playing the persona of the ancestor) they are telling the kid though action: "This is the way you should serve your parents". On side note the 成語 (Chinese idioms) 尸位素餐 is related to this ritual. The idiom means taking up a certain position and enjoying the benefit brought by it, yet one did not fulfill its obligation. 尸 is the formal term for the role that plays the personification of the ancestor. Since the kid is only playing the role of ancestor (Thus not doing what the ancestor is suppose to do -guiding the family ) and yet he enjoys the benefits of an ancestor (though its for a day), you can see why this idioms is formed

[Mindless rambling 12- part 1]

 As mentioned in the previous post, today’s topic will be shifting towards importance of offering to our ancestors. (But its a big topic, I will break it to parts to prevent a potential overload) Although that really seems superstitious to us, it has part of its root ironically, in a dynasty that is known to be not being superstitious- the Zhou dynasty (Establish around 1046 B.C).

The reason why the Zhou-reans are not begin superstitious is very simple, the dynasty before them, the Shang are very superstitious, believing the power of the supernatural and make extravagance offering, seeking their power and protection. After the Zhou-rean defeated the Shangs, they started thinking: Hey, the Shang has been making so many offering, prayers and stuff. Why the supernatural didn’t conduct a recuse attempt to their believers? Gradually, they rejected the notion of powerful supernatural beings (like god) giving guidance and power to believers. Instead, they began to rely on the value and virtue of Man. Does that mean that they total rub off the influence of Shang? They do get rid of most but changes some. They believed in the Mandate of Heavens. However, the main difference is, the mandate flavours the virtue, not the prayers and offerings. Evidence of this can be found in the Book of History (Which recorded some history during this era) they have phrases like “天聪明，自我民聪明; 天明威，自我民明威。”（The Heaven listen and hear though the eyes and ears of the people, The Heavens reward and punished through the people ）, “皇天無親，惟德是輔”（The Heavens is not close to anyone, they only assist those with virtue ）, “天不可信，我道惟甯王德延”( Heaven is not believable. Our way are extent by the virtues of Kings ). Academics coined the term “Humanism” to describe this shift in Paradigm. When Confucian was born several hundred years later (a time which the social and political system are at the verge of collapse), he further empathized that the virtue can be completed by every Man (Virtue in the past only applies to nobilities), being a dignified way of life even if circumstances encourages us to do otherwise (Further removing direct reference to certain mandate). For a culture who excel in moral education despite lacking of a religious institute (Which I definite as a system which includes a supreme being above all beings), Confucian do indeed done a very great job in upping the thinking in Humanism.

But why conducting rituals, making offering to the Heaven, Earth and Ancestor? Isn’t that still being Superstitious? Well, not believing in something doesn’t mean that I can be disrespectful for their potential existence (I cannot prove that they exist. But I can neither prove that it does not exist). Besides, WE do rely on Heavens and Earth and Ancestors to even exist in the first place, Can’t they show their appreciation to Papa heaven, Mama Earth, who unlike us modern-ers (simply ungrateful X) do not really pollute, the sky and destroy the earth? As for the offering to ancestors, it’s greatly tied to Filial Piety, a way of life that has been commonly misunderstood by most Singaporean Chinese. But since this post has been getting a bit too long, I should pause it for a while and continue tomorrow(Please forgive me, Its a rather complex topic).

[Mindless Rambling 11]

Since today is the 15th of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar (Its lunisolar btw, on contrary to lunar as most believed), I shall shared a bit on the culture on burning paper money.

Many young Chinese and friends from other races may feel a bit annoyed, by the burning practice by the Chinese, citing reasons like pollution and wasting. However, the rationale for burn...ing paper, is to cut down on wastage and pollution initially. During Song dynasty, burning paper money was widely encouraged by the government as people at that time bury real stuff, burn real (Want to give an iphone, they will really burn or bury a real iphone). Paper-made luxury objects were introduced as an alternative to cut down on these wastage. And since they are paper-made, we can offer more "luxurious" commodities since we are not buying real stuff and burn or bury them. 700 to 1000 years have pass and burning paper money has become the norm for traditional Chinese.

But why bother, burning at least twice each month. The following is a quick (hopefully) rundown on the reason why:

In Ancient time (Referring to Zhou, Pre-Qin era), Chinese believed that when a person died, his body returns to the earth, but their soul carry on living with the living (Concept of Hell is introduced by Buddhism which comes at a much later date during Han dynasty). Assumed that the one who passed is your family member, you won't want to leave it wandering right? Thus, the soul or sprit will be invited to live with the family (though sets of ritual) and their spirit will joined with their ancestors (which are yours by the way) in the Spirit Tablet(神主牌). After they are invited, they will living with us, sharing their wisdom with us, providing guidance just like when they are alive (If you have enough status, you can built an ancestor shrine to keep their tablets. If not, they will be place facing the door at our home). Since everything should be as per normal, simply offerings are made everyday, like giving portion of our breakfast, lunch ect. .

If you of the class of 士, an big offering ceremony (Where meat can be finally eaten. Meat is a rare commodity in the past） will be conducted on the first or the fifteen day every month. If your class is 大夫(a rank higher), it will be the first and the fifteen every month. For a commoner, we can only do it during festivals like Chinese New Year. The official name of this offering is known as 打牙祭. Though customs changes , the spirit of making offering during this to two every month remains.

Since Spirits of those passed returned to live their family, where does wandering ghost comes about? Simple, imagine your son and daughter don't want you and kick you out of the family. This is how wandering ghost comes about. Of course I am simplifying things to make it more relatable. In actual fact, most these soul are lost because the bloodline of the family has ended and there is no one is offering any shelter. For many cases, its war and epidemic that disrupted proper rituals to be conducted for them to find their resting place. Thus, they are lost in sense that they do not have a proper place to live. When Buddhism spread in China, customs merged and developed through time, and today, we have our ghost festival during the seventh month. Although it seems that we are make offering to them to prevent a "ghost" mayhem, the main concept of this offering its the spirit of compassion where we provide food, clothing, house and entertainment for the lost and wandering ones.

As for the importance of offering to our ancestor and the importance of rituals(we call them 禮. As opposed to politeness, it a complex concept), I will leave it for the next rambling.

[Mindless Rambling 10]
 

As a non-history major who has vast interest in history, I often ponder about the meaning of History. “Learning from past mistakes?” That is a text book answer which might not be necessary true (There is this particular historian who argued against learning from past mistake, citing that the circumstances in the past is entirely different from today and thus the mistake that seems similar would not be relevant. I forgot his name though). “What are facts” in history can also be rather dubious as the facts are constructed by our judgments (of sources) and can never be objective (Thus post-modern historians do not trust any word-base sources as Man is always influenced by his perception. Artifacts do not have this problem).

So what is the meaning of history then? I am not a history student, so my view on this question will not be as holistic as compared to a history major. What I can provide, is my take on this issue as a non-history major. True enough, the history we learnt are often constructed and may not be the actual reflect of what really transpire. However, is the “truth” really that matter? It is History, of course truth matters. But that is only for historian. For a common man, who is JFK murderer only serves as a lunch topic. For politician, it only will be means to further political agendas. Perhaps, only to a few who are truly concerned about “truth”, It’s is sad to say that it serve little purpose (Especially truth like what the people at X dynasty eat and wear)

Does that mean that history has little value? If think that’s my argument? Try again. To me, history is not meant to be studied but meant to be felt. Yes, circumstances are different but Man is still Man, with a human heart and a human mind. We still cry for losing our loved ones, we still burst into laughter when we are happy. Yes, those who walked before us have a different set of mentality and value, but emotion wise, are they we that different? That’s why some poems written in the past still touches us today as we feel the same. Rather than arguing the reliability of a source, we can ask: “Why he said that?” “How he is feeling at that moment, given the circumstances?” “Why they felt this way?” “How would you feel if you are in is shoes” That is absolutely perceptive and unacceptable. But why not, we are not historian. By feeling what they felt and try to try what they are thinking, I somehow internalize some of the learning and become more appreciative of many things, admiring them instead of criticizing. My perception has also changes and that is a step towards being a better Man. There is difficulty doing so, I admit. That is mostly because the terminology is often alien to most. What I often did when feeling history is changing the terms to something relatable and really focus on the people involve rather than the event alone.

I may be rather wrong in many senses. At the most of it, it is just one man nonsensical rambling.

[Just mindless rambling 9]
 

For those who want to wear black for Chinese New Year but fear the ramblings of the elders, have no fear. Black, is actually a very auspicious colour traditionally. The below listed are some proofs.

 1. In Fengshui, black represent water. Water flowing, means wealth flowing. Huat la.
2.In ancient Chinese New Year, the elder wear black, the young wear red. If its that inauspicious, we wouldn't let our beloved parents and Grandparents wear it isn't it.
3. The colour code (includes royalties) for Qin dynasty is black, not yellow as seen in HK drama

Of course, these are only a few examples. However, rather than just auspicious, red and black are the colours that represent the Chinese culture (through research and archeologist finding. I am only stating the results) will be a more accurate statement. So yeah, just go ahead. Just don't wear white as it is the colour code for funeral (The reason for using white is as follow: When our loved ones embraced their ultimate fate, we won't have the mood the wear very colourful good clothing. Thus, un-dyed 麻 which is hemps are commonly used. Since its un-dyed, the natural colour is whitish brown. Since uncoloured is empathise, white is gradually used and empathise though ages).

Incidentally, the colour of the Chinese Culture's most favourited and hated bird-Crow and Owl respectively, is opposite of from one another. But the reason they are loved and hate is not related with colours. Crows are being embraced because they fed their parents, when papa crow and mama crow are too weak to find food (Though they do cause a nuisance in the process). A culture that place filial piety as their core value will relate to it. Owl, though so cute so wise and pure, ate their parents when they grow up(Wise, in a sense, in the world where the fitness survive). They are hated based on the same principles.

[Just mindless rambling 8]

 Since its National day today, lets talk about the word 忠（zhong）. Although its commonly translated as "loyalty", the translation only grasp its apparent meaning but not its true meaning. From the structure of the word, we can see that the word 中（center）is on top of the word 心(heart). Thus, we can interpret it as from our heart. Does that mean that it loyalty is from our ...loyal? Partially, yes, but the word meant more towards staying true to oneself, loyal to self. But isn't being loyal to self akin to individualism? How does that connect to the common meaning of loyalty. The answer that we have to proceed further into culture context.

"尽自之谓忠"（The fulfillment of self means loyalty）is how Chinese culture interpret the word "zhong". What does the "self" means in this context? In Confucian ideology, there is no individual. What I meant is this : One cannot exist without the existence of the other. What is the meaning of life if there is only one individual in the world, alone. Self and life is given meaning through connection and relationship with each other as we all different roles to play in different relationship, and thus having different responsibility (I am a father, thus I will have to fulfill the role of the father. I am a son, so I will oblige the duty of a son). Thus, fulfillment of self actually mean the fulfillment of duty. However, modern scholars often misinterpreted it as "absolute obedience" especially the relationship between Kings and subject, Father and Son, Husband and Wife. This is not the case. If the King, father or what so ever did something unjust, it is our duty to stop them. If they are not playing their role properly, we can decide what is the right course of action instead of blindly listening. Menfucian said: "If the kings treat the people as grasses to trample upon, the people will treat him as an enemy." We mostly talks about rights today, but we must always to mindful not use Rights as an excuse to neglect roles and responsibilities.

Hope this is entertaining and informative. And of course, Happy birthday Singapore.

[Just mindless rambling 7]

 Quite a no. of friends reflected that I should just time travel and live in ancient China. But the thing is, their way of living somehow deters me. During at before Han dynasty, people work for 4 days and rest for 1(The day is known as 休沐, which literally translate as rest and wash hair day.....because Ancient Chinese man and women are not allow to cut their hair due to ...filial piety. Since its so long, it should be ensure that you have time to wash and dry.) For civil servants, you have to stay in for the 4 days(This is so army). During Tang dynasty, it become a 9 day work week, with 10 days as a week. Similarly, you have to stay in. So, no. I like my weekends and want to remain in this era.

[Just mindless rambling 6]

 Tang Poems seems so easy. 白日依山盡，黃河入海流。 So easy and so layman, how unrefined...... Actually, Tang Poems is the one of the most challenging form of writing due to the rules and restrictions it set. And one of its most tedious rules that it set, is the rule of nian(粘,stick) and dui(对,in contrast) 。

First, let me explain what is ping ze (平仄), a core concept in Tang Poems. ...Most us know that Chinese language has four tones right? First(一), second (/), third (V) and fourth (downwards slope). Basically, the first two tone are considered ping and the last two is considered as ze. Ok, lets go deeper a little. If you know a little bit about linguistics, you will know that language changes with time and our tongue is definitely different from our mother's tongue (Pun intended). This is the case for all languages. For Chinese, the four tone during Tang is 平上去入(Ping Shang Qu Ru). 上（shang）is the third tone today, 去(qu) is the fourth tone. (入) is lost in history but retains by our dialects, and we can still see and hear it in Singapore. Simply put, they are pronunciation ending with P,T,K like 白(Pek) and Singaporean's favourite 发(Huat) la. 平 divided itself to the first and second today.

Got the basic? Lets begin to have our main course. Poem in the past can be sang like pop songs of today. And to be sang, it must follows a sense of rhythm and melody(dee). Since Chinese is a rather melodious language due to the tone(Some westerns do reflected that they are rather mesmerise by Chinese as you sound like singing when talking), the Tangs wants to be sure that the combination of tone...... is nice to listen to. Thus they come out with strict regulation, but allow some changes under of principle of nian(粘,stick) and dui(对,in contrast) 。

对： When you compare Odd sentence with its upcoming Even sentence, the tones of the even numbered words are be in contrast with each other. I know this sounds complicated. Let me us poems as example, with 一 denoting Ping and l denoting Ze.

1st sentence: 白日依山尽
The tone be:   l   l 一 一 l
2nd Sentence: 黄河入海流
The Tone be:  一 一 l   l 一
This is a complete dui, for every word, the tone 平 & 仄is perfectly in contrast. This is suppose to be the case. The even words are to be concerned when you have to make a compromise. Now let look at nian.

粘：When you compare Even sentence with its upcoming odd sentence, the tones of the even words are be the same with each other. Let use the same poem.

2nd Sentence: 黄河入海流
The Tone be:  一 一 l   l 一
3rd Sentence: 欲穷千里目
The tone be:    l 一 一 l   l
Even no. words: 河（一）vs. 穷 （一）, 海（l）Vs. 里（l）

See, its the same.

See anyone doing dancing despite heavily tied and chained up with ropes, shackle and what so ever? Tang Poems(律诗, lv shi to be exact) is this particular kind of words dancing. And the irony is that, it seems so easy and simple. If you still remember any lines from Tangs poems, please appreciate them. It is so simple, yet so difficult.

[Just mindless rambling 5]

 To me, (because I am not sure this is the common sentiment). Literature is a study of appreciation. Appreciation not only to text, but from you and me to every single being having a soul, regardless of now and then. This is because we are all writing our own story and to quote from Wislawa Szymborska:

 

 "Every beginning/is but a continuation,
and the book of events/is never more than half open".

 

Art is very similar along the line. Thus, I am actually quite sadden by the fact this 2 aspects has been missing in our lives.

Blame it on our education, some may say. Some may even pinpoint it to the constant pursuant of economical gain that have structured discrimination against those who are not as "Successful". Well, I am neither smart enough to identify the cause nor eloquent enough to bring my point across. But I will say is this: Like what existentialist might say, external factor are mostly excuses for one to exercise your own free will. The reason You don't do certain things is that you choose not to do it rather than being force to do it. This is because you won't want to face the consequences for doing and won't want to admit not doing, and thus use external factor as an excuse. Why talk big on theory and stuffs, criticizing without constructing. We can always do something, like being a mad man rambling about literature, cultural and stuff, like King Lear howling against the endless wind in the open plain. Might be a idiot wasting time on pointless stuff. But if its worth doing, Its worth doing. Not material worth of course.

[Just mindless rambling 4]

Lets talk about food today. The records of Sashimi is not found in Japan but in China. There is this 成語 call 膾炙人口 which means immensely popular. If you break them into units, you will find that 炙 refers to BBQ and 膾refers to raw food. From texts, 膾 commonly associate itself with fish, and thus, here we have our sashimi.

Thanks to the detailed accounts that have been passed for thousand of years, we know how this ancient Sashimi is being prepared and eaten. For the southern region, it is more common to find Sashimi to be sliced into bee-hoon like slices. In the north, there are being cut in to block(similar to the Japanese Sashimi). The type of sauce use also depends on the season. In spring, 蔥， namely welsh onion is use. In autumn, it will then be wasabi. Of course there are much more to it like knife work and stuff but I won't bore everyone with details. Very hungry now after typing so much about food......

[Just mindless rambling 3]

 The question about ancient Chinese philosophy is that whether there is ancient Chinese philosophy at all. If philosophy is about what is truth, what knowledge so on and for....... then ancient Chinese ideology cannot be consider as philosophy as they are not bothered by these questions in the first place. Take Being as an example. Philosophers metaphysically debated it over centuries, metaphysically, epistemologically (you named it, they have it). But for ancient Chinese ideology, being is being by being. As long as you are breathing, you are being. Simple as that, no need to get into endless discussion especially when you cannot even provide indisputable proof regarding the metaphysic aspect of thinking.

Thus, the main concern of ancient Chinese ideology is always about how to be instead of what is be (And politics ultimately affect every how is to be). That is why all ancient Chinese ideology has strong political aspect as it core, and its metaphysical aspect is only a precondition which is not really concerning(An evidence to this is that many ideologies use the word 道dao, which means the way by the way to denotes its metaphysical aspect but didn't put in effort explaining it and we have to help them construct their theory metaphysically). Although after Wei-Jin Era, ideology is more "philosophific" due to 玄學, and buddhism plus the rise of neo-confucianism during song dynasty, whether it can be philosophy is still highly debatable.

[Just mindless rambling 2]
 

It is commonly perceived that Ancient China has little place and no respect for the ladies. However, that is partially untrue. From a bird eye view, we are safe to say that there aren't much women's right at that time. However, there are foods of thought which is worth re-looking. Taking the relationship between husband and wife, respecting each other as equal counterpart... is heavily empathise as an important value (Wedding ceremony has specific items, things to do to signify their equality). Wait, aren't Man are all allow to have many wives at that time? To be exact, there is only ONE wife. The rest are mistresses. The only difference between now and then is that the Man are allowed to have mistresses openly in the past, and now...... well you know. Wait, aren't women are not allow to work like man and cannot intervene in Men affairs? True, but that only applies to the rich and nobles where two incomes are not needed to sustain a family. To the rich and nobles, Men are also not allow to interfere with women's work as a form of respect. Furthermore, there are times where women do arise above man. Chinese have the world first lady emperor (Its not a typo, she do declare herself as 皇帝)

[Just mindless rambling 1]

When the values of Confucianism are being practiced, the acts perform will be very similar to faithful followers of the Christianity and Islamic faith. However, the most fundamental different Confucianism and Abrahamic religions is that Confucianism believed in the ultimate perfection of Man by its own without any divine help. Man do good due to goodness within. All one have to do is to realize the goodness in himself and just do goodness without asking for anything(The downfall to this, is an lack of explanation to the fallibility of Man). In contrast to the final judgment that decides who goes to heaven and hell, they have the "judgment of history" where time and future judgment determine whether you continue to live on through people's memories. If generations after generation remembers you and respect you for eternal, you are eternal. That is one reason why Chinese's deity are often Man that can be traced in history and empathise heavily on remembering your ancestors.