Editor’s Note :
Chinese culture lives not only in grand narratives, but also in carved words, calligraphy, painting, and music—where its spirit and beauty quietly endure.
Cultural Express launches its new Culture column to rediscover the warmth and elegance of Chinese culture in everyday life.
In this issue, 92-year-old Professor Teresa Sun reflects on twelve woodcarved classical inscriptions by her late husband,
Terry Sun, revealing the warmth and beauty of Chinese culture.
Chinese poetry encompasses a wide range of philosophical ideas about life, rather than simply focusing on themes of love or worshiping God.
The four characters carved in this work translate to “things in the universe and I will exist forever.”
The passage in calligraphy is a quote from an article titled "The Red Cliff," written by the renowned poet and statesman Su Shi (1036-1101 AD), who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD).
Western Journey • Capital Triumph
In 1057, the City Kai Feng (開封) welcomed three gentlemen from the faraway West to the capital to attend the imperial Civil Examination.
Father Su Xun (蘇洵) and his two sons Su Zhe (蘇轍) and Su Shi (蘇軾), age 21, came to challenge the elite circle.
Both young men passed the examination with distinction and, the following year, won the Jin Shi degree after passing the second examination.
The Su brothers’ early success attracted admiration among peers and was also recognized by the court. They were all appointed to high-ranking positions.
Bold Critique • Distant Exile
But Su Shi was outspoken and critical of the then political reform, which led to him being wrongfully accused of slander in court and was banished to a lesser position in the region of Huang-Zhou and then to Dan Zhou, from 1080 to 1101.
He wrote Red Cliff 1 and 2 while on a boat to Huang Zhou, in memory of ancient heroes. The translation of the passage is as follows :
River Breeze • Endless Being
“If we observe the changelessness of things, then we and all beings alike have no end. What is there to be envious about?”
“ Moreover everything in the world has its owner, and if a thing doesn’t belong to us, we don’t dare take a hair of it.
Only the clear breeze over the river, or the river, or the bright moon between the hills……these we may take without prohibition, these we may make free with and they will never be used up.
These are the endless treasures of the Creator, here for you and me to enjoy together.” (TR A.C. Graham Anthology of Chinese Literature, P.382)
He often exchanged wisdom notes with many monk friends. Through his frequent conversations with them, he found joy in understanding the transience of life.
However, he did not choose to escape; instead, he remained in this world as a statesman and poet, surrounded by the people he loved.
It is a challenging task, but he demonstrated that the more a person suffers, the more positive their attitude toward life can be.
For thousands of years till the modern era, people read his poems and share his frustration and suffering as a devoted intellectual.
Dong-Po leaves us with the image of an elegant gentleman who wrote thousands of literary works beautifully, including poetry, essays, calligraphy pieces and paintings; 3,000 prose and poems, and many essays.
His works are the most studied in schools and quoted by the public in China. (Article 5 of 12)
Click to Read More :
Article 1 of 12—May Flowers Bloom, the Moon Stay Full, and Life Be Long
Article 2 of 12—Heaven Moves, Man Strives
Article 3 of 12—The Confucian Way
Article 4 of 12—Nature’s Dao, Spirit’s Rest
About the Author :
Teresa Sun
Teresa Sun received her bachelor’s degree in Chinese literature from Taiwan Normal University, an M.A. in education from UCLA, and a doctorate from Seton Hall University.
She taught Chinese language and culture at California State universities and Whittier College for nearly 25 years, and was active in Chinese language education, cultural promotion, and community service. She has published papers and four books.
Terry Sun
Terry Sun graduated from National Taiwan University in mechanical engineering and continued his studies at USC. An outstanding HVAC engineer, he was named a Fellow of ASHRAE.
After retirement, he developed a unique artistic style combining wood carving and Chinese calligraphy, and his works were exhibited in museums and institutions.