EC370: The Noble Spirit of Bamboo in Chinese Culture

Original lxd34842 東說西說

 

2024年10月27日 07:00

Exploring Civilizations 370: It Has Nodes Before Emerging from the Soil, and Ascends to the Sky with No Ambition

Original Author: lxd34842  |  East and West Tales

October 27, 2024 00:53  |  Beijing

In the vast river of history, the progress of human civilizations resembles towering trees, with every leaf recording the crystallization of wisdom and every branch carrying the inheritance of civilizations.

However, behind these splendid civilizations, there lies a more resilient force that silently takes root in the earth, silently narrating the toughness and nobility of life. This is bamboo, a plant deeply imprinted in Chinese culture since ancient times. With its unique growth philosophy, bamboo inspires us to deeply ponder civilizations and life.

I. The Charm of Bamboo: It Has Nodes Before Emerging from the Soil

In the context of traditional Chinese culture, bamboo is not merely a plant in nature; it is also a spiritual symbol and a cultural emblem. The ancients said, "It is better to live without meat than without bamboo." With its elegant and refined demeanor, bamboo has become a frequent guest in the works of literati and poets, and with its resilient nature, it has become a portrayal of the Chinese nation's character.

"It has nodes before emerging from the soil" is a vivid description of bamboo's growth characteristics and also a profound revelation of life philosophy. Before bamboo breaks through the soil, it has silently gestated underground, forming its unique "nodes." These "nodes" are not only the segments on the bamboo stem but also symbols of bamboo's vitality, and metaphors for life's integrity. They tell us that true integrity is not external display but inner perseverance; it is not showing off after success but persisting before failure. On the journey of life, each of us is a bamboo shoot ready to emerge from the soil. Facing the unknown world, the first thing we must do is plant in our hearts the persistence for justice, the pursuit of ideals, and the defense of principles.

This "node" is embodied in the lives of countless sages throughout history. From Qu Yuan's perseverance in "The road ahead is long; I'll seek my heart's desire," to Wen Tianxiang's tragic heroism in "Who in this world can avoid death? I'll leave my loyal heart forever carved in history," to Yu Qian's determination in "I fear not even shattering into dust; I want to leave a pure reputation on earth," they used their actions to interpret the noble spirit of "having nodes before emerging from the soil" and became models admired by later generations.

II. The Posture of Bamboo: Ascends to the Sky with No Ambition

When bamboo emerges from the soil and grows upward at an astonishing speed, reaching straight into the clouds, it displays an extraordinary posture, which is "ascending to the sky with no ambition." Here, "no ambition" does not mean lacking a goal or motivation but refers to a detached mindset that transcends material possessions and is not swayed by the outside world. During its growth, no matter how harsh the environment or how fierce the storms, bamboo maintains inner peace and resilience, undisturbed by the outside world and unmoved by fame and fortune. It silently grows upward until it reaches the pinnacle of life.

This realm of "no ambition" is what many people in modern society pursue. In a fast-paced, high-pressure living environment, people often get trapped by fame and fortune, led by desires, and lose their inner peace and purity. Bamboo, in its unique way, reminds us to learn to let go, to transcend, to find inner peace in the hustle and bustle, to maintain an ordinary mindset, not to be deceived by the extravagant of the outside world, not to be troubled by temporary gains and losses, and to face every challenge in life with a more leisurely and unhurried mindset.

In the long river of civilization, this realm of "no ambition" is also embodied in the lives of those great individuals. They may not pursue fame and fortune but can make outstanding contributions in their respective fields. They have higher pursuits in their hearts, which are:

The exploration of truth,

The longing for beauty,

The care for humanity.

As Einstein said, "I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends of life - this ethical basis I call the pigsty ideal. The ideal that lights my path and continually gives me new courage to face cheerfully the life I have chosen is the good, the beautiful, and the true."

III. The Inspiration of Bamboo: Dual Reflections on Civilization and Life

Bamboo, with its unique growth philosophy, not only inspires our awe for nature but also stimulates our deep reflections on civilization and life. In the process of civilization, every great civilization is inseparable from the pursuit of truth, the advocacy of virtue, and the longing for peace. Just like bamboo, true civilization is not about external prosperity and strength but about inner purity and resilience, the eternal pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.

On the path of personal growth, each of us is like a bamboo plant, undergoing the process from "having nodes before emerging from the soil" to "ascending to the sky with no ambition." In this process, we learn to persevere, to transcend, to grow through setbacks, and to rise in difficulties. Just as bamboo teaches us:

True success

does not lie in how high you stand

but in how stable your footing is;

not in how much you possess

but in how much you cherish;

not in how far you have gone

but in how deeply you have traveled.

IV. Conclusion

"It has nodes before emerging from the soil, and ascends to the sky with no ambition" is not only a description of bamboo's growth characteristics but also a profound elaboration of life philosophy. In the long river of civilization, let us use bamboo as a mirror, learn from its resilience and detachment, face the ups and downs of life with an ordinary mindset, embrace the diversity of the world with a detached attitude, and jointly write a new chapter of human civilization, letting the tree of life bloom with even more dazzling brilliance in the soil of time.

On the journey of exploring civilizations, may we all be like bamboo, standing firm in the wind and rain without falling, feeling at ease and peaceful in the sunshine, welcoming the arrival of every dawn with a peaceful and resilient heart.

Chinese civilization is ancient, vast, splendid, brilliant, profound, and extensive. Let us draw infinite strength from it to make new and greater contributions to building a better world community of human civilizations and a community with a shared future for mankind. (End of the Article)

East tales, west tales; your tales, my tales; let's all share our tales. Focus on human civilizations...