中国当代非虚构作品英译计划由《单读》、纸托邦和《洛杉矶书评》中华频道共同合作完成。它们选自《单读》杂志，经纸托邦翻译成英文后，将先后在《洛杉矶书评》中华频道和纸托邦上发表。通过这些作品，我们将会了解一个更加全面、复杂和生动的中国。
AFortunetellerinaModernMetropolis
byLiangHong
–translatedbyMichaelDay
XianYiwearsbrown-framedglassesandapermanentsmile,holdingastrandofprayerbeadsinhishand.Whilehetalks,eats,andwalks,thebeadsslipsilentlythroughhisfingers.Somethinginthearchofhisbrowexudespeace.Iamcurious,sensinginhimsomethingartificial,somethingaffected,yethistranquilexpressioncan’tbeaput-on.
Itseemsunbelievable,butXianYiisafortuneteller.
IspentmyfirsttwodaysinNanyangatthehomeofmysister-in-lawXiulan,talkingidlywithmyaunt,takinglazystrollswithMeilanandManman.Myoverweightauntcanhardlymove.Sheisalwayspantingbythetimewereachthevillagegates,claimingshewilldieifshetakesanotherstep.Wegobacktochatting,andthemomentImentionheroldhouseinLiangVillage,tearsspringtohereyes,andshemurmurs,“Theyallscoldmeforbeingsoshort-sighted,insistingonsellingthehouse,notthinkingofwhatI’ddowhenIgotold...”XianYididn’thaveajobandwasn’toccupiedbyanythingespecially,somorningandnighthewouldstopbymyaunt’s,joininginthegossipingandchatting.Ihadn’texpectedXianYitobesuchabrilliantstoryteller,toopenuplikehedid.Fingeringtheprayerbeads,intentlyfocused,hetoldusofhispast.HissonGuopinarrivedhomefromschool,satsoftlydownbesideus,andlistenedraptlytohisfathertalking,watchingwhileItyped,occasionallyofferingmeadrink.
SowhydidIdropoutofmiddleschoolIn1982,mygrandpa,myuncle,andmygrandmaallpassedaway,andbackthenIcouldn’tevenaffordacoffin.SoItookoutanIOU,payingjustoverahundredpoundsofwheatayear.ThreeyearslaterIstillhadn’tpaidofftheloan,andtheguyneededcash.SoIquitschool,wentbackhomeandinlessthanayearIlearnedalltherewastoknowaboutfarmwork,dryingtobacco,threshingandwinnowingwheat,sprayingpesticide,everykindofruraltechnicalskillandbasicbitofagriculturalknowledge.TwoyearsorsoaftermybrotherXianShengarrivedinNanyang,heinvitedmetojoinhimthere,sayinghehadaleadonajob.
Inlate1984IwenttoNanyang.BackthenXianShengwassellingclothesinthealleybehindtheXinhuaCommune.Iwantedtoworkatmyuncle’sfactory,butthatplanfellthrough,soIwenttoworkforXianSheng,sellingclothesforhalfayear,barelymakingendsmeet.Backthenlivingconditionswerepoor,andthehouseIrentedwasathatch-roofedcottage.Theycalledit“Chineseheritagehousing,”butI’dhadanicerhomebackinthecountry.
In1985,XianShenggotmarried.OnXinhuaEastRoadheopenedanappliancerepairshop,andhiredarepairmantorunthings.He’dmoonlighttherewhentherewaswork.Istudiedwithhimforhalfayear,butneverlearnedmuch.Iwasnogoodatfixingthings.Icouldn’tevenfixaTVset,forgetaboutanythingelse.
In1986XianShengandhiswifehadManman,andin1987theybuiltahouse.In1986IwenttoworkattheNumberTwoRubberFactory,earningoneyuan,sevenmaoaday(note:alittleover$1in2019USdollars).Theforeman’ssharewasfourmao($.28).Iworkedthereforfourmonths,boughtaFlyingEaglebrandbikewiththemoneyIsaved,androdeithomeforChineseNewYear,thinkingIwasbigstuff.Thebikewasblack,with28-inchwheels,heavy,153yuan($102)withthelock.Icouldn’taffordit,soMeilanchippedintwentyyuan($13).Rodeittenmilesanhourforsixhours.Iwasproud,Iwashappy.Itwascoldout,butIdidn’tfeelit.Iwastooexcited,pleasedwiththisbikeI’dboughtmyself.Backhome,IhandedoutcigarettestoanyoneImet.IhandedoutBaiheqiaocigarettes,twomao,threefen($.16)apack.MyfamilyallsmokedTuanheqiao,amaoapack($.07).IfakedthemoutbyfillinganemptyBeiheqiaopack.ThetruthwasIwastoopoortosmokeBaiheqiao,buttoovaintoadmitit.
WhileIwasattheNumberTwoRubberFactoryIsecretlymadeabed.Thesupervisorssavedmescrapsofsteeltubesandthings,butIcouldn’ttakethematerialsaway,theywerepublicproperty.Ihadachatwiththeguardatthegate,gavehimapackofcigarettes,andhesaid,comebytomorrowjustafterfiveinthemorning,I’llbeonabathroombreak.Itookthepartshomeandmadeabedoutofsteeltubes.Istillsleepinit.IboughttwopacksofMeiweibaicigarettes,andgavethemtomybossestosaythanks.Fourmao,fivefen($.30)apack.Mybosseswerehonestmen,sayingtheywereonlyhelping,Icouldhavethecigarettes,they’devenpaymeforthem.Finallyoneofthemgavemefouryuan($2.66).Andtheysaid,ifyoueverneedanything,don’thesitatetoask.
IrodemybikebacktoNanyang,butstillcouldn’tfindwork.Inlate1987,Istartedsellingporkstew.Insummer,Iwouldgetuparoundfive,gotothebutcher’sandpickoutapig’shead,choosingcarefully,lookingforonethatwouldhaveplentyofmeatinitwhenyousplititopen,theonlywaytomakemoney.Iwouldgohome,havebreakfast,shower,shave,splitthepig’shead,boilapotofwater,putthepig’sheadin,andsimmeritfortwohours.Alittleafterelevenitwouldbecookedthrough,andIwouldheadouttosellstew,pedalingathree-wheeledcartI’dborrowed.Usuallytherewouldbesomeleftover,andI’dgooutagainaftertwo.SometimesitwouldbeafterfivebythetimeI’dsolditall,sometimesI’dbeoutuntileightornine,sometimesatelevenI’dstillhavestewleft,andI’dwaitbesideabeerstandaslongasthecustomerskeptcoming.Aday’ssaleswereusuallyenoughtopayforfood.XianShengwaspoorinthosedaystoo,andhe’dwaitalldayformetobringbackthemoneyI’dmade,thenbuysteamedbunsandvegetables.
Itwasnowaytolive.Thetaxcollectorswereouteverydaychasingpeople.They’dcomeoutofnowhere,parktheircarrightinfrontyou,andyoucouldn’trun.Iftheycaughtyouthey’ddemandamonth’searnings.I’dleavethecartandrun,shakingallover.Iwasacountryboy,youknow,I’dneverbeeninasituationlikethat,Iwasscaredoutofmywits.Iwasanhonestbusinessman,buttherewereotherstewvendorsnearby,theywerefromthecity,theywerescamartists,you’dpayforajin,apoundorso,andthey’dgiveyoueightliang.Igavepeoplewhattheypaidfor,andgraduallytheircustomersstartedcomingtome.Inarage,theyslashedmytires.EachdayIwouldpedalthecarthome,buteachdaymytiresgotslashed,soIwasconstantlymendingtires.Intheendtheyputmeoutofbusiness.Eachdaytheywouldwaitforme,glowering,scheming.Ididn’tdarego.Itoccurredtome,citylifeisn’teasyforacountryboy.Doinganythingisdifficult,especiallybeinghonest.
OnChineseNewYearIendedupidle.OnXinhuaEastRoad,acrossfromtheoldXinhuaCinema,IsoldcalligraphyscrollsI’dwrittenmyself.Intwodays,Imademorethan70yuan($40).IwasnoexpertinChinesecharacters,butIwroteneatly,andthecountryfolkcouldunderstand.ThesellernexttomewasfromtheProvincialCalligraphySociety,andhewroteincursivecharacters,likedragonsflyingandphoenixesdancing,classystuff,couldn’treadhiswritingformylife.Iwroteinregular,andthecountryfolkboughtfromme,mainlybecausetheycouldreadmywriting.Ispent60yuan($34)onayellowovercoat,andreturnedhomefortheholidayinhighspirits.IonlywentbacktoLiangVillagetostrutmystuff,toshowoff.Therewasnothingformetodotherebutparademyselfaround.
I’dstartedstudyingcalligraphyafterschool.WhenIwasathomeworking,Iwouldreturnfromdryingtobaccoandtendingthefields,andspendtheeveningpracticingcalligraphy.IpracticedcalligraphybecauseIwasbored,towhileawaythetime.Ididn’tlikegoingout,drinkingandsocializing.I’dratherbeathome,writingcharacters,readingbooks,inpeaceandquiet.Ipracticedeveryday.AftercomingtoNanyang,exceptatthebusiesttimes,Ididn’tmissaday.
AfterChineseNewYearIwasoutofworkagain,soIwentbacktosellingclothes.Withnocapitaltoinvest,Iturnedtosellingotherpeople’sclothesonconsignment.They’dgivemetheclothes,andoncetheclothesweresold,I’dpaythem.NexttoNanyangStationstoodasewageplant,andnexttothesewageplantsomeshacksofcorrugatedcementsheeting,sodraftyitwasnearlyascoldinsideasoutside.That’swhereIlived.Iwouldskipbreakfasttosavemoney.Iaskedtheneighbortofetchwaterformeeachday.Therewasabigwaterboilernextdoor,butIwouldleaveearlyandcomehomelate,andtheyonlyrantheboilerinthedaytime.Hewasaniceguy,andhe’dfetchmewater.OnthewayhomeintheeveningIwouldbuytwosteamedbuns,dunkthemintea,andthatwasdinner.Breakfast,too.Businesswasbad,becauseIwassellingonconsignment,andpeoplewantedhighprices.Inevermadeanymoney.
Andthat’showitwas.Itdidn’toccurtometogobackhome.Ididn’tthink,ifthingsdon’tworkout,I’llgobacktoLiangVillage.IwaswhereIwas.Iwasgoingtoputdownroots.
OnApril20,1988,XianShengwonacontractwiththeNanyangCityCraftandOrnamentFactory’sStoreforYouth,andIwenttoworkforhim.XianShengwasaspoorasme.Heevenwinedanddinedthefactorybossesonborrowedmoney.I’dmadearound100,maybe150yuan($86)sellingclothes,andputthatintothebusinesstoo.Itwaseasywork.XianShengwasoutgoing,andIwasanintrovert.Hetookcareofbutteringupthecity’sAdministrationBureauforIndustryandCommerce,andItookcareofpromotionandbookkeeping.Businesswasbetterbytheday.Anduntil1990,businessstayedgood.Iwrotesomethingonce,sayingmoreorless,countyfolkinthecityhaveeverythingcityfolkhave,andsomethingstheydon’t.Weareproud,westandtall,wearestrongandindependent,wehaveeverything.Forafewyearsinarow,werodehomeonathree-wheeledmotorcycle,peoplehangingoffthesides,comfyascouldbe.XianShengendedupbuyingoneSoviet-madeVolgacarfor46,000yuan($17,700),thenanother.Wewereingoodspirits.Weweren’tmakingbigdemands.Giveusenoughtoeatandenoughtodrink,andwewerehappy.
In1996,Iwenttoworkasanofficemanagerandbookkeeperataconstructioncompany.They’dpromisedmearound1,500yuan($289)amonth,butthenthecompanywentbankrupt.Iworkedforayear,butmadeonlytwomonths’salary.ButIpaidbackthedebtIowedonthehouse,sothatmademefeelabitbetter.
In1998,Ihadaspellofbadluck.Mywife’sbrotherhadtakenoutaloanonmyhouse,borrowing60,000yuan($11,160)onacreditlineof100,000-something($18,600).Hisbusinessfailed,andhecouldn’tpaybacktheloan,sothecourtgotinvolved,andsealedupmyhouse,planningtosellitoffcheapfor60,000yuan.Withourhousesoldoff,wherewerewesupposedtoliveIputupaplasticshackatthefrontgate,andstayedinside,keepingawatchonthehouse,determinedtoguarditwithmylifeifsomeonecametotakeit.Mywifeandbabywenttolivewithherbrother.Lateron,amanwhoknewmywife’sbrothersaid,giveme50,000yuan($9,300),andI’llgetyouthedeed.IborrowedfromeveryoneIknew,scroungedupthe50,000yuan,andgotthedeedback.
Webothwenttowork.AtNanyangCityCapitalConstructionCompany,Imade20yuan($3.72)aday,workingfromjustafterseveninthemorningtojustaftersevenatnight,withonlyahalf-hourlunchbreak.Yoursister-in-lawworkedonpaintingjobsandalltypesofmanuallabor.Forthreeyearswewentonthatway,scrimpingandsaving,untilwepaidbackallweowed.Generallyweworkedfullhours,making1,200yuan($223)amonth.Wewereangryaboutitbutweneverspokeup.Yourauntisagoodperson,even-tempered,decent,andwhenyourunclegotstomachcancer,forthelasthalf-yearofhislifeshecaredforhimalmostcompletelyonherown.Finallymybodycouldn’ttakeit,Iwasthroughworkinginconstruction,Iwasskinnyandmystomachwasbad,andtheytoldmeIhadhighbloodpressure.Ididn’tdaregobacktotheconstructionsite.Iquit.
ThenIstartedstudyingtheBookofChanges.
I’veneverreallyshakenofftheshockofit.Ican’tquiteconvincemyselfXianYihasbecomeafortuneteller---afolksy,out-of-its-timeoccupationrejectedbythemodernworld.Ifyou’reanythinglikeme,youenvisionafortunetellerasadark,slenderfigurewithablackskullcapandfingerslikedrytwigs,anoldmanwithawhiffofblackmagicabouthim.That’stheimageIsawinstinctivelywhenIheardXianYiwasafortuneteller.ButasfarasIcanseeXianYiischeerful,cultured,understated,goodatconversation,hislooksandmannerismsexudingintelligence.OnlywhenIwatchtheprayerbeadsslidingrhythmicallythroughhisfingersdoIcatchaglimpseoftheoccult.
Acountryboyinsearchofamoderndreamgoesthroughharshtrials,andendsupinamodernmetropolis,workinganarchaic,traditionaloccupation,thriving.Certainlyacurioustale.
XianYilivesinahistoricvillagesurroundedbytheurbansprawlofNanyang,notfarfromWolongGang,asceniccomplexofancientbuildings.HereonaplotofcommunallandheandhiswifeXiuli,avillagegirl,builtwallsandraisedaroof,becomingasgoodasNanyangnatives.Thevillageisrelativelyremote,withruttedroadsanddilapidatedhouses,anuntidyplacealittlelikeLiangVillage.Thecrookeddirtpathsbumpandtwist.Theresidentswillsoonberelocated,theysay,andthat’swhytheyhaven’tfixedtheroads.Thehomes,smallstructuresoftwoorthreestories,havelittlecourtyardswithprivategates.XianYi’scourtyardhomeisanordinaryone,distinguishedbytheadvertisementspastedontheouterwall,writtenbyXianYihimself.Therearethreelinesofbluetextinscribedonasmallwhitemetalplate,andbeneaththataphonenumber:
Destiniesdetermined,namesgivenandchangedbyspirituality-science
Blessingsgranted,divinationdonebyChinesecharacter,goodcounselgiven
Marriagecompatibilitydetermined,homessurveyedbygeomancy
Thecoupletonthegatetothecourtyardreadsinred:
Kindnessiskey,begrateful,bekind
Speakthetruth,staysincere,keeppromises
Amituofo
ThislastlineistheChinesenameoftheBuddhaAmitabha.
Acrossfromthemaingatearethekitchenandthestairwaytothesecondstory.Thereareflowersatthebendinthestairs,Chinaroses,impatiens,andhydrangeas,allcommonhouseholdflowers,whichthankstoplentifulrainfallhaveproliferated,ariotofpinkandwhitebloomsfillingthecourtyardwithlife.Thecourtyardisaneatsquarewithalimemortarfloorsweptspotlesslyclean.Fromthecourtyardthehome’sinteriorshinesbrilliantly.Thewholecourtyardcompoundisplainandbright,withadown-to-earth,wholesomefamilyfeel,nothingliketheoppressivegloomofXianSheng’splace.Onthecourtyard’sleft-handsideareamechanicalwaterpumpandalargeceramictank.Asmallredscrollhasbeenpastedaskewtothesideofthetank:
Waterlikeapurespring,truthlikeabeneficentrain
Therearemoresmallscrollsonthemainbuilding’sgables,withphraseslike“joyandluck.”Arough-hewnlogiswedgedintoacornerofthebuilding,itsendssecuredwithropefromwhichanironbarishanging.Guopinusesthistooltostrengthenhisarms.Theseventeen-year-oldGuopinisburlyandhandsome,brightandconfident.Hedemonstratesforus,grippingaringinonehandandliftinghisbody,doingtwenty-oddrepsinonego.Brawnyarmsbulging,heexudesboyishcharm.
Thetwoscrollsoneithersideofthemainbuilding’sgateread:
Allwhocomearehonoredvisitors
Thosewholeaveremainblessedguests
Comeandgoasyouwish
XianYihimselfcomposedandwroteoutthecoupletsonthegatesofthecourtyardandthemainbuilding.Theymaynotbemasterworks,buttheyareneatlydoneandattractive,withmatchingsoundandsensebetweenlines,fittinghisoccupation.Themainbuilding’slivingroomhashighlyunusualdécor.StraightaheadonthecenterofthewallhangsanenormousportraitofMaoZedongwithaccompanyingcoupletscrollsingoldenframes.Thecoupletreads:
Themightyeasternwindbringsrenewal
Theredsunrisesintheeastovermountainsandrivers
TheportraitofMaoZedongradiatesgoldenrays.AbovehisheadarethreelargeChinesecharactersreading“redsun.”Hisfacetooiscoloredgold,theentireportraitgleaminggolden.Abovetheportraithangsamuchsmallerframearoundanotherportrait:Buddhaonalotusthrone,bodhisattvasstandingguardonbothsides,threegoldenhaloesshiningabovetheirheads.Toeithersideoftheframearefourcharactersthesamesizeastheframeonpiecesofregularredpaper:
Buddha’slightilluminatesall
ToeithersideoftheportraitofMaoZedonghangthreeverticalscrollsaslongasfoldingscreens,blackcharactersonwhitepaperwithlightblueedgesinthinblackframes,wordsofencouragementandBuddhistaphorismsfillingallsixsheetswithamixtureofallsortsofsayings,foraneleganteffect.Tothefurthestouteredgeoneithersideisanothercouplet:
Honesty,purity,harmony,kindness,virtue,justice,joy
Tranquilityandeasytemperbringfulfillment
Onthelongcabinetatthebaseofthemainwall,directlybeneaththeportraitofMaoZedong,standsarowofstatues:thepatronsaintofpioneers,faceadarkcrimsonhue;abodhisattvawithawillowbranchandwashingbowl;thegodofwealth,pudgyfacesmiling;ancientgeneralGuanYu,witharedfaceandalongbeard.Beforethestatuessitsanincenseburner,smoketendrilsstillcurlingupfrominside,billslitteringthebaseoftheburner,50,20,100yuan.TotheleftofthecabinetsitsastackofXianYi’sbusinesscards,reading“Dogooddeeds,earneternalvirtue”alongsidebrandnewthread-boundeditionsofStandardsforStudents,Daodejing,theDiamondSutra,theFivePureLandSutras,andothers.Onthefloorbeforethecabinetsitsayellowprayercushion.
OntherightwallofthemainroomhangtworowsofcertificatesawardedatschooltoXianYi’ssonGuopin,aspeechcertificate,amodelstudentcertificate,alearningachievementcertificate,contestcertificates.EveryoneinLiangVillagedoesthesame,hangingthecertificatesinthemainroom,proudlydisplayingtheirchildren’sachievementstovisitors.
Besidethewallinaninnerroomsitsthesteeltubebed,simpleandcrude,justsomesteeltubesweldedtogether.Onthetablebythewindow,collectingdust,arewritingbrushes,aninkstoneandanuprightbrushholder.Themosteye-catchingfeatureisthechartofmysticalTaiji-Baguadiagramsattheheadofthebed,redcharactersonawhitebackdrop.Beneaththeyin-yangdiagramaretworhyminglinesofredtext:
TheDaoisthebalancebetweenyangandyin
Itsmiraclesmakeforthebestmedicine
Thehomeingeneralhasamismatchedfeel,political,religious,mystical,andpopularelementsalltossedtogetherunharmoniously.Mostpeoplewouldfinditeccentric,itsunderlyingtrainsofthoughtobscure,befittingalow-levelcommonfortuneteller.XianShengservesuswater.ThekettleandthecupsareengravedwithBuddhistaphorisms.ThecomputerinthecornerisplayingaSanskritsutra.Hehasmeticulouslyimbuedeachobjectintheroomwithamysticalatmosphere.But,XianYiissotranquil,hisexpressionsocheerfulandopen,soindifferentabouthisimpoverishment,gracedwithsuchaunique,transcendentunderstandingofthings,thathereinhislivingspacetheseconflictingelementsseemtomergeintoaharmoniouswhole.
Yesterdayhetoldmemoreabouthislife.
TotellthetruthbasicallywhatIdoistalktopeople,communicate,likeapsychologist.Weputallthepsychologicalstuffonthetable,thentalkaboutfate.Idon’tdeceivepeople,orexaggeratewhatfortunetellingis.Fortunetellingisnotallsuperstition,itreallyworks,itislogical,andquantitative,andsystematic,rangingfrommajorthingsliketheworkingsofthecosmostothebuildingofindividualhomes.Kindoflikeastrologyinothercountries.Spendawhilestudyingourancestors’wisdom,andyou’llsee,itallworksonthesameprinciples.Thethingis,itdoesmakesense,butitonlyworksifyoubelieve.Thesedaysthereareveryfewtruebelievers.Peoplecareonlyabouttheends,notthemeans.Andtotellthetruth,myunderstandingisincomplete.Thesedaysmylackofeducationistheproblem.ItwouldbedifferentifI’dgraduatedhighschool.TherearethingsItrytoreadbutjustcan’tunderstand.Ican’taccesstheirwisdom.IwishIweren’trelyingonthistomakealiving,butthere’snootherway.Ifitwereuptome,ifIcouldpaythebills,I’dspendallmytimestudying.
I’venevertakenmoneyseriously.Weareherenotjusttoprovideforourfamilies,buttoservesociety.Youhavetohaveaheartofservice.Intheendservingothersbenefitsyou.Somoneycountsfornothing,excepteasinglife’spressure.That’sthewayIthinkthesedays,andItellpeopleaboutit,Isharemyunderstanding,andI’mhappyifitbringsthemsomebenefit.
HereinRangCountythere’saboywhograduatedfromcollege,agoodcollegetoo.Idon’tknowwhereheheardofme,buthecametoseeme.Incollegehestudiedpsychology.Hewasathiswit’send,sayingtheworldwasunfair,hehatedsociety,hehatedotherpeople,hecouldn’tfindadecentjob.Hefelthehadaspiritualproblem.Itoldhim,alllifeisaspiritualpath,it’snothingtoworryabout.Actually,otherpeople’sproblemsarewhatyouhavetoface.Youcan’tjustblamesociety,nomatterwhichsocietyitis,noneofthemareperfect,theyallhaveissues,youcan’tbeangryallthetime,gettingangryholdsbackyourownprogress.Youhavetothink,whatistherethatIcandoWhathaven’tItriedWhenyougoinforaninterview,willyoubereadyIfyou’reready,you’lldofine,andiftheydon’twantyou,that’stheirloss.Giveitatrysomewhereelse.You’llgetthroughthis.Italkedwithhimfortwohours.Heleftinhighspirits.Overthepastfewdayshe’sbeencallingme.Heseemshappier.
XianYiismorethanwillingtotalk,tocooperate,tosharehisspiritualexperiencesandhislife’spath.Heseemsnottonoticewe’vecomeascuriosity-seekers,oblivioustoourslightlyderisivelooks.Whateverwewanttosee,heearnestlyshowsus,andearnestlyexplains.Heexplainstousthecoupletshehaswrittenandthecharactersonthescrolls,showingushowhechants“Amituofo,”beatingthetimeonawoodblock,andsingsBuddhistsongs.Reachingapeakofexcitement,hepullsouttheDiamondSutraagain,readsittousandexpoundsuponthepassage.VeeringfromBuddhistdoctrine,hisinterpretationtakesapragmatic,popularangle,perhapsnotquiteinkeepingwiththeBuddhistconceptof“charitywithoutattachment,”buthespeakscalmly,withequanimity,somethinginthearchofhisbrowexudingasenseofpeace,anauraoftranscendence.Thistranquilitycatchesmeoffguard.Itseemstoconcealhistoricalwisdomfromtheremotepast.ThisisXianYi’sfaith,thewayhelives,impartedtohimbysometime-wornwayofunderstandinglife.
Whilewetalk,hisbrotherXianRenkeepscastinghimsidelongglances,withaslightlyscornfullook,coveringhisdeepinnerdisdainforhisbrother’slifestyle.Whenhisbrotherchants“Amituofo,”XianRenlooksaway.Heseemstobeturningred.Totellthetruth,ItoohavetotrymyhardesttoconcealthatI’mtreatinghimasacuriosity,andmysenseofhowstrangethisallis,pastingonaseriouslookandlisteningattentivelytoXianYi.Deepinside,Itooamscornful,Ihavecomehereasacuriosity-seeker,andIdolookathimwithavaguedisdain.Hisfather’solderbrotherwasafortuneteller,thesortofdark,slenderfigureIdescribedearlier,andhadabadreputationinthevillage.Thevillagerswereallconvincedhewasacharlatan,peddlingfeudalsuperstitions.InLiangVillage,heconstantlymaintainedanairofmysterytowardoffkidslikeus.
XianYi’sson,oneofthetopstudentsathishighschool,isnotatallbashful.Hegetsoutallhisfather’sthingsandletsmelookthemover.Ihavehimphotographhisfather’sdiary,readingnotes,andfortunetellingtools.Hecarriesasmallstooltotheyard,opensupthepagesandphotographsthemonebyone.Hehasanattitudeofactivelearning,anextroverted,healthyattitude.XianRen’steenagesonplaysvideogamestheentiretime,hearingnothingwesay.XianYihasanexcellentrelationshipwithhisson,andheproudlytellsusabouttakingpartinaparents’conferenceathisson’sschool.Becausehissonisoneoftheschool’stopstudents,XianYispokeontheparents’behalf.Hesteppedonstage,bowed,andlaunchedintoagrandexpositionofchildren’spsychologyandtheoriesoflife.Everyonewastakenaback.Withsuchanenlightenedfather,itwasnowonderGuopingotsuchgoodgradesandhadsuchgreatmoralcharacter.
EvenXianYi’syoungersisters,MeilanandMeixiang,arehere.TheyseemfreerandlivelieratXianYi’splacethanatmysister-in-law’s.Atmidday,XianYi’swife,Xiuli,returnsfromworkataconstructioncompany.Xiuli,asoft-spokenwoman,beginscleaningassoonasshearrives.Sherefillsourwatercups,listeningsometimesasXianYispeaks,orsmilinglywatchinghersonatwork.OnhearingIwanttoseeXianYi’sdiary,sheimmediatelygetsonherbikeandgoestomakecopies.
XianYi’ssmallfamilyisextremelywarmandhealthy.Thereisnofixationonmoneyormaterialism,nograylistlessnessorlackofhope.Theyunderstandeachother,andtheirwords,actionsandattitudestowardoneanotherareopen-mindedandcheerful.XianYi’ssisters,meanwhile,insharpcontrastwiththelookonXianYi’sfaceandthewayheunderstandslife,arethoroughlyworldlypeoplescramblingtomakealiving,heldcaptiveandoppressedbysurvival.Ofcourse,theyareoptimists.Meixiangishealthyandstrong,ataxidriver,aheartyeateranddrinker,acapablewomanwhoisputtingherdaughterthroughschool.Butshelacksthatspecialglow,thatcertainspaciousness.ThereisanotherdimensiontoXianYi’sbeing.HissisterMeilanleftthecountryforthecityatnineteen,wenttoworkinafactoryandnearlymadeittodirector.Butforsomereason,inherpresenceIintuitivelysenseastrangenumbness,alackofhopeandfuture.Shelivesonlyforthepresent,seeingonlyherownlife,blindtoeverythingelse.Thenthereismybrother’swifeXiulan,whoisdisconnectedcompletelyfromthechangesintheoutsideworld,livingacompletelypassiveexistence.
Maybeitdoesn’tmatterthattheyarecountryfolk.Maybethecauseofallthisistheirnarrowviewofthemselvesandsociety.
Duringthosedays,IalsowatchedXianYiworking.TheincenseshopattheendofthestreetoftenasksXianYitoblessBuddhisteffigiesandornaments.SeatedamongBuddhafiguresofallsizesandshapes,XianYilookedstillleaner,acalm,alert,unobtrusivepresence.Sittingonthesofainthestore,heprayedtotheidolsonthebuyers’behalf,chantinguresandintoningincantationstotheornaments,eyeshalf-closed,mumblingsoftly.Therewasasenseofpeaceabouthimthatalmostmadeyouguilty,apeacealltoostrangetooureverydayexistence.
XianYiisextremelyfussyabouthishealth.Hedoesnoteatmeat,drink,orsmoke,believingthiswayheisobeyingnature,followinganasceticpathinaccordancewiththeeighttrigramsandtheBookofChanges.OnlywithapureheartcanyouexperiencetheinneressenceoftheBookofChangesandBuddhism.Inhisheart,hebelieveshisself-regulationisinaccordwithaholymandate.
XianYi’sspirit,andhiswayofspeakingandbehaving,eventuallywinmeover,satisfyingmycuriosity,dissolvingmynegativejudgmentsofhiswork,changingthewayIthinkabouttradition,faith,andtheirfateintheChinaofthefuture.
Withoutadoubt,XianYihasthewhiffofavillagewizard,dwellingamidtheflashandtrashoftraditionalChineseculture,inthemysticalrealmofyinandyang,thefiveelements,divinationofdestiny,analysisofcharacters,foretellingoffortuneanddisaster.XianYihasacrazyquiltofahome,loud,outlandish,awkward,zany,anachronistic,adashofeverythingthrownin,nothingmatching,butwitheachelementplayingitsrole,initsproperplace,thechaosatlastharmonizinginthewalldisplays.ThegluethatbindstheseelementsisnotXianYi’sadvancedspiritualattainment,buthisapproachtolife,callitfaithifyoulike,andhiswarm,unassumingfamily.Perhapshedoeshaveagraspofthetraditionshehasstudied,oftheBookofChangesandBuddhism,thoughtherearecertainlysomeessentialmisunderstandingsbeneath.ButthishasnotpreventedXianYifromattainingclear-eyedwisdomandatranscendentunderstandingofhumanityandlife.
InXianYithereisacertainsurprisingopenness.Maybe,inthismodernfortuneteller,tracesofsomeancientlightlinger,alightwehavelongsinceextinguished,forgotten,distorted,misunderstood.Stillitcomesthroughthecracksintheconcreteandsteel,struggling,feeblebutstubborn,tobringuswisdomfromagespast.
IfXianYi’sclothesandlivingspaceareanyindication,heisfarpoorerthanhissistersandbrothers.Afterall,heisanurbanvagrant,apeasantlaborer,butheisnotahopelesspersonstrugglingdesperatelytosurvive.Heistryingtothinkthroughhislife,hisspirituality,andhisexistence,andthisputshiminapositionparalleltobutapartfromthespiritofmoderntimes,affordinghimakindofdignity.
Whenavillagewomanfellonhardtimes,findingnoreasontolive,ratherthanthinkingoflawsandsystems---becauselawsandsystemscan’tsolvespiritualsuffering---shethoughtofancientoccultism.Shewouldworshipthespirits.Shewouldgotoafortuneteller.Shemaynothaveknownmuchaboutthese“traditions,”aboutthebasisoffortunetelling,astrology,ortheeightbirthcharacters,yettheseremainessentialmeansofrecoveringmeaning,andbecauseshelivesatthistorrentialtimeinhistory,togaintruecomfortshehastograspsomethingamidthetorrent.Welooktoclangenealogies,tothetracesofthefiveelementshiddeninnames,andseemtoseeinthemhistoryandlifeflowingtowardus,along-flowingriveroflife,immeasurablyrichandprofound.Thetiesbetweensorceryandlife,natureandfaithareclose,withsecretpathwayspassingbetweenthem.Thesepathsmayleadtostupidityandignorance,oropenontoexpansivevistas.
Obviously,modernChinarejectsthesethings.Whetherthisfortunetellerandthetraditionalroleherepresentscanbeapartofthecity,whetherhecanbeacceptedintothemodernurbanorder,isopentoquestion.Buthehashisownwayoflivingthatrunscountertotheobsessivematerialismofmodernsociety,impartingtohisexistenceandbehavioranessentialspiritofrepudiation,asenseofhomesickness.XianYisoopenlydescribeshislifethatpovertyseemsregularandordinary,nolongershamefulandstupid.Hehastranscendedtheworld’scruelregularity,andeven,inaway,withhisopennessanddignityhasattainednewspaceandsignificancefortraditionallife.Myinitialderisionhasdisappeared.Ievenfeeldeeprespectfillingme.
XianYimightnotknowthis,hisknowledgeandunderstandingoftraditionmightnotbeartheweightofsomuchhistory,butwhoknows,perhapshisopen,cheerfulface,hissmile,hiswarm,intimatefamilylife,andthewayhetreatsthewholeworldlikefamilymightresultfromadeepconnectionwiththesoulofthepast,andmaybethemodernworldcouldlearnfromthat.
InRilke’sDuinoElegies,aseriesoflongpoems,traditionisdescribedlikethis:
Amongmen
Itbecomesapowerfulstream
Onlybyenteringtraditionand“theCityofPain,”movingonto“theancestraltombsoftheHouseofLament,thoseofthesibylsandthedireprophets”cantheolder,moretragic“FontofJoy”bereached.
IncontemporaryChineselife,“tradition,”ineverysense,hasbecomearealmofgreattragedy,filledwithforgottenhistory,lostmemory,neglectedknowledgeandthespiritsofthepast.Theartofinvisibility,theeightbirthcharacters,thefiveelements,theeighttrigrams,alltheseoldmysticalthingsareelementsofatarnishedpast.Wehavenotrueinheritance,asthepossibilityoffurtheringdevelopingthesethingsinmodernsocietyhasbeensevered.Magiciansoncecastyarrowlots,readingomensoffateinthewaytheyfell,seekingharmonywithearthandheaven,concordancewiththecosmicorder,pursuingthesecretsbeneathlife’ssurface,butnowtheseareseenasactsoffoolishness.Theformsoffortunetellinganddivinationinvoguetodayprovidebelieverswithfalsecomfortinthefaceofdeath,comfortingtheircorruptspiritsbyself-deceptivemeans.Noonebelievesinthem.JustasV.S.Naipul,aBritishwriterofIndianancestry,observedona1967triptoIndia,India’sidols,spiritsandfaithshavebeenreducedtoadornmentsonworldlymodernlife.
Atthesametime,whenthegleamoftraditionallanguageagainflashesamidpoliticaldiscourse,servingasthepatronsaintofpoliticalideologicallegitimacy,itscomplexeffectsintandemwithpoliticalsystemsandcommonsocialvaluesmayalsopreventtraditionfromtransformingitself.Thisisnotaproblemwithtraditionitself,butaproblemwiththeformittakesandthemeansbywhichitisrestoredtoourlivesandspirits.
PerhapsthesearethechallengesatraditionalistlikeXianYimustface:howtoexerciserestraintwithoutbecomingalaughingstock,anobstacletomodernity,howtotrulycomprehendtraditionandregaindignityinthetidalwaveofchangingtimes.
Putthisway,thefigureXianYicuts,andhiscrazyquiltofahome,areprofoundlytragic.NomatterhowXianYitriestoexplainlife,itisobviouslyinherentlyabsurd.
Author:
LiangHongwasbornin1973nearZhengzhou,Henan,inLiangVillage.In2003shegraduatedfromBeijingNormalUniversitywithaPhDinChineseliteraturehavingcompletedresearchincontemporaryChineseliterature.ShecurrentlyteachesChineseliteratureaspartofthecreativewritingdepartmentofRenminUniversity,withYanLiankeandZhangYueran.
MichaelDayisafreelancetranslatorandwriterwholikestotravelallaroundAsiaandrarelystaysinoneplaceforlong,butwhenhedoes,thatplaceisLosAngeles.
ThispiecedescribesanoldprofessionoutofplaceinnewChinainthefirstofourseriesofcreativenon-fictionarticles,firstpublishedinChineseinOne-WayStreetMagazine(单读)andpresentedinEnglishincollaborationwiththeLARBChinaChannel.