Sunday, October 29, 2006

鏡花緣 / The Floating World of Mirrors and Flowers

初中讀『鏡花緣』裏『沒心國』故事的時候,道行淺薄,做什麼讀書報告,也只是搬字過紙,根本就不明白作者的用意.現今雖不是大切大悟,但回想那個故事,見解感受又比較以前不同了.個人經歷,發覺無論在情場,商場,或戰埸,沒心國的人口倒不少,不過是很難知道在那衣冠之下,有的就只是一個大空洞!

When I first read the story "Heartless City" in one of the Chinese Classics "The Floating World of Mirrors and Flowers" (my translation), I was in junior high and did not have much experience. My book report was basically a transfer of words from book to paper with little understanding of the authour's deeper meaning. Now that I am, relatively speaking, more mature, my interpretation of the same story is quite different. Without sounding too negative, I do find that there are people coming from the Heartless City living among us. You may encounter them at work, in love affairs, or during wars. You just can't tell that under the suit or dress, there is a big hole where the heart should be.

Haricot / 微豆

8 comments:

Ruth Tam said...

What's the story about? Sounds interesting but I never heard of it.

Ruth Tam said...

Thanks for stopping by and giving me kind suggestions. Nothing about you passing judgement on others. Just thinking I can't avoid being a loser sometimes. Just like in that case, I can't make it.

Eden said...

I felt that the no. of people coming from the Heartless City has been increasing ... here in Singapore... probably due to society pressures or influences from the many foreign people floating into the city bringing different culture and thinking ...

Wow, u do translation for every of your blog ah? =P

Haricot 微豆 said...

Hi Ruth: I am relying on my memory of the story that I read when I was very young. So I can't tell you any more than I did. Perhaps I would go to the library to refresh. As for the suggestions, we are all here in this "floating world" giving each other support, right :)

Hi Eden: I might have sounded negative, but I do have faith in the human race. Let those who have hearts be the counterforce to the heartless. Yes, I do translate (almost) everyone of my blog, so far. I do enjoy the extra work.

Eden said...

it's great work & effort ! =)

Ruth Tam said...

http://www.millionbook.net/gd/l/liruzhen/jhy/index.html

I got this from the web. Do you remember which story?

Haricot 微豆 said...

Eden: Thanks !!!

Ruth: Wow, that's amazing!! One can read this whole Chinese classic electronically (provided one block all the pop-up ads). I scanned thru a few chapters but could not locate the story. Sorry.

Haricot 微豆 said...

I am re-reading this post I wrote and comments written by friends 5 years later!!!

During the 5 years, we saw white-collar crime committed by CEOs and bankers on Wall Street and else where ("Occupy Wall Street" is a rage now). We witnessed the crumpling of the US and EU economies with ppl losing their employments and homes. We saw on TV the tragedy of a two-year old girl run over by not just one but two vehicles on a busy street in China while 18 passers-by refused to get involved. She died.

On the other hand, when my city's local food bank sounded the low-level alarm, the response to donate food to those in need was overwhelming. And, Canadians do support their troops with their hearts even if they do not agree with the government's foreign policy in Afghanistan and other conflict zones.

Are there more heartless and mean ppl now than 5 years ago? I will say "no" based on my experience here in Ottawa, Canada. But I can't say for others.

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