Thread Content
This post was last edited by Huàshí Dōng on 2022-4-30 08:56: 0240550093.jpg Silence is a form of wisdom. It is written in The Family Instructions of Zeng Guofan: “Among all matters in the world, half are accomplished through some kind of motivation or pressure.” ”In this vast world, some people act out of greed and self-interest, while others do so out of desperation and anger. What they have in common is that they are all driven by the circumstances of their time. Zeng Guofan, known as a \"half-sage,\" was not exempt from this law. Life isn’t about where you are, but where your heart is. It is the truth of survival in this world that is constantly pushed forward. 01 With a calm mind, one can overcome the dangers of life’s journey. Zeng Guofan had beautiful ideals; he simply wanted to be a sage whose name would live on for generations. Unfortunately, reality wouldn’t allow it; his entire life was spent trapped in the political world, experiencing ups and downs. He was tied to chains named the “Qing Dynasty”; having spent half his life as a scholar, he suddenly changed from a civil official to a military general. Under the guise of being a minister in charge of training troops from Hunan, he founded the Xiang Army with nothing but his bare hands; afterward, he had to train soldiers and lead them on marches... He was like a brick – used wherever it was needed. So his situation has always been passive – he can neither advance nor retreat. He said, “Keep your intentions pure, and then you can navigate the perils of life’s journey.” Complicated and intricate – it will test my abilities ； Waves and currents are in vogue; they can test my skills ； Difficulties and obstacles can test my resolve ； A stunning contest – it will test my strength ； Enduring humiliation and disgrace can test my character. ”In this turbulent era, he pressed forward bravely, suppressing the Taiping rebels, quelling the Nian rebels, and dealing with the Tianjin missionary crisis… He went from being a great scholar to a first-class Marquis of Valor. It was precisely because he was swept along by the times that he became even more determined not to give up, and more committed to forging his own path to success. Some say, “An individual’s fate is hard to reverse in the tide of the times.” ”Without fear or hesitation, keep honing oneself; only then will one have the strength to confront difficulties. Otherwise, it will simply sink to the bottom of the river and become one of the countless grains of sand. 02 Although there is nothing ahead, they never gave up. In \"To Live,\" Yu Hua created the character Xu Fugui, who was swept along by the vicissitudes of the times. He went through various major changes after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and his life was one of continuous loss. Back then, “people live for the sake of living itself, and not for anything other than that.” ”Yu Hua uses the most genuine and natural writing style to depict that desolate and helpless sense of tragedy. Some people ask, if things are so miserable, is there any meaning in living? But in such a turbulent era, people were like duckweed with nowhere to settle; that was the life of many. As the currents of history kept pushing forward, isn’t the resilience of ordinary people even more worthy of praise? Amid the pandemic, everyone is affected by it; there are many disappointments and feelings of frustration, but I still believe that the Chinese people are the strongest and finest people, and that the pandemic will eventually pass. In \"Wen City,\" Yu Hua writes: \"Everyone has their own quest. The currents of the times push everyone forward; even though there is nothing ahead, they never give up.\" ”We in this era are like a small boat in the vast ocean, having to face giant waves from time to time. Some face challenges head-on, some release their strength after building up over time, and some suffer in silence. One needs to think carefully about what kind of choice to make; as for which option is better, life will naturally provide the answer. The only thing we can do is, as we are driven by the times, firmly believe in our own choices. 03 One must have faith. As Ding Ling said well: \"As long as a person has a belief and something to pursue, they can endure any hardship and adapt to any environment.\" ”Only by knowing where one’s heart belongs and avoiding confusion can one find a place of peace and tranquility in this chaotic world. The last emperor, Puyi, might have been a good person; it’s a pity he was born in the wrong era and had to submit to those times. His helplessness and sadness are truly heartbreaking. He never lived his own life; he was always controlled and oppressed by others. ——From leaving his mother and ascending to the throne to leaving the palace and divorcing Wan Rong, he was constantly forced to make choices. He held a high position, yet was like a puppet. Although Puyi was a victim of the turbulent times, cowardice and arrogance remained his fatal weaknesses. In his youth, he too was full of vigor and ambition, wanting to turn the situation around on his own. Yet in the end, he chose to follow the tide of the times; by that point, he had lost the sense of righteousness inherent in his royal bloodline. He was an emperor yet not an emperor; he became emperor once again only to become a pawn, and in the end had no choice but to compromise and accept fate’s decision. When directing the film \"The Last Emperor,\" did director Bertolucci also view Puyi with sympathy? The 04 era is a mighty torrent that no one can stop. Every modern person in this world must learn how to cope with this complex and dazzling world filled with material possessions and desires. Whether to leave or stay, to act or remain still – on the train of time, whether there is anyone to guide you or not, one must make choices on their own. Fear not the difficulties; hold fast to the righteousness in your heart, and in this way, live your own life.