Sunday, March 25, 2012

A fuzzy basketball

Tim moved in the neighborhood with his parents and his younger brother. He brought his pajamas, school bag, books, and a fuzzy basketball. His parents bought a house, a car, and a whole nine yard of furniture. Tim's younger brother is so little, he only needs his milk bottle.

Tim's mom said: "This is a great new beginning!" Smile comes to her face.
Tim's dad agreed: "It would be a wonderful life!" He hugs his family in his arms.
Tim's brother looked at new places with sleepy eyes and one hand on Mommy's neck, the other arm needs to hold that milk bottle.
Tim, Tim just looked at his fuzzy basketball, wondering, where can he shoot some ball.

Luckily for Tim, there is a hoop on the second house to the left of his home. Tim walks to his new school, passing the hoop everyday. He observes. There are no people shooting the hoop! "Maybe I could play with it." Tim thinks.

Today is Saturday, Tim is happy. "I am going to shoot basketball!" He said it out loud. Grabbing his fuzzy basketball, Tim goes out. Tim's mom is happy, "don't be too late."

Tim walked to the basket and observed. "Just one shot." He shoots one. "Maybe another one." He shoots two. "This is the last shot." He shoots three. "I am Kobe Bryant!" He put in another one with a layup. Oh, Tim is happy.

"Hello, young fellow." Tim turns his head and looks up, an old woman walks up the drive way. "Hello," Tim replies shyly. "Ah, did I startle you? I am sorry," the old woman smiled, "you must be the new neighbor. I am Mrs. Wormwood, what's you name?" "Tim." The old woman continued, "You can shoot the basket. This is an old basket. I am glad somebody can still have fun with it." "Thank you, Mrs. Wormwood." Tim is happy and relaxed.

Tim comes home from school early everyday. He would dribble his fuzzy basketball on the road to Mrs. Wormwood's drive way to shoot basket. Tim would imagine himself being Kobe Bryant one minute, Jason Kidd the next. He jumps, runs, and shoots. He is an all star in his own imagination.

Tim's mom observed, "It is great to see him so energized!"
Tim's dad smiled, "Slow down there, trooper!"
Tim's younger brother is amazed while holding on to his mom's neck and the other his milking bottle.

It's been three months passed, Tim's neighbors all wonder, this little boy really like to play basketball!

One neighbor remarked, "Hey, you play pretty well."
One neighbor said, "Good shooting forms."
Mrs. Wormwood smiled, "You need a new basketball."

Tim's mom agreed, "Tim, you need a new basketball."
Tim's dad nodded, "Your ball is all greyed out and fuzzy."
Tim's younger brother trying to stand up in a wobbly fashion while holding on to his mommy's leg. He forget his milk bottle, which is placed on the ground rolling.

"NO!" Tim said, "I like my fuzzy basketball."
"But it is so old, you can hardly hold on to it." Mom said.
"NO!" Tim said.
"A new basketball is easier to play with, you don't need to pump the air before each time you play." Tim's dad trying to reason.
"NO!" Tim is red faced.
Tim's younger brother trying to stand by himself in a wobbly fashion. His mommy is holding the milk bottle for him this time.

Tim plays with his fuzzy basketball. He thinks to himself, "I like my fuzzy basketball. I don't like the new pajamas, the color is all wrong. I don't like the new school bag, it's too big. I don't like the new books, they are heavier. I like the feeling of the fuzziness of the basketball, the weight feels right too. The air may be leaking, but that's okay. As long as the sun is out, temperature is high, my ball still bounces."

One day, Tim plays his fuzzy basketball under the sun. It is hot outside. Record high! Tim shoots one, Tim shoots another, and Tim shoots the third, and Boom! It is like car back fired, or a balloon exploded, the fuzzy basketball touched the side of the basket board and burst.

Tim's younger brother comes out and stares! Then comes Tim's mom, and Tim's dad, and all the neighbors. Tim stands there and stares. "I want my fuzzy basketball back!" He cries.

On the school playground, Tim sits at the corner and looks on. There's a boy with curly hair comes up and asks, "are you the boy with a fuzzy basketball?" Tim looks up at the boy, "yes." "Would you want to be on my team?" the curly haired boy said, "me and my buddy here are trying to get a pickup game going, we need one more." Another boy with dark brown hair steps forward, holding a fuzzy basketball. Tim looks on with a smile on his face, "yes, I want to play a pickup game!"

cold weapons

以前一個叫傳統中國文學網的電子報有一篇長兵器的文章:


中國古代長兵器初探

摘要:

禮書中對生活中各式各樣的器物與制度均有相當的記載描述。在火藥尚未發現並運用於戰爭中之前,戰場上的廝殺完全是冷兵器的天下;其中又可分長兵器、短兵器、射遠器與防禦器。本文企圖從禮書與各方資料中將古代冷兵器中的長兵器集中作一淺介,並試圖對其演變和源流加以說明。
關鍵詞:戈、矛、殳、戟、斧、鉞、戚

第一章‧正文

第一節 兵器的產生

在上古時代,大地上充滿各種猛禽野獸,大自然賦予牠們防身的本領和攻擊的利器。「凡有血肉之蟲,含牙戴角,前爪後距,有角者觸,有齒者囓,有毒者螫,有蹄者趹。」而人類無筋骨之強,爪牙之利,所以防衛自身的工具,遂成為增強能力和應付環境所不可或缺的東西。而早期原始社會中,勞動工具和戰爭武器是分不開的,所以打獵、捕魚、整地的工具,也同樣是殺傷敵人,保衛家園的武器。

最初可能是以初步加工後帶有鋒利邊緣的石塊和粗大甚至斷裂尖銳的木棒為搏鬥的工具,接下來便將二者結合,在棍棒頂端綁上尖銳的石塊或石片,成為最早出現的石斧和石矛。隨著時代進步和人類需要,精工磨製的石兵器逐漸成型;「黃帝以玉為兵」,所謂玉兵,指的就是琢磨過的兵器,當然其中也包括雕飾精美的玉質兵器,而這通常用來顯示自身威望和地位的象徵。之後在知識技術的提升,銅製、青銅製、鐵製、鋼製等兵器慢慢演變打造;由於火藥的發現應用,兵器由原始的冷兵器階段逐漸進入火器階段,射程、殺傷力、準確度成為新時代兵器所嚴加要求的標準。畢竟戰爭是交戰雙方綜合實力在戰場上的較量,軍事裝備的強弱在很大程度上決定了勝負結果,所以基礎技術水平和客觀條件變化使新型兵器不斷開發和應用在戰爭之上。

第二節 枕「戈」待旦1

本研究報告以兵器介紹為主體,故以錢玄「三禮通論」中兵器編排為準則,首先以「戈」為例,依次敘述陳列之。

戈是具有中國民族色彩的一種長柄格鬥類進攻型長兵器,由於構造特殊,垂直裝柄,橫刃有鋒,基本性能適用于戰場上橫擊啄刺獲後拉勾殺敵人,因此古代叫做勾兵或稱啄兵。在歐洲,亞洲西北部以及南部各古老民族間,都沒有發現類似的兵器;因此學者們認為:「戈為中華遠古民族固有的自創兵器」。

關於戈的起源,有許多不同的說法:2
1. 郭寶鈞認為,戈是由角兵器演變而來的。古人狩獵時,禽獸曾以角觸人,於是人們仿效獸角型式製成勾兵器。他說:「吾嘗疑戈之形制,最初或即原于角兵。」
2. 郭沫若認為,戈的前身是商代勾兵。他說:「最古之戈,僅有援、有內,而無胡,存世之商勾兵,皆戈也。」
3. 李濟認為,戈之原始,遠在石器時代,也許是由斧變化出來的。
4. 還有學者認為,戈是由鐮刀類工具演變而成的兵器。

這些觀點,各有所據。從早期石戈的形制來看,戈的創制顯然是受石斧和石刀的影響,但因戈刃向內,和現代農家用的鐮刀很相似,因此我們認為戈來源於勾刃的可能性較大。

在《周禮‧考工記》中記載著春秋時代製戈的工藝規範:3
1. 製造戈戟的青銅合金,應是「四分其金而錫居其一」,即錫的含量應為百分之二十五。
2. 標準戈制:「戈廣兩寸,內倍之,胡三之,援四之」。戈寬兩寸,內長一倍即四寸,長為六寸,援為八寸,依此類推。這種形制只是春秋時代齊國官書的定制,其他各國的戈制並不盡相同。
3. 援、內、胡之間的角度必須符合力學原則和實戰需要。《考工記‧冶氏》中指出:胡過于直則刺人不入,過于曲則傷人不深。以「橫捷為斜向上」為宜。內過長則援短,胡也短,上部太輕,勾殺無力;反之,內太短則援、胡都顯得長,用起來不靈便。《考工記》說:胡不應成勾狀,上下要寬,即不可太直也不可太曲,才能便於臨陣勾殺。
4. 戈「重三鋝」,即一斤四兩重;「戈柲六尺六寸」,即木柄長度的標準,但這並不是定規,根據實際需要而有所增減。

戈之部分名詞有三:4

1. 曰援,即平出之刃,用以勾啄敵人者。
2. 曰胡,即直下部分,有孔用以貫穿所以縛于柄者。
3. 曰內,即援後短柄,用以穿入長木柄,中端亦有孔貫索縛于長木柄之上端,使戈體堅牢著柄而不左右移者。

標準的戈,由戈頭、柲、銅鐏三部分組成。5
1. 戈頭,分為援、內、胡三部分。上面以分開解說,這裡就不再贅述。
2. 柲,即木柄。為了便於前砍後勾,多用扁圓形柲,以利於把持。雖然《考工記》記載長六尺六寸,但從出土的戈來看,戈柲的長度並不一樣;根據實戰需要,步戰用的柲短,車戰的柲長。例如湖南長沙瀏城橋出土的春秋晚期銅戈,長柲達314釐米,短柲錦140釐米。安陽殷婦好墓出土39件玉戈,有的僅長40釐米,當為儀仗用具,並非格鬥兵器。
3. 鐏,《說文》:「鐏,柲下銅也」,注:「銳可插地者曰鐏」。早期的鐏,只是為了便於使戈在不用時插在地上,不致欹斜,所以在柄的尾端加上一個銅制鐏,並不能殺傷敵人。《禮記‧曲禮》說:「進戈者,前其鐏,後其刃。」要把帶刃的一端對著自己,把有鐏的一端遞給受者,以免誤傷接戈的人,這樣才算合乎軍禮。近年來,再河北、河南等地發現有的商代戈鐏帶有尖刺或鋒刃,看來,鐏
也可能用於刺擊。

戈這種兵器有三面鋒刃。援的上下有刃,既可推又可勾,直下部分的胡也有刃,可以用來割殺;援的前端又能啄殺,是一種多功能的白刃兵器。但是戈這種兵器有一個嚴重的缺點,就是戈頭很容易從柲上脫落。因為戈頭橫裝在柲上,勾殺啄擊時吃力很大,臨陣時,常常掉落;為了解決這個問題,戈的形制總是在不斷改進,現已發現的商代青銅戈就有三種不同類型,代表了三種裝柲的方法,即曲內、直內、銎內三種形式。6

曲內戈:援和內之間沒有明顯的分界,沒有闌,裝上柲以後,容易脫落,商以後就被淘汰了。

直內戈:開始在援和內之間也沒有明顯的界限,商以後為了防止掉落,增添了闌;後來又增設了胡,這樣一來,就不容易掉落了。所以商以後,直內式的戈很流行。在殷墟西區出土的21件直內銅戈中,11件有胡,從短胡一穿到長胡四穿都有。

銎內戈:「銎」,說文段注謂「斤鑿之孔,所以受柄者」。因此銎內戈就是在「內」部鑄成圓套,把柲裝在銎內,以防止脫落。這種戈製造複雜,但還是容易脫落,所以商以後不常見,故出土者很少。

儘管如此,戈仍是先秦時代最重要的兵器之一,對後來兵器的發展產生了深遠的影響,這種影響甚至超越了兵器本身,而滲透到古代文化中。「干戈」是古代兵器的總稱,甲骨文中也有干和戈字;「執干戈以衛社稷」是《禮記‧檀弓下》對干戈職能的總評述,古代的學者長期將干戈分別作為防禦和進攻兩大類兵器的代表;它們組合在一起又成為一個新字「戎」,而「戎」正是關於戰爭的總稱。「戎馬一生」、「兵戎相見」等詞彙至今仍然被經常性的引用,甚至是干戈在後期退出兵器行列之中,也存在著如「大動干戈」、「金戈鐵馬」、「化干戈為玉帛」等詞語,它們已經完全融入民族文化之中。

最後要提到的是,在春秋後期步卒、騎兵成為戰爭的主力,車戰漸漸成為配角,所以相關配套的一些兵器便漸漸失去存在的價值;因為步兵和騎兵作戰方式多為正面交鋒,所以要求要有較強的刺擊能力,以便於突刺時使用。特別是到了戰國時期,由於卜字型的戟已逐漸取代青銅制戈矛合裝的戟,加上盔甲和頭盔的硬度提高,無法發揮刺擊威力的戈便失去發揮的舞台,而由戟取而代之;從此戈就只能成為儀仗衛城的專門飾物,以及歷代史章、詩文中作為兵器泛稱和故事的象徵。

第三節 橫矛躍馬蕩征塵

中國古代長兵器中最重要、最常見、最實用、算的上是老字號的冷兵器,莫過於是矛了。從原始時代的石矛到小說上描繪的丈八蛇矛,擅用知名者比比皆是,而且製作簡單,純粹突刺使用,殺傷力又強;無怪自漢以降,戈廢戟衰,而矛制獨存,因為無論在車戰、步戰、騎戰中,都能有效刺殺遠距離的敵人,所以能縱橫在古代戰爭中,成為兵器中不可或缺的角色。

矛在古代又有「鍦」、「鏦」、「鋋」、「鈹」、「」等名稱,演變到後世便成為槍,是一種直而尖形的長柄刺兵器。起源於原始社會的狩獵工具,最初是由尖形的石塊或古角作矛頭,綁在竹木竿上用以錐刺,此為矛的雛形。矛的組成可分為矛身、骹、柲、鐏四部分。矛身,就是矛頭帶刃的部分,中線起脊,有的兩旁留有血槽。刃身下口是骹(銎),略成圓錐形,用來安插矛柲。安柄的銎統有兩種,一種直透于矛頭,一種僅止於矛銎,銎部兩側有環或孔,用以繫纓;《詩經‧國風》上說:「二矛重英」,英就是指矛上的纓飾。柲為竹制或木制,長為兩丈或兩丈四尺,為了防止矛頭脫落,兩旁常有兩個環紐或留出兩個小孔,以便用繩索將矛頭綁牢在矛柲上;或是用釘子釘牢,而柲端有鐏,同戈的功用一樣,用來插地以免欹斜。

商代時,矛已經被大量使用於戰爭之中,周代的銅矛,按其用途分為酋矛和夷矛兩種。據《周禮‧考工記》說,酋矛柄長兩丈,為步卒使用;夷矛柄長兩丈四尺,是兵車上用的。《考工記‧盧人》又說:「凡兵無過三其身」,所謂三其身就是三倍於身長的意思;人身長八尺,兩丈四尺正好三倍身長,在兩車交鋒時,能先刺殺對方的就能佔得優勢,無怪古代兵家有名言遺世:「一寸長,一寸強」。到了戰國時期,出現了鋼鐵鑄造的矛。《荀子‧議兵篇》中提到當時楚國南陽一帶出產的鐵矛十分鋒利,刺傷效果可以「慘如蜂蠆」來形容。漢代以後,鐵矛逐漸代替銅矛,成為軍陣的重要裝備。由於原來的銅矛鋒部較為圓鈍,刺擊時要靠身體的勁力才能產生殺傷力,連帶使得矛頭既長且重;鋼鐵制矛出現後,鋒銳度大幅超前銅矛,於是乎矛頭逐漸縮短、減重,從晉以後,槍之模型慢慢生成、興起,代替矛成為主流武器。雖然唐代仍有矛,但已不屬於常備兵器。

第四節 畫戟熒煌射秋水7

戟是中國古代冷兵器家族中一種經常使用到的長兵器,又叫作「孑」、「鏝」、「匽」、「棘」。它是一種在戈矛的基礎上演化而來的複合式兵器,柄前安直刃以刺敵人,旁有橫刃能勾啄敵人,故兼具勾、啄、刺、割四種作用,殺傷力較戈、矛都來的厲害。根據考古發掘材料,戟大約出現在商代。河北槁城台西的商代遺址中曾經出土一支戈、矛合體的青銅戟,這是我國目前發現最早的戟。在陜西、甘肅、河南、山東和北京等地發掘的西周和春秋墓中,也發現過不少青銅鑄造的戟,這說明戟在當時已是普遍使用的兵器;如《左傳》記載:隱公十年(公元前712年),子都拔戟逐潁考叔事;莊公四年(公元前609年),楚武王授師以戟的事…等等。

《周禮‧考工記》記載:「冶氏為戈廣二寸,內倍之,胡三之,援四之……重三鋝。戟廣寸有半寸,內三之,胡四之,援五之,倨句中矩與刺重三鋝。……廬人為廬器:戈柲六尺有六寸,殳長尋有四尺,車戟常,酋矛常有四尺,夷矛三尋。……故攻國之兵欲短,守國之兵欲長。……凡兵句兵欲無彈,刺兵欲無蜎,是故句兵稗,刺兵搏。擊兵同強,舉圍欲細,細則校,刺兵同強,舉圍欲重,重欲傅人,傅人則密,是故侵之。」前面提及,刺兵為矛,酋矛、夷矛均是,其柲長也曾介紹過;而刺兵兼句兵、啄兵為戟,其柄長自然更勝於戈與矛。所謂「車戟常」,周尺十有六尺,常倍於尋,尋為八尺,故車戟有十六尺長之意。

在西周時期,戟已經大量應用於戰爭,當時製造的戟,都是整體鑄成的。前面已有提到西周時戟的規格是:戟廣寸半,內常四寸半,胡長六寸,援長七寸半,刺長六寸,重一斤四兩,柄長一丈六尺,下有鐏(柄下端圓錐形的金屬套)8。而就目前所發現的有兩種型式,一種以矛為主體,旁邊生一橫刃,柲裝於矛體的銎部。這種戟刺殺力強,但勾啄時易於掉頭。另一種則以戈體為主,突出前伸的鋒刺;也有把鋒端鑄成反卷的鉤狀,這種戟出土較多。但是這兩種戟的的總體形狀近似「十」字形,本身不夠牢固,製造工藝都很複雜,技術要求較高;而且青銅質地易脆、易折,因此僅在西周與春秋初期使用過。春秋中、後期及戰國,普遍又使用將戈、矛聯裝在一個木柄上的戟,同時為了增加殺傷力,除了採取加大戈和柄的夾角、在內和胡上加刃的辦法,也有在矛頭下的長柄上自上而下聯裝二到三件戈頭,成為所謂的三戈戟。1977年在湖北隨縣曾侯乙墓出土的兵器中,就有保存完整的三聯裝戟,同時在該墓漆棺中,還有二聯裝戟的畫像。這裡特別介紹,就是在戈矛分鑄聯裝的戟產生後,因為直刺有一定的功效,橫鉤也去除了掉頭的困擾,殺傷力增強後,連帶使得其下柄除了一般木製柄,還有積竹製柄。所謂積竹製柄就是柄中心有一跟較粗的有棱木棒,在木棒外用16片青皮竹篾與木棒平行的包在木棒外邊,然後用絲線纏緊,再塗上黑漆或紅漆,使其光亮平滑。這種竹木兼用的柄,剛柔並濟,比單純的木柄堅軔而有彈性。1971年湖南長沙瀏城橋春秋晚期楚墓出土的青銅戟,就有這種積竹柄戟。

隨著鐵兵器的發展,戰國末年和漢代,鋼鐵製的戟出現,不但直地改變,形狀也隨之有所變化。由於鋼鐵質堅而有韌性,所以戟刺改為窄長尖銳,側旁小枝(垂直伸出的部分)由原來寬肥而有中脊改為像前鋒般尖利細長;同時成為合鑄,並且淘汰掉與「援」對應的「內」,加長用來縛柲的胡,使整條戟看來近似「卜」字形,所以又稱「卜字戟」。由於這種鐵戟刀鋒尖利,殺傷力強,很快就成為步騎兵的主要兵器;在兩漢以後,戟的形狀更有新的變化,小枝由原來與戟體垂直,變成了小枝垂直橫出後,稍向上弧曲,使枝刺上揚,進一步增加了戟的作戰能力。但是到了魏晉以後,鋼鐵甲冑的防護能力提升,戟兵器僅靠鉤啄橫向攻擊已無法造成強大傷害,而縱向突刺又因直鋒長度不足,效果比不上同是長兵器的矛,原有的橫刃小枝反而成為累贅,使得戟在戰場上發揮出來的成效大不如前,故其地位漸漸由矛所取代。從此,戟便降為儀仗、警蹕之物。唐代以後,便完全從戰場上淘汰下來,成為一種官僚門前列戟制度的象徵物。這時候的戟,造型以華麗為重,故多帶戟刀,並在小枝上大作文章;小說傳奇、戲曲舞台上流傳後世,成為武將代表兵器的「方天畫戟」,便是按照當時戟那種華美炫麗模樣加以想像設計出來的。

第五節 銅殳鐵棒得天下

殳,是一種竹、木製的擊打型長兵器,又叫做杵、杖、棓、杸、祋,後來才叫做棍棒。殳在夏、商、周三代時,與戈、戟、矛、弓矢合稱為五兵;周代則是將戈、戟、酋矛、夷矛、殳列為長兵五兵,成為車戰中士兵最基本的組合配備;到了戰國時期,又被列為步卒五兵之一。殷商時期的青銅器產量有限,僅供貴族執用,因此交戰時,貴族甲士於戰車上以戈矛進行白刃戰,用弓矢射殺遠距離敵人;而配合戰車行動的步卒,由於多半是奴隸或他國俘虜,所以主要兵器便是竹、木製的殳棒,在戰車附近擊打對手。《詩經‧衛風‧伯兮》:「伯兮執殳,為王前驅」,《尚書‧武成》:「武王伐紂,戰於牧野,前徒倒戈,血流漂杵」等記載,都談到了殳的功能和作戰地位。但是從以往研究與出土物觀之,戈、戟、矛均有詳細研究與眾多實物可觀,其形制鑄造與相關藝術亦尚易闡發探討;獨殳則未見有人特為研究其屬何種長兵,僅知後代棍棒類兵器均從其演進而來。

周殳之出土者,未經古今收藏家或考古家圖示吾人,各地博物館、圖書館或研究所中,亦罕見此物。其殳之為物,近於農器,出土物被疑為刈田,或搗稻之物,而不以為兵器,遂至收藏無人乎?考古之兵器,大都皆可兩用,戰時以之禦敵,平時以之工作。此風遠自骨兵石兵時代而來,如石斧、石鑿、石鏟、石錘、石刀、石棒、石戈等器均是也。銅器時代初期之兵器,亦未必不如是,如句兵本重在句在割,商句兵頗近於鐮刀之形,割禾割黍割稷,均屬可能。戟亦可刺割兼施,矛亦可刺獸獵魚。今戈、戟、矛均易考實,而殳獨缺如,想必其形制及用途,更偏重於農林方面無疑。9

《周禮‧考工記‧廬人》曰:「殳長尋有四尺,凡為殳,五分其長,以其一為之被而圍之;參分其圍,去一以為晉圍,五分其晉圍,去一以為首圍。凡為酋矛,參分其長,二在前,一在後,而圍之。五分其圍,去一以為晉圍,參分其晉圍,去一以為刺圍」。註曰:「殳長丈二。」。又註曰:「被,把中也。圍之,圜之也。大小未聞,凡矜八觚。鄭司農云,晉,謂矛戟下銅鐏也;刺,為矛刃胸也。玄謂晉,讀如王搢大圭之搢。矜,所捷也,首,殳上鐏也,為戈戟之矜,所為如殳,夷矛如酋矛」。考工記又曰:「擊兵同強,舉圍欲細,細則校」。註曰:「改句言擊,容殳無刃;同強,上下同也;舉謂手所操。鄭司農云,校讀為絞而婉之絞。玄謂,校,疾也,人手操細以擊則疾」。然則殳為擊兵,打麥拍稻,或砍樹劈薪,均可用之也。

殳雖具有擊兵之效能,實近於農林之器或兼有衛家及儀仗之用。早期的殳,是一根堅實的、帶有八棱的粗木棒,長約一丈二尺左右。公元前632年晉楚城濮之戰時,晉軍還曾大量製作木兵器裝備軍隊;近年在湖南長沙瀏城橋楚墓曾出土過殳的實物,長3.1米,有棱無刃,可見春秋時期木製的殳仍在使用。此後,殳的質地和形狀都有了改變,從單純木製發展圍套有尖角形的銅頭。1976年在秦始皇陵東側三號兵馬俑坑中,發掘出銅質殳頭三十件:圓筒形,長10.5釐米,直徑2.3釐米,壁厚0.3釐米,頭為多角尖錐體;1977年在湖北隋縣曾侯乙墓,還曾出土過七件有「曾侯之用殳」銘文的殳:頂端套有一只類似三棱刮刀型的銅頭,頭的後部和殳杆上,各有一個球狀銅箍,殳杆長約3.3米左右。這種殳,不僅具有打擊性能,而且也具有刺擊的性能。到了戰國時期,有的殳還改為鐵製,因此出現了鐵頭或全用鐵鑄的殳。如《呂氏春秋‧貴卒篇》說,中山的力土,穿著鐵甲,手執鐵杖作戰;《六韜‧軍用篇》中也曾提到一種重12斤,柄長五尺的「方首鐵棓」,即是方形鐵頭的殳。上述的鐵杖和鐵棓,以及唐代及其以後的棒、棍等,都是殳的演進。

然殳之形究竟為何?其有刃乎?過去很多訓詁學、考古學家都認為「殳無刃」。《周禮‧考工記‧廬人》賈公彥疏:「殳,長丈二尺,無刃,可以擊打人」。另外《釋名‧釋兵》也說:「殳,殊也,長丈二尺而無刃」。後來一些經籍注疏、辭書釋文均沿用此說。《兵仗記》曰:「殳,即祋也。禮書作八觚形,或曰如杖,長丈二尺而無刃,主於擊」。10雖然考古學家曾在安徽壽縣蔡侯墓中發掘出有刃的殳頭,但是囿於「殳無刃」的舊說,誤定為矛的一種變形。直到前面曾提及1978年湖北隨縣擂鼓墩發掘的曾侯乙墓中出現的有銘文帶刀殳,方證實戰國時期除了無刃殳外,還有一種帶刃的殳。因此我們可以確認,戰國時期確有帶刃的殳。有的銅箍上帶刺球,也許後世狼牙棒一類兵器來源於此。

古代還有一種儀杖用的禮殳,積竹為棒,八棱,《說文‧殳部》:「建於兵車,旅賁以為是驅也」。漢代「執金吾」所持的金吾就是這種禮殳,禮殳通體銅制,兩頭鍍金,拿在手中金光閃閃,很是威武。宋太祖趙匡胤出身武將,善用棍棒,傳說他靠一條桿棒打出四百座軍州,因此宋軍中裝備多種棍棒。《武經總要》卷十六中有七幅宋代棍棒圖,有棒首增加刃器、兩端包鐵、鐏部加刺刃,棒杆縮短四到五尺,便成易於揮舞格鬥的短兵器,殺傷力自然提高。

俗云:「棍打一片,槍擊一點」,這是民間對殳、棍這類兵器的通俗評價。棍棒主要是一種打擊兵器,依靠人的力量使其獲得加速度時所產生的動能來擊殺對方。每一位古代將士都要經過嚴格的體能訓練後,才能在戰場上熟練發揮棍棒的最大效用,然而在防禦能力隨時代演進而呈倍數成長時,棍棒類兵器對上堅實的頭盔和護身甲冑,殺傷能力嚴重縮減,因此其在戰爭中的作用和地位便如同前述數樣兵器,遭到淘汰或列為裝飾之用品。

第六節 左砍右劈逞神威

這一節我們將砍擊類兵器合在一節共同研究。斧、鉞、戚均屬斧類砍擊的弧形圓刃格鬥兵器,差別只在於斧小於鉞,而戚小於斧。斧鉞的淵源十分悠久,約有幾十萬年以上的歷史。在北京周口店遺跡的C層(最下層)曾出土過多種石斧,如笨斧、踵斧、利斧等,都經過人工錘打、加工;而再其他新石器時代的遺址中,也陸續有石斧出土。

《說文解字‧斤部》:「斤,斫木斧也」。段玉裁注:「凡用物斫者皆曰斧,斫木之斧則謂之斤」。斧是上古時代砍斫器物、捕獵禽獸、殺傷敵人的主要利器,故應用範圍極廣;因此凡帶「斤」旁的漢字,多含有斬截、折取的意思。如:
新──取木也。
斫──擊也。
斯──折也。
斨──方銎斧也。
斬──截也。

斧又稱戚、揚、劉、鈇,用金屬鑄造才成為鉞。《廣韻》:「鉞,斧也」。兵書《六韜》:「大柯斧重八斤,一名天鉞」。古書中斧鉞並提,孰大孰小,有時實不易區分,因為特點均為扁平,有弧形的寬刃及孔洞;欲區分兩者最大的差異在於裝柄方式的不同,越用繩索穿孔將鉞與斧固定,斧則是以銎授柲。金屬的斧大約出現於3500年以前,河南偃師二里頭遺址中出土了一把銅戚,通長23.5釐米,寬12釐米;後部有「內」、寬2.9釐米,有一方穿孔,用來縛柲;中部隆起,橫切面成橢圓形,刃部略為外移,內與身之間有闌。這是迄今出土最早的青銅斧,也是最早的青銅兵器之一。

根據歷史文獻記載,夏代軍隊已經裝備了斧鉞。《史記,殷本紀》:「桀為虐,政荒淫,而諸侯昆吾氏為亂,湯乃興師,率諸侯,湯自把鉞以伐昆吾,遂伐桀」。商代生產的斧鉞種類很多,型式優美,質料良好,鑄造雕刻精美,顯示銅斧至商代已有相當時間的演進。殷墟出土的商代銅斧,仄面看不對稱,多為空頭斧,刃作凸形,略外出;周代銅斧亦有空頭者,其大多數均以管形銎容柄,其管筩並非為今之斧銎為長方形,仍係圓形,故管體上有一孔或數孔,以安定木柲,但亦有方形銎容柄之斧類見於周代。儘管周代斧鉞承襲商代遺制,但從出土實物觀之,形體一般不大,殺傷效果亦不如戈矛,似乎逐漸降為裝飾及儀仗用兵器,是以《周禮‧考工記》對於斧之為兵,記載獨形簡陋,僅曰:「五分其金,而錫居一,謂之斧斤之齊」。即周代的青銅斧中,錫的含量約百分之二十;據考古工作者化驗,周代空頭青銅斧中的化學成分為:
天然銅:55.2﹪
鉛 :17.3﹪
錫 :15.3﹪
鐵 :4.4﹪
銀 :0.012﹪
金 :極微量

可知《考工記》僅示鑄斧時金錫合用之成分,又因斧形極不一致,長短寬窄各異,亦難指示尺度。斧鉞的刃部較厚,主要靠重量與利器砍斫,因此多為處罰、屠殺之器具,演變為刑罰之用途,《國語‧魯語上》也有以其為軍令殺人刑具之記載,後引申為執法、政權之意。《漢書‧刑法志》:「大刑用甲兵,其次用斧鉞」。皇帝拜將封帥出征時,往往授斧鉞以權,可便宜行事。《尉繚子》等兵書都有此記載,《六韜‧立將》篇:「將受命……君操鉞持首,授將其柄此,下至淵者,將軍制之」。

隨著生產力的發展,鋼鐵產量與純度不斷提高,可以製成沉重而鋒利的大斧,如三國名將徐晃便是以善揮大斧出名,於是斧鉞的地位又重新提高;諸葛亮曾因檢驗軍中戰斧質量多不可用,遂以百日時間親督工部重製刀斧,事後還寫了一篇《作斧教》,以告誡諸將戰斧之質量好壞實非小事,若臨敵,敗人軍事矣。晉以後,斧鉞的刃部加寬,握柄減短,砍殺能力又有所提升,唐代軍中流行用斧,依其式樣有長柯斧和鳳頭斧,並將斧列為常備兵器之一,由武庫令掌管。宋代亦有以大斧抗擊敵人成功之事蹟,南宋名將楊存中曾以長斧戰敗了金人的拐子馬:
「金以拐子馬翼進。存中曰:『敵恃弓矢,吾有以屈之』。使萬人操長斧,如牆而進。諸軍鼓譟奮擊,金人大敗。」

王德也曾以一萬名長斧手大破兀朮的十萬鐵騎:
「兀朮以鐵騎十萬夾道而陣。德曰:『賊右陣堅,我當先擊之』。麾軍度橋首,犯其鋒。一人披甲躍馬始出,德引弓一發而斃。乘勝大呼,令萬兵持長斧如牆而進,敵大敗。」

但在火器出現並大量使用後,斧鉞就少於戰場上活躍,雖然在城市防禦和水軍作戰上還有利用價值,藉以砍殺攀城敵人、攻城器具;或是斬截敵艦帆纜,使之失去控制而動彈不得。而步、騎兵戰中便少見其蹤影,僅在於皇帝的鑾儀、大將的衛隊、扈從中捧持,以示威儀;因此多在裝飾藝術下工夫,如同戟的演變一般,成為「中看不中用」的器物。

第二章‧結語

嚴格說起來,這篇報告並不能算是正式的研究,不過是以長兵器的範疇簡略介紹一番,而無深入對任何一項器物作深入、詳盡的探討,我想,這是以後作學問應該注意的地方。最後我想以三代的車戰介紹作為結論,並藉此對之前所談論到的長兵器回顧一番。

從《尚書‧甘誓》的記載來看,夏朝之軍陣,每車有士兵三人:車左、車右和馭者。孔安國解釋為:車左持箭射敵,車右執戈、矛退敵,馭者是駕車的車把士。用弓箭可遠距離殺傷敵人,這與戰車速度快、近距離的自我防衛能力低之特點有關;用戈矛等長柄武器則是為了近戰,以一定的距離取得對佔的優勢。這種裝備體現了車兵裝備的基本方向:即盡可能在遠距離殺傷敵人,以減少近戰時的威脅,從而加強自我防衛能力。由此可見,夏朝車兵作戰之機動性仍然很不足。

在安陽遺址發掘中,可知商代車兵是以五車為隊,每車也是士兵三人,裝備與夏朝相同;不同的是,商代每車另配步兵一隊,戰爭時,兵車在前,步兵在後,以步兵彌補車與車之間的空隙。這顯然是為了提高車兵艦戰作戰的能力,加強自我防衛,並克服機動性差的缺點。因此車兵與步兵相配合,便成了後世車戰裝備的不逾法規。

周朝時,車兵裝備規模有了大的變化。《周禮‧小司徒》鄭玄注引《司馬法》說,每一成三百戶人家,出革車一乘,甲士十人,徒兵二十人。每車甲兵由三人便為十人,武器裝備也就有所變化。從出土的舟車可知,武器裝備除了弓箭、戈、矛外,長柄者增加了戟,另有短兵器劍;士兵防身裝備則有盔甲和盾牌,因此車的形制也必然相應增大。周車外形仍是單轅、雙輪、方形車廂,車廂尺寸已達1.3─1.6米,但即便如此,十名帶甲士兵仍無法在如此空間施展手腳;故必然有徒步持劍、盾甲士護持在戰車四周,以步戰對敵攻擊。

另外關於周朝車兵記載是《左傳‧成公元年》引自《司馬法》的一條注文,說是戰車一輛,有甲士三人,步卒七十二人,共七十五人。後世兵書多沿用此項記載解釋周代車兵編制。《曹公新書》還近一步解釋這七十五人分為三隊:前拒,左、右角各一隊,如此一隊二十五人,合於步兵一兩之數,並將車兵、步兵的編制統一;還間接證明了《小司徒》注文中說的甲士十人,並非全置於車上,大約同《左傳》引文般僅三人在上,七人在下防衛而仍成一體;既保留了夏、商以來的車兵形式,也能組成如《曹公新書》中所說的前拒隊。由此可知,車兵除了與步兵配合作戰外,還增加了近車防護人員,改變了夏、商以來那種甲士僅乘車作戰的制度;而成為亦步亦車,互補缺失,彼此照應。然各種資料的不同,僅在於車、徒人數有多少,這很可能是反映當時每車裝備的不盡相同而已。

還有一種說法,認為周制每車只有十人,是依據《孟子‧盡心》章中說,武王伐殷,「革車三百乘,虎賁三千人」;《呂氏春秋‧簡選》中也有相似的話。若把「虎賁」理解為甲士,與《周禮‧小司徒》注所引的那條史料相符,只是漏掉徒兵的數目。因此這條記載是不完全的,而且《尚書‧牧誓》記載是「戎車三百輛,虎賁三百人」;虎賁是步兵,不是甲士,孔傳釋為百夫長,那麼戎車三百乘,是配步兵三萬人,每乘百人。有注家說這是取其「全數」,即每車七十二人,四捨五入為一百人;即便如此,要說每車甲士十人也是缺乏根據的。總之,按照車兵裝備的發展過程來看,周時的車兵不應該只有甲士而不配備步兵,因此說每車甲士十人是不準確的一種說法。至於春秋戰國以後,不在這次討論範圍中,故於此不加以贅述。

附註:
1刀槍劍戟十八般──中國古代兵器 p.31 段清波著 四川教育出版社 1998年7月
2 干戈春秋──中國古代兵器史話 p.15-16 李少一 劉旭著 中國展望出版社 1985年9月
3 干戈春秋──中國古代兵器史話 p.21-22 李少一 劉旭著 中國展望出版社 1985年9月
4 中國兵器史稿 p.65 周 緯撰 明文書局 1981年5月
5 干戈春秋──中國古代兵器史話 p.18 李少一 劉旭著 中國展望出版社 1985年9月
6干戈春秋──中國古代兵器史話 p.19 李少一 劉旭著 中國展望出版社 1985年9月 
7 同(註1)p.5
8 中國軍事史 第一卷 兵器 p.21 韋鎮福 田昭林 張 醒 楊伯時 執筆 解放軍出版社 1990年
9同(註4) p.103
10.同(註4) p.104

參考書目:
十三經注疏‧整理本 周禮注疏 冬官考工記 注漢‧鄭玄 疏唐‧賈公彥 主編‧李學勤 台灣古籍出版 2001年10月
刀槍劍戟十八般──中國古代兵器 段清波著 四川教育出版社 1998年7月
三禮通論 錢 玄著 南京師範大學出版社 1996年10月
干戈春秋──中國古代兵器史話 李少一 劉 旭著 中國展望出版社 1985年9月
中國古代兵器 王兆春著 天津教育出版社 1991年11月
中國兵器史稿 周 緯撰 明文書局 1988年2月
中國古代兵器圖集 成 車 鍾少異編著 張博智 張 濤繪圖 解放軍出版社 1990年9月
中國軍事史 第一卷 兵器 韋鎮福 田昭林 張 醒 楊伯時執筆 解放軍出版社 1983年5月
中國古代士兵生活與征戰 劉洪濤 著 台灣商務印書館 1998年12月
古代兵器史話 楊 泓著 上海科學技術出版社 1988年5月
周禮 錢 玄 錢興奇 王華寶 謝秉洪 注譯 岳麓書社出版發行 2001年7月
新定三禮圖 宋聶崇義集注 上海古籍出版社據宋淳熙二年本影印,原書版框高二一二毫米,寬一五五毫米 1984年6月

撰文者:彥之/台北市立師範學院應用語言文學研究所
版權所有,欲轉載文章,請徵求電子報的同意!

(版權的問題是這樣的, 那電子報已經結束了, 我也不知道怎麼瓣... 這又實在是一篇不錯的文章, 先貼上來, 如有問題, 我就下架)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

隨便摘錄

所以還是摘錄自仁波切所著的"心光乍現"的一段智慧心語作為這篇文章的結語--

 

難得值遇緣深眾親眷,

剎那聚合無常變化前,

勿將箭矛嗔心相交攻,

何不舒泰溫柔相對待。

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

number talks

I was talking about basketball with some people online these few days. One of the stats of one player became a topic, Assist.

The point I was trying to argue was that assist of a player meant more than his willingness to share the ball. It also meant how often a player possess the ball on court. For example, a point guard are usually the ones who brought the ball up the court. So it is natural for that position to have more assist than most other players. It also applied to the star players, because they also have more chance to possess the ball. The more chance a player could put his fingers on ball, the more freedom for him to do as he wish. A star player in this case can put the ball on the ground, driving to basket; or he could shoot on the spot; or he could pass to make an assist.

The more I thought about this, the more I dealt deeper into the stats, for games, for players. There are many interesting co-relations within a player's stats. Like the assist(apg) and scoring(ppg). It is indeed true that most of high scoring players do have more assists than most other players.

But it is more interesting about the game stats. What I meant by game stats is that, after each game, there are more than three accounts of that game on the NBA recap page. The most obvious are, game story, box score, and play-by-play. If I just looked at box score, it seemed it provided a complete picture of how the team and each player are performed in one game. But it does not necessarily reflect the game results. It seemed that in a close game, a play-by-play may be more accurately reflect the game results.

If I looked at game stats, I can see how each player and each team performed, across the whole game. But it does not tell how do one react in the fourth quarter? A player could perform badly the whole night, except in the final minutes. The chance of that may be surprising, as the game draw near, and each player's focus is up. So these two stats tells something different about games. In a purely stats sense, box score is a pure stats. Play-by-play is more like a chronicle, which provided with much less stats, but more narration. By tracking box score of each game of each team, I might be able to learn how a team is performing. For example, I could look at assist stats of each team and learn about the efficiency of their play. Because I believe that apg of a team tells me how aggressive the team is running the basket. By studying the play-by-play, I learned each player's flow, do they heat up fast; or do they start slow? Who is more focused, who performed worse...

This leads me to wonder about how we could approach the history study. How should we view about stats from history. And what kind of stats should we collect? How we could use the timeline as a tool, which we need to ask, what should we use it for? The stats at one point of time, how doe it fit in a timeline? What kind of relationship can we draw between each stats?

Video game idea

What did Sacrifice impress me the most?

The creativity and production value in the game was and still is the most impressive aspect of the game to me personally.

The first was the magic system. The magic system was and still is the best in video game. There are still no magic spells nowadays can get close to the impressiveness of this game. The effect of the magic spells felt so real and physical. The animation of characters casting those spells involved chanting and hand gestures. These add to the whole spell experience. The spells in most other games always have fancy lightening and dancing. But they don't feel powerful or physical to me. Sacrifice's spells gave me that feeling. I don't need fancy lightening, but I want to see the results and feeling the physical aspect of the spells. I felt that the spells in Sacrifice was also integrated into the physical aspect of the game. Some of the spells were powerful enough to alter the terrain permanently. That was a grandeur sight.

The second was the character creation. This includes the monsters players can summon, the villages players supposed to help or destroy, other wizards or magic casters, and gods themselves. All of these took great creativity and talents from game designers and voice actors, and script writers to work together. The creatures they created was purely joy. They were hardly seen in any other games, maybe except dragons.


The third thing I loved about the game was its control system, especially its camera control. The game does not give you a strafe and jump, that's the only things I'd like to complain. But the for a magic casting game, those two things does not really hurt that much. Besides, the camera control was very superb that these two obstacles were easily overlooked. Camera control seemed standard enough from the beginning. There's a cursor on the screen player can move up and down the screen to tilt the camera vertically. cursor to the right and left can move the camera to swirl around, and eventually see what's behind the characters players are controlling. While doing all those things, players could still issue magic spells from any angle. The left mouse control was for attack. But the right mouse control was for other kind of control. I love the setup. Although I did not use much of the setup. I think it has a very good potential. It eliminates many permanent UI on the game screens.

----------

I always feel that chinese fantasy is an even better background for video games. Because of its martial art legend, with chi gong. But it is very sad that there's no Chinese can do anything about it...

understanding each other

A: I love my cat.
B: What? How can you love a cat? Dog is much better.
A: Really? Dog is too much for me...
B: No... Dog is so happy, energetic, and loving. Cat is cold and unpredictable.
A: Wow, cats really make "big" impression on you...
B: Yeah, that's why I just could not understand how can anyone love cats?
A: Well, it's easy... It just like the way you feel about dogs.
B: But they are cold and distance.
A: They can show affection too.
B: I wonder what feels like loved by a cat.
A: Hehe, it is just like being loved by a dog.


I have no clue what I am doing here... lol

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

a little note

My mom does not watch a lot of movies. There are even less movies that she really liked. So it is special to see her eyes moistened after a movie. That movie was 武士的一分, a Japanese movie about samurai.

上次看唐山大地震時, 媽媽也很喜歡.

書鈔

"暴風雨"

普洛斯彼羅:

快活起來吧.
我們的表演就到此結束: 這些演員,
我們已經說過, 都是一些精靈,
現在已化為一陣薄薄的空氣,
像這場憑空虛構的夢幻一樣,
高聳入雲的城堡, 豪華的宮殿,
莊嚴神廟, 甚至整個地球和
地上的萬物, 都會消亡,
像這場虛幻的演出一樣消失,
不留下一縷煙痕: 我們不過是
構成夢幻的材料, 我們短暫的一生
最終也是止於永眠一覺.

(朱光潛悲劇心理學, 張隆溪譯, 安徽教育出版社, 第三版第二刷, 第八章, 152 頁)



...我們所謂 "表現", 主要是指本能衝動在筋肉活動和腺活動中得到自然宣洩, 也就是說, 像達爾文說 "情感的表現" 時那種意思; 其次是指一種情緒在某種藝術形式中, 通過文字, 聲音, 色彩, 線條等等象徵媒介得到體現, 也就是說, 在它的能量被釋放在適當的受體活動中時, 就已經表現了一半. 當它外在化為具體的象徵並傳達給別人時, 就得到了充分的表現. 在本來的心理學意義上的表現和在藝術意義上的表現, 都能夠減輕心裡的負擔, 給人以快樂. 憂鬱中的快樂正是表現的快樂, 是讓引起痛感的情緒暢快宣洩而不人為地去壓抑它. 讓我們用失戀的情形來做例子. 愛情意味著朝向一個目標的努力, 即求得被愛者用愛情作回報. 一旦得不到回報, 愛的活動就受到阻礙, 不能達到它的目標. 於是它產生出給人痛苦的失望. 在這失望當中, 生命力的發揮改變了方向, 從朝向固定目標的努力變成沉思這一努力的失敗. 對痛苦的這類沉思是憂鬱的一種, 它使遭到阻滯的精力得以宣洩. 主體雖然從外在方面看來似乎無能為力, 但在精神上卻是活躍的. 這就可以解釋為什麼憂鬱總是摻雜著一點快感在其中. 通過變痛苦為快樂的的這種微妙辦法, 人的心裡總在努力恢復由於外力阻礙而失去的平衡.

(朱光潛悲劇心理學, 張隆溪譯, 安徽教育出版社, 第三版第二刷, 第九章, 163 頁)

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

batter needs good butter

Betty Botter Bought Some Butter


Betty Botter bought some butter,
But, she said, The butter's bitter;
If I put it in my batter
It will make my batter bitter.
But, a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better.

So, she bought a bit of butter
Better than her bitter butter,
And she put it in her batter
And the batter was not bitter.
So, 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

different qin luo fu

" Where are you going, my pretty maid?"
"I'm going a-milking, sir," she said.
"May I go with you, my pretty maid?"
"You're kindly welcome, sir," she said.
"What is your father, my pretty maid?"
"My father's a farmer, sir," she said.

"Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?"
"Yes, if you please, kind sir," she said.
"What is your fortune, my pretty maid?"
"My face is my fortune, sir," she said.
"Then I can't marry you, my pretty maid!"
"Nobody asked you, sir," she said.

rhymes for remembering

Thirty Days hath September poem

Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
February has twenty eight alone
All the rest have thirty-one
Except in Leap Year, that's the time
When February's Days are twenty-nine

------------

valley of death

Psalm 23:1 ¶ [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

road

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

1. The Road Not Taken


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

Monday, March 05, 2012

afterwrads...

It is important to understand. but we should not forget that reaching an understand without action afterwards only brings forth suffering.

Among two sides of debate, no matter it's political, or any other, there's always voice saying, all the messy debates come from lack of understand. There's some truth in it. But this statement usually lacks some understanding as well. If the debate did not last long enough, the statement might be true. But if it lasted long enough, you can be pretty sure, each side would understand the other side fully already.

So most important thing is not understanding any more... It is what comes afterwards that count.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

小黃鸝鳥

小黃鸝鳥 (修改)

作詞:佚
作曲:佚(蒙古民謠)

[ 小黃鸝鳥兒呀 你可曾知道嗎
馬靴上繡著 龍頭兒鳳尾花
兩朵花兒呀 繡一隻鞋呀 只有四朵花
我和你 兩個四朵 湊成八朵呀 ]三次

我記得的開頭是:

有一隻黃鸝鳥, 你可曾知道哇...

下面我就不記得了...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

採風

民謠札記

黃春明


一個可愛的農村歌手


以前在蘭陽平原, 有一個老佃農, 名叫阿來, 在村子裡是一個極樂天的人. 最能證明他樂天的是, 沒有一天沒聽到他不是哼就是唱. 甚至於老伴死了那幾天, 他也嗚咽有詞. 雖然鳴聲其哀, 咽詞亦怨, 村子裡的人並沒有像可憐一般人那般的擔心他. 這不是說村子裡的人對他不好, 而是樂天的人, 自然就很能叫人不用替他太擔心. 不然, 他怎麼稱得上是一個樂天的人?

他除了月琴以外, 還耍一手極具魔力的敲板, 不用什麼旋律, 兩片竹子在他的手中, 敲擊起來的節奏就是美妙的音樂. 村子裡的人公認他是最好的歌手. 他在唱歌的時候, 總是不會有人跟他打招呼問他: "呷飽莫?" 因為沒有人捨得打斷他的歌聲. 其實他唱來唱去, 還是那幾個調子: 都馬調, 四句聯, 七字仔, 雜念仔, 觀音得道調, 哭調, 卜卦調, 丟丟銅仔等等, 但是每天的歌詞絕對不會一樣. 比如說他看到一個村子裡的頑童走過來, 他知道小孩子的母親找他, 於是他用雜念仔編歌告訴小孩唱著說:

流鼻囝*仔 ㄆㄚ ㄆㄚ 走,
你姨找你要剃頭,
趕緊回去不可趖*
不信你等著嚎.

意思是說:

你這個流鼻涕小傢伙亂亂跑,
你媽媽到處找你剃頭 (大概小孩聽他這麼說, 還是愛理不理的慢慢走著, 阿來急了, 又接著唱...)
趕緊回去吧, 還這麼慢吞吞的,
你不信等著挨打哭了, 你就知道.

就是這樣, 還押韻腳.

阿來也因為有這般的成就, 自稱什麼歌都會唱, 只要告訴他歌詞, 他沒有不會唱的歌.
剛光復的那一陣子, 臺灣上下, 大家狂熱的學唱國歌. 阿來的村子裡, 有人從學校裡拿回來國歌的詞, 跑來考他, 問他會不會唱. 他向他們要了歌詞, 並向他們討教歌詞的念法, 因為他不識字. 之後, 他想, 國歌應該是愉快的, 所以他選了都馬調, 很得意的唱起來了:

三民主義, 吾黨所宗, 以建民國, 以進大同... ...


-------------------

丟銅仔


君知丟銅仔?
丟銅仔是過去鄉下的一種賭錢的遊戲, 通常是小孩子玩的. 以前的孔方兄銅板, 臺灣叫銅錢, 俗稱銅錢仔. 但是說 "丟銅錢仔" 多累贅, 老百姓說活生生的人話慣了, 自然對語言的聲韻節奏有天才, 把 "丟銅錢仔" 說成 "丟銅仔" 或是變成 "丟丟銅仔", 不失其意, 還叮噹有聲!

丟銅仔就是把銅板平放在手掌, 但是一定要放整齊, 正面就統放正面, 背面就統放背面. 猜拳論先後, 每人各出一或二枚皆可. 輪到丟銅仔的人, 手掌皿托銅仔, 微離地面, 通常是在石頭面, 那時水泥不普遍. 自己在心裡暗數著一 , 二, 三! 就迅速把手抖開, 讓銅板鏗鏘落地, 然後看翻了幾個銅板, 翻幾個 "吃" 幾個. 就是這樣的遊戲.

有一個中國通的美國人, 把賭博上的 "吃" 字, 硬翻成 eat, 怪不得他們吃東西那麼霸道, 硬吃你, 吃定你, 而我們的反咬一口, 反應快的還是在人家口腔裡, 遲了不是在周遊人家的消化系統摸黑或是排泄系統裡摸臭, 就是到了人家的抽水馬桶. 接著嘩啦一聲, 連說 no! no! no! ...... 都來不及了.

吃幾個銅子, 被吃掉幾個銅子, 不是賭家產, 心臟隨銅子落地聲而怦然, 得失不大, 刺激有餘, 卻是農業社會呆板生活中的一個小樂子, 豈不愉快.

在臺灣民謠裡面, 宜蘭民謠的丟丟銅仔, 卻意外的輕鬆愉快. 原來丟丟銅仔的調子, 或是詞, 跟中國人喝酒猜拳的喝酒令是一樣的, 酒令喝玩了才出拳, 也就是等於現在的 "一, 二, 三!" 的口令. 那麼當然要玩丟銅仔的遊戲, 總該是快快樂樂的, 總不會是哭調吧.

有一天, 這隻愉快的丟丟銅仔的調子, 卻被蘭陽平原的一件令所有的人興奮的事搶走了. 那就是一向叫做 "別有天" 的蘭陽, 開始有火車可以通到別有天外去了.

火車走道伊嘟啊莫伊達丟愛育碰孔內... ... ...

碰孔就是隧道, 火車走到隧道, 大家樂的不知怎麼言語是好, 伊嘟啊莫伊達丟仔, 一定很快的吧.

為什麼遇到隧道這麼樂? "別有天" 是被三貂嶺的山巒阻隔了, 因此隧道對當時的宜蘭人別具意義, 穿了隧道出去就是別有天外了. 將近一五0年的開墾, 終於有了一道門, 有裡有外的感激, 和看到自己的血汗有了成果, 這不是我們今天的人所能領略的啊!


----------------------------

啊! 火車


有計畫興的開發蘭陽, 是一七八七年呉沙先生所領導的, 經過一三四年, 他們才看到火車, 據說當時是一件大事, 很多遠離鐵路的人, 帶著飯團, 扶老攜幼, 感到鐵路旁等著火車經過. 那時來試車的火車, 只有平臺沒有車廂, 並且開得很慢, 很多年輕人跳上車臺, 高聲歡呼, 向路旁看熱鬧的群眾揮手. 就這樣, 不知何時, 在車臺上的人, 一傳十, 十傳百, 丟丟銅仔的歌詞一下子就被竄改了.

歌詞就是那麼幾個字, 又是那麼生動, 又是那麼貼切的吻合人們的喜悅, 從此丟丟銅仔就這麼唱起來.

據說有火車的那一陣日子, 蘭陽平原像一鍋滾水, 看火車! 看了火車的人, 晚上有做惡夢的; 有的年輕人, 田裡個工作也不幹, 整天跑去看火車, 小孩子對火車更是抱著無窮盡的幻想, 他門現在都是我們的阿公和阿婆了. 嗚------啊! 火車啊!


-------------------------

使我想起來了


啊, 使我想起來了,
甘蔗好吃的時候,
雙頭都是甜的哪!
(接著又是什麼的聯想)
... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...
啊! 使我想起來了,
鲫魚懷卵的時候,
沒肉而肉又澀呀!
(接著又是什麼的聯想)
... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...

當然, 這不是新詩, 這麼容易董怎麼配? 再說, 它也不是詩, 套這個歌詞的人明明是他想的, 你問他這些字是什麼意他也不會知道. 抄錄在上面的只是用國語勉強把它的意思翻出來罷了.

從上面的歌詞的內容和形式, 我們不難了解, 這是一種懷念的聲音. 在一兩百年前, 對一般農民而言, 什麼都不發達的時代, 離鄉背井遠渡重洋, 到一個完全陌生的地方開拓荒地, 即使是受雇於人, 以後又到的怎麼怎樣也罷, 至少在當時, 對他們而言也是在實踐他們的理想和希望. 他們是最沒有個人英雄的浪漫色彩的了. 他們是有血有肉的英雄, 他們的經驗, 他們所辦到的, 都是在人的能力範圍裡面, 所以沒有任何傳奇性的成就, 也沒有被神話的故事. 一切都是從吃重的一鋤一翻, 日復一日, 就這樣把頑強的荒地的意志打垮了. 在這一段期間必然遭受到許多困境和痛苦.

而在這刻苦奮鬥的日子中, 在內心裡並不是沒有挫折的. 尤其到了晚上, 他們比誰都更想家. 想家比想一個人, 一件事的範圍當然更大. 過去一般中國人的活動範圍, 如果沒有什麼戰亂或遷移逃亡, 家鄉就是他們的天地, 所以一想起家鄉, 從哪裡開始想都可以, 有的從季節聯想到作物, 從作物聯想到收成, 從收成聯想到大大小小, 男女老幼, 想到某一個人... ... 一件一件的想起來. 因為過於懷念, 每想起一件事情來, 都是那麼高興, 所以有一點興奮和驚嘆.

"啊! 使我想起來了!"

在臺灣沒有一個人不知道的恆春民謠 "思相枝", 就是當時從大陸來開墾的人, 晚上圍著炭瑤*, 把故鄉原有的調子, 套入臨時編的歌詞唱出來的. 大家一起想起家鄉, 你記得什麼? 他記得什麼? 我又記得什麼?

啊! 使我想起來了!
三板橋過了就水底寮,
... ... ... ...
啊! 使我想起來了!
刺竹開花北風起,
... ... ... ...

當時是沒固定的歌詞的, 絕對不是現在被固定的:

思啊相枝
甘蔗好呷伊嘟雙頭甜
大某沒生啊伊嘟取小姨
... ... ... ...

開始時民謠曲子不變, 歌詞由唱的人臨機應變, 隨時套入, 所以民謠唱的好壞, 臨時編歌詞的分數佔最重要, 也因為如此, 每一個人唱的內容都不會一樣. 如客家的採茶相褒, 曲子就是那幾個, 但是歌詞千變萬化.

目前在恆春地方, 就有好幾個老人用 "思相枝" 連翻的唱出過去的事情. 其中有一位陳達老先生, 由於他上過電視和報紙, 大家比較熟悉. 他用思相枝唱出勸世歌, 同樣的他也唱出過去日據時代, 蔗農的困苦日子. 有一次筆者考過他, 要他用唱民謠的方式介紹墾丁公園, 他毫不遲疑, 開口就唱:

墾丁公園一線天,
爬上嶺頂看現現,
四邊風景真婉然
呼吸空氣會健康
... ... ...

不但出口成章還顧到韻腳, 真是比曹植的七歩成詩更快. 在跟他講話的經驗中, 如果問他過去的事情, 聽他講話, 跟聽一半老年人講話一樣零零亂亂的. 但是告訴他, 不要用說, 用唱的, 那麼精彩了, 簡單扼要, 七個字七個字工工整整, 沒有幾則就訴說的清清楚楚, 並且喜怒哀樂也盡在歌聲中表現無遺.

不過 "思相枝" 這個名字很有問題, 有些資料的記載是 "思鄉起", 也有寫 "思想起", 這還差不多. 不過如果叫 "使想起" 是不是更接近呢?

啊! 使我想起來了!

大概是使想起吧!


----------------------------------

嗨呵! 嗨呵! 嗨喲呵!


農業的時代, 也是勞力的時代, 到處都可以聽到雄壯而沉重的 "嗨呵! 嗨呵! 嗨喲呵!" 的群唱, 因為在開疆闢地, 因為在推土或填坑. 這些勞動的人們, 天天都會遇到大石頭, 或大樹木, 要把大石頭撬開, 要把大樹砍倒搬走, 必須大家齊力合作, 要同時匯聚群眾的力量, 大家必須要默契. "嗨呵! 嗨呵! 嗨喲呵!" 即是默契的口令, 每一節驚嘆號的頓折即是使力的時候; 每三小節一個奏, 尤其到最後的一節往往是最有利的一節. 但是愛音樂的朋友可不要以為你知道, 這就是碰擦擦(華爾滋)的誕生, 華爾滋重拍在前, 是 "強! 弱, 弱". 勞動的歌聲是 "強! 強! 更強!" 於是乎, 群眾的 "嗨呵! 嗨呵! 嗨喲呵!" 的歌聲所到之處, 荒地不久就變成良田, 接著文化也植根了.

所以勞動也是民謠的起源之一, 大家只有一心一意想把阻礙他們的笨東西弄掉, 那還管得了是誰做的曲.

以前, 光復後太平山上伐木一直到搬運, 都是唱著歌工作的. 伐木的工人七八個人一班, 其中有一個帶頭工頭, 他的指揮也就是他獨唱的歌詞, 全班的工作人員都明白了, 大家一起應聲, 即是大家合唱的歌詞. 然後工頭一邊看地形, 又指揮著唱, 工人們又應聲, 大家一起使出力量, 把深山的大檜木, 單到小火車的鐵路旁.

當時伐木工人在深山裡唱這樣的工作歌, 有什麼作用呢?

1. 當然是要大家的力量不要分散.
2. 大家勞苦的時候不會感到寂寞, 朋友都在一起.
3. 把吃重的工作輕鬆化.
4. 工人的合力與指揮者的合作.
5. 大家容易專心一致.
6. 減少發生意外.
7. 警告山下過路的人, 他們聽到歌聲就會留心木頭滾下來.

當然這些因素合起來, 又會發生諸多的作用. 前宜蘭中廣臺的鄭水順臺長, 曾經深入山裡錄音, 不知這一份資料現在可否安好?

有人說中國人是造城牆的民族, 這不無道理. 中國不管大地方, 小地方, 不管有沒有城牆, 總有東門, 南門, 西門, 北門之稱. 當時造這些城牆都是用大石頭一垛一垛得堆砌起來, 那些上千斤的大石垛都是用這種 "嗨呵! 嗨呵! 嗨喲呵!" 的歌聲砌上去的. 唉! 萬里長城除了范希郎(孟姜女的男朋友)的一把骨頭之外, 是否曾經也有過嘹喨的歌唱?


----------------------------------

算數民謠


還有一種民謠也是很特別的. 在這種電子計算機的時代, 說出來恐怕會有人笑. 那就是以前的買賣, 也有用民謠數東西的. 以前宜蘭縣利澤簡和礁溪一帶的河川地區, 就是養鴨人家的中心. 上千的鴨子, 上萬的鴨蛋, 弄到城裡, 經過批發一買一賣總是要算的.

先說鴨子吧. 他們把鴨子趕到一個平曠的地方, 賣者很有節奏的揮動著長竹竿, 每一次從鴨群裡面撥出數隻, 一次一次念念有詞大聲的數著唱, 買者也唱.

賣者唱:

一撥六呀二撥七是十三... ...
六十七呀進三是七齊頭
(齊頭為整數之意, 七齊頭為七十.)
(但是突然有一隻鴨又跑回去了.)

買者唱:

白喉減一不可算呀... ...
(白喉是跑回去的那隻鴨子的特徵, 就是說跑回的那一隻是白脖子, 可不能算呀!)

賣者唱:

(用竹桿敲打那隻白脖子的鴨子, 意思是告訴對方, 就是這一隻, 我看到了. 鴨子被打了一下, 翻了幾個筋斗.)
他媽的! (當然是罵挨打的鴨子)七月鴨子不知死活! 快快去超生呀!
(竹桿子一撥, 又把白脖子的那一隻, 還有其他的一併撥到一邊, 又數起來.)

大概就是這樣子. 有時鴨子也會多跑幾隻過去; 跑回去的也好, 多跑過去的也好, 一定都要用桿子打翻一下. 其實並不是責打鴨子, 而是讓互相知道那一隻是多的, 或是少的. 就這樣, 一個調子輪著唱不完.

數鴨蛋就比較單純, 因為蛋是死的. 一個人忙著雙手, 每次一抓不是四個就是三個, 有時老手也可以抓五個, 就從一隻籮筐搬到另一隻籮筐, 唱著數蛋. 這些民謠已經在二三十年前都絕了.

不過有興趣的人, 還可以到海邊, 尤其是補虱目魚苗的時候, 那些由台南來的收魚苗商, 用白磁碗數魚苗的時候, 還是用唱民謠的方法. 民國六十四年, 我在恆春的海邊就聽了好幾天.

民國六十五年四月二十三日選自 "中國時報"

(錄自三十年來的散文精選 錦繡天地好文章 張曉風主編)

Monday, February 20, 2012

湯姆 歐珊特

湯姆 歐珊特 梁實秋翻譯

挑担的小販都離了街邊,
口渴的鄰人遇在一起談天,
交易的時候快要完畢,
一般人開始紛紛散去:
我們坐下來把酒喝著,
醉醺醺的非常的快樂,
我們不想那慢慢的長途,
芳草, 清流, 垣牆, 和山谷,
我們的家雖然是離得遠,
可是家裡老婆總哭喪臉,
整天皺著眉頭怒沖沖,
好像天上黑雲密叢叢.

這道理湯姆歐珊特很明白,
有一晚他從愛爾城裡來:
(愛爾城說起來真是好地方,
多的是誠實男子, 美的姑娘.)

哦湯姆! 你可真是糊塗了.
聽你老婆的話可多麼好!
她早說過你這人沒出息,
喝醉了酒便會瞎嚼蛆;
整年的三百六十多天,
沒有一天酒離了嘴邊;
每次到磨坊磨點東西,
喝酒非錢光了不想去;
每次遷馬去釘馬掌,
你必大醉, 同那鐵匠;
在主的府上, 即使禮拜天,
你和克頓泰喝到明天沒個完.
她預言, 你早晚總會有一天,
活活的淹死在河裡邊;
或在鬧鬼的阿洛威教堂外,
黑夜中碰上什麼鬼怪!

唉, 溫柔的女人! 實在是慘,
丈夫常常不聽老婆的勸,
好心的勸告當做耳邊風,
真實的話從來也不聽一聽:

講我們的故事罷: -- 有一晚,
湯姆高高興興的坐在火爐邊,
爐裡的火燒的十分的旺,
盅裡的酒喝的十分的暢;
鞋匠約翰靠近他的胳臂肘,
是他的知心同好的老酒友:
湯姆當他做弟兄一般的愛,
兩個人一醉就是幾個禮拜.
這一夜又是談天, 又是唱,
酒是越喝得多, 越覺得香.
湯姆和女店主漸漸親密了,
甜滋滋私下裡兩人直要好:
鞋匠談了些頂怪的新聞,
幾乎笑煞了我們的店主人:
這時候外面的風狂雨暴,
湯姆滿不在乎, 盡情歡笑.

一個人快樂到了極點,
悲哀都溺死在酒裡邊;
像是滿載了寶藏的蜜蜂,
歡樂的一分一秒的飛上歸程;
皇帝是幸福, 湯姆卻也樂極,
戰勝了一切生活上的失意!

但是快樂像是罌粟一樣,
你掐下了花, 花容就要彫喪;
又象落在河面上的雪,
一瞬間的白---立刻就滅;
又像是一陣陣疾走的北風,
不容你指出它的去跡來踪;
又像是那鮮豔多姿的彩虹,
消逝在風雨當中.

沒人能繫住潮水和光陰,
湯姆該騎回的時候已近, ---
這時候是黑夜最昏暗的時候,
頂荒涼的時候他騎馬去馳驟;
在這樣的昏夜他上了路程,
可憐的囚犯都沒受過的苦刑.

風象是吹最後的狂飆,
疾風上又有暴雨風飄;
電閃被黑暗給吞服了;
迅雷長聲的隆隆的叫;
這一夜, 孩子一定要以為,
世界上又要鬧魔鬼了.

他跨上了他的灰色的馬, ---
再好的馬可真是沒有啦, ---
湯姆跳過了水坑和濘泥, ---
也不顧什麼電火和風雨;
手按著他的好的藍帽子,
口哼著一曲蘇格蘭的老調子,
時刻的四圍的留心著,
生怕不當心就被鬼纏.
阿洛威教堂就要來到,
那裡鬼和梟夜夜的叫.
這時候他跨過了淺灘,
雪天在此死過一個商販;
他又經過了巨石和赤楊,
醉查理跌斷鎖骨就在這地方;
他穿過花叢, 走進那堆石頭,
獵者在此找到孩子的屍首;
在一口井上, 靠在荊棘傍,
當年吊死過蒙哥的娘;
面前流著浩浩蕩蕩的河,
大風大雨從樹林裡穿過;
電火滿天的閃亮,
雷聲越來越近, 越響;
呼號的林中洩出火光,
阿格威好像火燒一般亮:
空隙漏出來的光芒是在跳動,
有舞蹈的歡聲遙遙響應.

大麥酒! 你真能提神壯膽!
你能使我們不怕危險!
二兩酒下肚, 我們何事不敢做?
一杯威斯忌, 我們敢去見鬼魔!
現在酒勁上了湯姆的腦袋,
莫非他還怕什麼鬼怪.
但是那匹馬可嚇傻啦,
湯姆扯緊了韁, 腳踢牠,
牠這纔向亮處衝過去;
哦糟了! 湯姆見了怪劇!

一群男巫妖婦正在舞蹈;
不是法國的新興的 "八人跳",
是蘇格蘭的急歩的 "雙錢舞",
興高采烈的舞得飛速:

高高的座位擺在東邊窗上:
坐著野獸模樣的鬼魔王;
一條又凶又狠的大黑狗,
奏音樂就是他的職守,
牠吹著笛琴唧唧的叫,
屋椽屋頂都震得顫搖. ---
棺材像空匣子般左右橫陳,
暴露著衣殮整齊的死人;
不知是什麼魔鬼的把戲,
死人的手裡都舉著火炬,
大膽的湯姆藉了這個火光,
一眼瞥見那個棹上
有兇手的屍骨還套著鉸錬;
有兩具嬰屍, 二尺還不滿;
還有一個剛絞死的賊犯---
喘息著的嘴還不曾閉關;
五把斧頭長滿了藍血銹;
五把彎刀, 漬了一層爛人肉;
勒死孩子的一根帶滌,
砍爸爸咽喉的尖刀,
用這刀, 兒子害了親爸爸---
刀把上還黏著幾根白頭髮;
更可怕的東西還有許多,
駭人聽聞, 連說都說不得.

湯姆看了是又驚訝又希奇,
他們舞得是越迅速越有趣;
吹笛的聲音是越來越響亮,
跳舞的是越來越快的迴翔;
他們橫衝直撞, 亂攫亂摟,
個個老巫都累得汗流,
於是脫了她們的外衣套,
穿著她們的裡襯衫來跳!

湯姆, 湯姆, 她們若是小姑娘,
十來歲的, 又強又凸又肥胖!
若是她們襯衫不漬滿了油,
而是頂精緻的雪白細紗綢! ---
我這條短褲, 雖然只有一條,
雖然是絲絨做的, 道地好藍毛,
我寧願脫下來送給她們,
只消我能瞟一眼這樣美的女人!
可惜她們都是乾癟老太婆,
古怪醜陋的老妖魔,
但是如今也要翩躚的舞,
我想怎能不令你嘔吐!

但是好壞湯姆也看得出來,
裡面有個俏皮女人長得不壞,
是這一夜纔加入這個妖群,
(名聲從此傳遍了喀利海濱;
她屠殺了無數條的野獸,
好好的船她弄沉了許多艘,
麥穗和稻粒由著她糟蹋,
鄉下沒人說起她來不害怕.)
她穿著一條短短的薄紗裙,
從她小的時候就沒離過身,
現在是顯著太短了一點,
但是她很得意, 頂好的是這件.
唉, 幸虧這回她瞞過了她奶奶,
這裙子她買來原是給她的小南妮,
足足花了兩金鎊(她只有這點體己),
你竟穿了和妖婆一同跳舞去!

寫到這裡可難為了我的詩才,
這個景象我真是描寫不來;
南妮的舞實在妙不可言,
(她的身段苗條, 舞態翩躚),
湯姆看得發呆, 不得動彈,
心想他這回眼福真不淺;
魔王看了都瞪大了他的眼睛,
忍不住也渾身跟著蠕動:
跳完一頓, 接著又跳, 湯姆忘形了, 忍不住的叫:
"跳得好! 那個短裙的小姑娘!"
立刻全黑了, 沒有一點亮:
他還沒有撥轉了馬去逃,
成群的妖怪已經追來了.

像是觸犯了一隻蜜蜂窩,
發怒的蜂群嗡嗡的飛逃;
又像是一隊凶狠的野獸,
颼的一下, 一隻兔從前面逃走;
又像是市裡的狂奔的人群,
大聲的喊: "捉住前面的賊人!"
湯姆騎著馬跑, 妖巫在後面趕,
不住的呼嘯, 銳利的叫喊.

湯姆湯姆, 你要送命了!
在地獄裡把你當作魚燒!
你的老婆空等著你回來!
可憐的女人不定要多悲哀!
馬呀, 你快拼了命的逃,
快快跑上了那一座橋;
到橋上你可以向他們搖尾巴,
因為他們不敢過河, 見了河就怕.
但是馬沒有跑到橋上,
他的尾巴已經先在搖晃!
南妮跑在別個的前面,
緊跟著馬的後邊追趕,
猛然間向著湯姆撲過去;
他不知道這匹馬的腳力---
馬一縱就把湯姆馱走啦,
沒顧得他自己的灰尾巴:
女妖精一把就給尾巴扯了去,
可憐馬屁股剩的光溜溜的!

聽懂我這個故事的意思的人,
一切的男子, 請你們留神,
每次你們若是想要喝酒,
或是心裡想女人的時候,
想想, 快樂的代價也許太大,
記住, 湯姆的馬的那條尾巴.

十八年十二月十日

註: 朋士(Burns) 的這首故事詩 "湯姆 歐珊特" [Tam o'Shanter] 作於一七八九年, 刊於一七九一年. 他的父親葬於阿洛威教堂(Alloway Kirk) 的墓園裡. 朋士請求他一位考古的朋友給他畫一幅那個墓園的圖, 部分因為那是他父親的埋骨之所, 部分因為那也是他期望中的葬身之地. 他請求的時候附帶說明了教堂附近傳說許多巫婆鬼怪的故事. 這位朋友, 佛蘭西斯 格勞斯(Francis Grose), 答應給他畫, 附有條件, 朋友必須寫一篇巫婆的故事. 洛威一代的一位真實人物道格拉斯 格拉姆(Douglas Graham), 交際場中頗為有名. 此詩一向是朋士得意之作, 其中顯示充沛的精力及戲謔的諧趣. 朋士的詩歌洗用蘇格蘭愛爾 (Ayr) 地方方言, 此詩卻是大部分普通英語. 寫此詩時朋士三十歲, 正是他精力旺盛的時候, 的是一首傑作. 中譯初發表於新月.

七十三年五月三十日補記

(雅舍譯叢)

民主社會的認識

錄牛津任秀姍先生言:

批評不等於反對,
反對不等於敵對,
沉默不等於同意,
同意不等於支持.

(錄自必須贏的人, 張繼高著 民國八十五年)

燒雞

【材料】:雞腿2支、小黃瓜2條、蔥1支、薑3片、紅辣椒3支、大蒜3顆、花椒粉(粒)1小匙、八角1粒、醬油1大匙、黑醋3大匙、香油1小匙、紅油2大匙、糖1大匙
【做法】:
1、雞腿處理後加入醬油醃漬。
2、小黃瓜拍鬆切斷,用少許鹽醃一下。
3、起油鍋,放入雞腿油炸上色取出。
4、蔥切末、薑切片、蒜頭拍碎、辣椒切碎,備用。
5、將炸好的雞腿放入薑、蔥、花椒、八角、酒、醬油之後,入鍋蒸約15分鐘
6、將黑醋、白醋、糖、醬油、香油、辣椒、青蔥、薑、蒜頭、適量的花椒粉和花椒粒、紅油、以及蒸好的雞汁,調和成淋料。
7、雞腿待涼之後撕成條狀雞絲。
8、小黃瓜鋪底,放入雞絲,淋上調味料,即完成「山東燒雞」。

(來源: http://youtu.be/JhUO36wI11g)

叔向的憂慮

昭公六年

三月,鄭人鑄刑書,叔向使詒子產書曰,始吾有虞於子,今則已矣,昔先王議事以制,不為刑辟,懼民之有爭心也,猶不可禁禦,是故閑之以義,糾之以政,行之以禮,守之以信,奉之以仁,制為祿位,以勸其從,嚴斷刑罰,以威其淫,懼其未也,故誨之以忠,聳之以行,教之以務,使之以和,臨之以敬,蒞之以彊,斷之以剛,猶求聖哲之上,明察之官,忠信之長,慈惠之師,民於是乎可任使也,而不生禍亂,民知有辟,則不忌於上,並有爭心,以徵於書,而徼幸以成之,弗可為矣,夏有亂政而作禹刑,商有亂政而作湯刑,周有亂政而作九刑,三辟之興,皆叔世也,今吾子相鄭國,作封洫,立謗政,制參辟,鑄刑書,將以靖民,不亦難乎,詩曰,儀式刑文王之德,日靖四方,又曰,儀刑文王,萬邦作孚,如是何辟之有,民知爭端矣,將棄禮而徵於書,錐刀之末,將盡爭之,亂獄滋豐,賄賂並行,終子之世,鄭其敗乎,肸聞之,國將亡,必多制,其此之謂乎,復書曰,若吾子之言,僑不才,不能及子孫,吾以救世也,既不承命,敢忘大惠,士文伯曰,火見,鄭其火乎,火未出而作火,以鑄刑器,藏爭辟焉,火如象之,不火何為.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

食譜

【菜名】:滷水牛腱
【材料】:小型牛腱3斤、生 抽3杯、冰糖1點.5杯、八角4粒、草果4粒、沙薑少許、香葉(月桂葉)少許、(肉)桂皮少許、甘草少許、青蔥4支、紹興酒4大匙、老薑1塊
【做法】:
1、煮一鍋熱水放入牛腱煮熟後,去除筋膜再用清水洗淨。
2、依序把八角、草果、沙薑、香葉、桂皮、甘草放入鍋中,再放入冰糖、醬油、水、牛腱煮30分鐘。
3、煮30分鐘後再放入薑、蔥、紹興酒再熄火浸泡15分鐘。
4、把牛腱取出放涼、切片擺盤、淋上滷汁即完成「滷水牛肉」。

【菜名】:寒天牛腱拌瓜絲
【材料】:滷好的牛腱1個、寒天1把、小黃瓜1條、葱2支、辣椒一條、鹽1/2小匙香油少許
【做法】:
1、蔥切絲加水抓勻。
2、辣椒切絲、小黃瓜切絲、加入鹽拌勻。
3、把寒天泡軟、切段。
4、再把小黃瓜絲、辣椒絲、寒天、牛腱絲、香油一起拌勻即完成「寒天牛腱拌瓜絲」。

(來源: http://youtu.be/9fqKN1OPlYg)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

隨便看到的

列子‧仲尼第四》原文如下:



龍叔謂文摯曰:“子之術微矣。吾有疾,子能已乎?“
文摯曰:“唯命所聽。 然先言子所病之正。“
龍叔曰:“吾鄉譽不以為榮,國毀不以為辱;得而不喜, 失而弗懮;視生如死;視富如貧;視人如豕;視吾如人。處吾之家,如逆旅之舍; 觀吾之鄉,如戎蠻之國。凡此眾疾,爵賞不能勸,刑罰不能威,盛衰、利害不能 易,哀樂不能移。固不可事 國 君,交親友,御妻子,制仆隸。此奚疾哉?奚方能 已之乎?“
文摯乃命龍叔背明而立,文摯自后向明而望之。
既而曰:“嘻!吾見 子之心矣,方寸之地虛矣。幾聖人也!子心六孔流通,一孔不達。今以聖智為疾者,或由此乎!非吾淺術所能已也。“

(方寸的來源: http://tw.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/question?qid=1007040507233)

---------------------



齊王疾,使人之宋迎文摯,文摯至,視王之疾,謂太子曰:
“王之疾必可已也。雖然,王之疾已,則必殺摯也。”
太子曰:“何故?”
文摯對曰:“非怒王則疾不可治,怒王則摯必死。”
太子頓首強請曰:“苟已王之疾,臣與臣之母以死爭之於王。王必幸臣與臣之母,願先生之勿患也。”
文摯曰:“諾。請以死為王。”
與太子期,而將往不當者三,齊王固已怒矣。 文摯至,不解屨登床,履王衣,問王之疾,王怒而不與言。 文摯因出辭以重怒王,王叱而起,疾乃遂已。 王大怒不說,將生烹文摯。 太子與王后急爭之,而不能得,果以鼎生烹文摯。
爨之三日三夜,顏色不變。
文摯曰:“誠欲殺我,則胡不覆之,以絕陰陽之氣?”
王使覆之,文摯乃死。

夫忠於治世易,忠於濁世難。
文摯非不知活王之疾而身獲死也,為太子行難,以成其義也。

(《呂氏春秋─卷十一 仲冬紀第十一─至忠》)

(http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/3/3/8/c11194.htm)

--------------------


原本是要找第二篇的. 但是, 沒想到第二篇的結語竟然是在講忠. 第一篇更有趣一點... ^_^!

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

白斬雞

奇怪這一次做的特別好... 不知道是為啥... 紀錄下來, 看看下次是否也可以如此?

料:

雞一隻
蔥薑少許
花椒若干
扁尖又名扁尖筍若干
酒少許



雞的煮法:

雞, 蔥薑入鍋, 水滾後, 去血水後, 加入剩餘材料, 續滾十分鐘, 熄火廿分鐘.
開火至滾, 續滾十分鐘, 熄火廿分鐘. 完成.

十分鐘再滾十分鐘, 也可以看雞的大小而定吧...

切雞要點:

雞從熱水裡拿出, 盛在大碗或盤子裡待涼. 至少等廿分鐘.


沾醬:

薑剁碎至幾乎出水. 盛入碗中, 加入油和鹽. 也可以加入蔥末或辣椒末.


這一次做出來的雞真的事非常好吃. 不了解是為啥. 肉不僅僅是嫩, 一點腥味也沒有, 就算不沾醬, 吃起來也非常好!

Saturday, February 04, 2012

playing CoH

I am trying to analyzing the way I played company of heroes. I found an interesting thing about how I play that game. Whenever I extended my territories to a certain point, I stopped push forward. I became very conservative. I felt fear. I could not decide what should I do next. What happened next was PC started to attack, I then became increasingly reactionary. Right now, I am trying to find a way to deploy vehicles earlier than AI on easy... And yet I found it impossible! Somehow, I lost my goal completely. When he AI started to attack, even it's on easy, I started to react to him hopelessly and completely.

It is true, I am still trying to figure out many things in the game. But I know it is the same for every RTS I played. I would started out ok, as the time goes on I slowly deteriorated into losing my aim or plan, then I would just react to the AI, eventually overwhelmed by it. It seemed that my focus was lost into a wonton.

On the other hand, I felt if I could only focus on either tactic battle or resource management, I would probably fare better, having more focused goal. When I was playing total war, the battle was always fun. I was more focused. I would still lose my part in taking initiative sometimes. But at least, I did not need to be confused about the other aspect of the game play.

Basically, I can see myself being a more conservative player from playing video games. I want to make sure that my ground is solid under my feet before I make another move. But as it turns out, AI's action bothered me so much. I feel I need to take care of the nuances right away. A few engineers from AI which tried to take my strategic point, I would throw off my plan and chase them around the map. Or I would divert my resources to protect my strategic point in any cost. I will need to micromanage better. I will need to find a way to conserve my military personnel. Because I could save my resource this way with benefit of gaining veterancy.

書摘

格物致知, 中國求諸理, 西人求諸事. 考工利用, 中國委諸匠, 西人出諸儒. 求諸理者形而上, 而坐論易涉空言. 委諸匠者得其粗, 而士人罕明制作.

(錄自合肥四姐妹, 合肥精神篇, 張樹聲的奏摺)

Thursday, February 02, 2012

有所當

兵氣

田單攻狄,魯仲連策其不能下,已而果三月不下。田單問之,仲連曰:「將軍之在即墨,坐則織貸,立則仗插,為士卒倡。將軍有死之心,士卒無生之氣。聞君言,莫不揮涕奮臂而欲戰,此所以破燕也。當今將軍東有夜邑之奉,西有淄上之娛,黃金橫帶而騁乎淄澠之間,有生之樂,無死之心,所以不勝也。」余嘗深信件連此語,以為不刊之論。

同治三年,江寧克復後,余見湘軍將士驕盈娛樂,慮其不可復用,全行遣撤歸農。至四年五月,余奉命至河南、山東剿捻,湘軍從者極少,專用安徽之難勇。余見准軍將上雖有振奮之氣,亦乏憂危之懷,竊用為慮,恐其不能平賊。

莊子云: 「兩軍相對,哀者勝矣。」仲連所言以憂勤而勝,以娛樂而不勝,亦即孟子「生於憂患,死於安樂」之指也。其後余因疾病,疏請退休,遂解兵柄,而合肥李相國卒用難軍以削平捻匪,蓋淮軍之氣尚銳。

憂危以感士卒之情,振奮以作三軍之氣,二者皆可以致勝,在主帥相時而善用之已矣。余專主憂勤之說,殆知其一,而不知其二也。聊志於此,以識吾見理之偏,亦見古人格言至論,不可舉一概百,言各有所當也。

(曾國藩文集, 筆記廿七則, 來自這個網站: http://www.angelibrary.com/real/thm/zgfwj/003.htm)

----------------

在合肥四姐妹一書裡看到這段話的節錄. 書裡提到這一段話最主要是想說明曾國藩君這種憂勤的思想符合古中國的傳統. 但也想說明淮軍將領中也有 "憂危之懷" 的人, 只是 曾國藩君對淮軍的認識不夠深入. 很有意思的見解. 故誌之.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

蘇武牧羊歌詞

蘇武牧羊

蘇武牧羊北海邊
雪地又冰天 羈留十九年
渴飲雪 飢吞氈 野幕夜孤眠
心存漢社稷 夢想舊家山
歷盡難中難 節旄(旌)落(盡)未還
兀坐絕寒 時聽胡笳 入耳心痛酸

蘇武牧羊久不歸
群雁卻南飛 家書欲寄誰?
白髮娘 望兒歸(倚荊扉) 紅粧守空幃
三更徒入夢 未卜安與危
心酸百念灰 大節仍不少虧
羝羊未乳 不道終得(不到終生), 生(仍)隨漢使歸(回)

(http://mojim.com/twy102582x1x14.htm)--->(後面一些變字來自下面的百度討論網頁)
(我對這首歌的記憶模糊了, 但是, 就有記憶的地方和此相比, 有不一樣的地方!)


蘇武,留胡節不辱!
雪地又冰天,苦忍十九年,渴飲血,饑吞氈,牧羊北海邊。
心存漢社稷,旄落猶未還。
歷盡難中難,心如鐵石緊。
夜坐塞上時,聽笳聲入耳慟心酸。


蘇武,留胡節不辱!
轉眼北風起, 雁群漢關飛, 白髮娘, 望兒歸, 紅妝守空幃.
三更同入夢, 兩地誰夢誰?
任海枯石爛, 大節不稍虧.
終教匈奴驚心破膽, 拱服漢德威.

(http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/mmtt1546/post/1295253191)
(這個和我記得的比較相近, 第一段除了血以外, 全部相同. 第二段的記憶裡, 我覺得 "大節不稍虧.
終叫匈奴驚心破膽, 拱服漢德威." 和我有共鳴以外, 其他皆無.)

百度這裡有一個相關的討論串:

(http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=6872419)


所有百度的討論裡, 有幾個是不變的:


蘇武,留胡節不辱!
雪地又冰天, XX十九年, 渴飲雪, 飢吞氈, 牧羊北海邊.
心存漢社稷,XX猶未還。
歷盡難中難,心如鐵石堅。 (後面一句還是有變化)
夜坐塞上,時聽笳聲, 入耳慟心酸。


可是第二段的變化就大更多了. 大部分同意的歌詞如下:

蘇武,留胡節不辱!
XX北風起, 雁群XXX, 白髮娘, 望兒歸, 紅妝守空幃.
XXXXX, XXXXX,
任海枯石爛, 大節X不X虧.
XX匈奴XXXX, 拱服漢德威.


對我而言, 有一個地方和第二段極為不同. 就是 "白髮娘, 望兒歸, 紅妝守空幃." 的地方. 我的印象是, 白髮娘, 已西歸, 然後下面我就不記得了. 百度另一個地方:

(http://wenku.baidu.com/view/d68e860d76c66137ee06197a.html)

的紀錄就在這地方就比較和我一樣, 他的歌詞是: 白髮娘, 已西歸, 家國人已非.

我把全部紀錄在此:

蘇武,留胡節不辱!
雪地又冰天, 窮愁十九年, 渴飲雪, 飢吞氈, 牧羊北海邊.
心存漢社稷,旄落猶未還。
歷盡難中難,心如鐵石堅。 (後面一句還是有變化)
夜坐塞上,時聽笳聲, 入耳慟心酸。

蘇武牧羊久不歸,
正值北風起, 雁群漢關飛, 白髮娘, 已西歸, 家國人已非.
今夜憶古地, 往事盡成灰,
任海枯石爛, 大節定不稍毀.
能使匈奴驚心喪膽, 拱服漢德威.

這據稱來自大陸高中課本. 我想這比較有權威一點. 但是, 為啥第一首歌詞卻那麼不一樣? 會不會其實有第三甚至第四段?

find it in the opposite end...

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line


source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

Monday, January 30, 2012

a boy by the pool

a boy by the pool
why aren't you swimming in the water?

I am studying water.
really? what is there to study?

water is interesting,
70% human body consists of water, which is made of 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen.
and do you know 70% of Earth planet are water too?
water is also the best solvent out there...

a woman came up and yelled.
why are you sitting by the pool?
get in the water and learn to swim!

mom, i need to study water!

my gosh, you could study it in the pool.

no i can't! don't you know, science need to be objective.
if i were in the pool, how can i be objective?
distance is how i could be objective!
objective!
distance!
science!

to hell with your science!
the disguise!
either you are a coward,
or, or a lazy boy.
i bring you here to learn to swim!
now, off you go!
stop that none sense!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

some rhymes

Pussycat, Pussycat

Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

(http://user.xmission.com/~emailbox/nursery.htm)

Two Little Kittens

Two little kittens, one stormy night,
Begun to quarrel, and then to fight;
One had a mouse, the other had none,
And that's the way the quarrel begun.

"I'll have that mouse," said the biggest cat;
"You'll have that mouse? We'll see about that!"
"I will have that mouse," said the eldest son;
"You shan't have the mouse," said the little one.

I told you before 'twas a stormy night;
When these two little kittens began to fight;
The old woman seized her sweeping broom,
And swept the kittens right out of the room.

The ground was covered with frost and snow,
And the two little kittens had no where to go;
So they laid them down on the mat at the door,
While the old woman finished sweeping the floor.

Then they crept in, as quiet as mice,
All wet with snow, and cold as ice,
For they found it was better, that stormy night,
To lie down and sleep than to quarrel and fight.


The Lazy Cat

Pussy, where have you been today?
In the meadows, asleep in the hay.
Pussy, you are a lazy cat,
If you have done no more than that.


I Love Little Pussy

I love little pussy,
Her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her,
She'll do me no harm.

So I'll not pull her tail,
Or rive her away,
But pussy and I
Together will play.

She will sit by my side,
And I'll give her some food,
And she'll like me because
I'm gentle and good.



(http://user.xmission.com/~emailbox/nursery.htm)




Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?
I've been down to London to visit the Queen.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse, under her chair.[1]

The last line sometimes sung as:

I chased a little mouse right under the chair.

wiki

Monday, January 23, 2012

word

in every languages, or writings, words are signs for certain meanings. i read a book about words in different languages may not be able to find literal translation, word for word that is.

what it meant was that we might use an english word, fish to translate a chinese word, 魚. but they might just be because they are most close in comparison of meaning, from each of their own language, that does not mean fish = 魚 in 100% of senses. The book used another example, for years, most people have been using english word, Mother, to translate another word from a certain north american native tribe. but they eventually found out that the literal meaning might not be as a perfect match. the reason being that people from that tribe would use the corresponding word for mother on every female in the tribe... And evetually, the linguists found that there's no special word to represent a concept as english word, mother, for that north american tribe!

it is like each people, or ethnicity carved out a wooden box. Then they each grabbed some features from 5 senses, or some concepts they find appealing, squeezed in that carved box. Then later, when different people met each other, they each took out their wooden box, and compared with the other's wooden box. if the box looked similar, they seemed to understand each other and laugh with each other in delight. for a long time, they never bothered to open the box and compared the content. of course, in time, they did eventually. but they might have already experienced love, fight, or some other activities together.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Some funny lines

After watching a few movies, I found there were few things made me laugh.

super8: Cary: He's too stoned!
Martin: Oh, drugs are so bad!

agora: when the christian and jewish were arguing on the court, jewish elder started to tear his own garments in the heat of discussion. That made me laugh so hard... it reminded me once after I read about jesus. the pharisee used to tear their own garment in the book. I wondered why they do that and though they were all very strong. while thinking, I started to try to tear my t shirt. for I thought I could not tear it apart. but I was so wrong... at least, my t shirt was very easy to be shredded. lol

the ides of march: Stephen Meyers: You can lie, you can cheat, you can start a war, you can bankrupt the country, but you can't fuck the interns. They get you for that.

patton: Patton: Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

random notes

今天在喝咖啡的時候吃 Roger 帶回來的囍餅. 胡熒阿姨提到在台灣男方要送女方家兩次囍餅. 女方家拿到第二次囍餅時, 要開始準備禮物給新婚夫婦, 通常都是棉被, 棉被套. 大家興頭來了, 就開始說他們那時候的被子是怎樣的, 被套是怎樣的. 我聽得糊裡糊塗. 於是, 他們就開始解釋. 最後, 謝立言叔叔用紙巾作模型我才看懂一點. 一般現在的被套受一面有花紋, 另一面則是樸素的. 以前很多人送禮, 就送有花紋的布, 用來作為被套的正面. 之後, 收禮的人家, 還要拿一塊比花布更大的素布來做成真正的被套. 他們也都有看過大人把花布放在中間, 用很長的縫針把四個素布角用一種接近三角形的折法折好後, 和花布縫在一起.

他們還說, 夏天時, 家家都要曬棉被. 這和媽媽說的一樣. 他們也說棉被用久了, 就會堆擠成塊,或成條. 於是就需要去彈棉花. 據說, 當時每一個街角都有一家彈棉花的店. 彈棉花的師傅有時候還會有很大的工具, 把棉被架的老高, 師傅就在下面用好像弓的東西彈棉被.


*******************


也聽說 Roger 有女朋友了. 聽說上次 Roger 生病時, 這位女友和俐君開車去看 Roger. 俐君下車去看 Roger, Roger 看到車上有另一個人, 當他看清楚是那個女孩的時候, 據說, 他臉上的笑容讓俐君有點忌妒. 俐君事後和胡熒阿姨說, 他現在好像有點了解了父母的心情了...

******************

歐洲的法源--從他們的語言上來解釋

禮, 理, 律, 法, 刑

Ius(Jus, Latin Plural: Iura), Lex(Latin Plural: Leges)

cereals (穀類)

Barley: 大麥(青稞是其親戚)

Millet: 黍稷類(例: 小米)

Rye: 裸麥

Wheat: 小麥

Oat: 燕麥

Maize(Corn): 玉米

Saturday, January 21, 2012

quote from movie

Godfather II:

Sonny: What do you think, the nerve of them Japs, them slanty-eyed bastards? Dropping bombs on our own backyard. On Pop's birthday, you know?

Fredo: They didn't know it was Pop's birthday.

Tom: Well, we should've expected it after the oil embargo.

Sonny: What do you mean, expected it? They got no right dropping bombs. What are you, a Jap lover? You on their side?

Tessio: I understand 30,000 men enlisted this morning.

Sonny: Bunch of saps.

Michael: Why are they saps?

Connie: Come on, do we even have to talk about the war?

Sonny: You talk to Carlo, all right?

Sonny: They're saps because they risk their lives for strangers.

Michael: That's Pop talking.

Sonny: You're goddamn right that's Pop's talking.

Michael: They risk their lives for their country .

Sonny: Country ain't your blood. You remember that.

Michael: I don't feel that way.

Sonny: "I don't feel that way."

Sonny: If you don't feel that, quit college and join the army.

Michael: I did. I enlisted in the marines.

Tom: Mike, why didn't you come to us?

Michael: What do you mean?

Tom: Pop had to pull a lot of strings to get you a deferment.

Michael: I didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for a deferment. I didn't want it.

Tom: Come on, knock it off! Come on!

Sonny: Punk.

Tessio: Sit down.

Sonny: Go on.

Sonny's kid: Mommy, Daddy's fighting again!

Sonny: Go show Carlo the tree.

Sonny: Nice. Nice. Break your father's heart on his birthday.

Fredo: That's swell. Congratulations.

Sonny: That's right, encourage him.

Sonny: Go on, get me a drink. (to Fredo) Go on.

Tom: I don't understand. Your father has plans for you. Many times, he and I have talked about your future.

Michael: You talked to my father about my future?

Michael: My future?

Tom: Michael, he has high hopes for you.

Michael: I have my own plans for my future.

Sonny: Did you go to college to get stupid? You're really stupid.

*Godfather's birthday.*

最後關頭

蔣介石廬山抗戰聲明全文:

  1937年7月17日

各位先生

  中國正在外求和平,內求統一的時候,突然發生了蘆溝橋事變,不但我舉國民眾悲憤不止,世界輿論也都異常震驚。

  此事發展結果,不僅是中國存亡的問題,而將是世界人類禍福之所繫。諸位關心國難,對此事件,當然是特別關切,茲將關於此事件之幾點要義,為諸君坦白說明之。

  第一、中華民族本是酷愛和平,國民政府的外交政策,向來主張對內求自存,對外求共存。本年2月三中全會宣言,於此更有明確的宣示。近兩年來的對日外交,一秉此旨,向前努力,希望把過去各種軌外的亂態,統統納入外交的正軌,去謀正當解決,這種苦心與事實,國內大都可共見。我常覺得,我們要應付國難,首先要認識自己國家的地位。我們是弱國,對自己國家力量要有忠實估計,國家為進行建設,絕對的需要和平,過去數年中,不惜委曲忍痛,對外保持和平,即是此理。前年五全大會,本人外交報告所謂:「和平未到根本絕望時期,決不放棄和平,犧牲未到最後關頭,決不輕言犧牲。」

  跟著今年二月中全會對於「最後關頭」的解釋,充分表示我們對於和平的愛護。我們既是一個弱國,如果臨到最後關頭,便只有拼全民族的生命,以求國家生存;那時節再不容許我們中途妥協,須知中途妥協的條件,便是整個投降,整個滅亡的條件。全國國民最要認清,所謂最後關頭的意義,最後關頭一到,我們只有犧牲到底,抗戰到底,唯有「犧牲到底」的決心,才能搏得最後的勝利。若是彷徨不定,妄想苟安,便會陷民族於萬劫不復之地!

  第二、這次蘆溝橋事件發生以後,或有人以為是偶然突發的,但一月來對方輿論,或外交上直接間接的表示,都使我們覺到事變發生的徵兆。而且在事變發生的前後,還傳播著種種的新聞,說是什麼要擴大塘沽協定的範圍,要擴大冀東偽組織,要驅逐第二十九軍,要逼迫宋哲元離開,諸如此類的傳聞,不勝枚舉。可想見這一次事件,並不是偶然。從這次事變的經過,知道人家處心積慮的謀我之亟,和平已非輕易可以求得;眼前如果要求平安無事,只有讓人家軍隊無限制的出入於我們的國土,而我們本國軍隊反要忍受限制,不能在本國土地內自由駐在,或是人家向中國軍隊開槍,而我們不能還槍。換言之,就是人為刀俎,我為魚肉!我們已快要臨到這極人世悲慘之境地。這在世界上稍有人格的民族,都無法忍受的。我們的東四省失陷,已有了6年之久,繼之以塘沽協定,現在衝突地點已到了北平門口的蘆溝橋。如果蘆溝橋可以受人壓迫強佔,那末我們百年故都,北方政治文化的中心與軍事重鎮的北平,就要變成瀋陽第二!今日的北平若果變成昔日的瀋陽,今日的冀察,亦將成為昔日的東四剩北平若可變成瀋陽,南京又何嘗不可變成北平!所以蘆溝橋事變的推演,是關係中國國家整個的問題,此事能否結束,就是最後關頭的境界。

  第三、萬一真到了無可避免的最後關頭,我們當然只有犧牲,只有抗戰!但我們的態度只是應戰,而不是求戰;應戰,是應付最後關頭,逼不得已的辦法。我們全國國民必能信任政府已在整個的準備中,因為我們是弱國,又因為擁護和平是我們的國策,所以不可求戰;我們固然是一個弱國,但不能不保持我們民族的生命,不能不負起祖宗先民所遺留給我們歷史上的責任,所以到了必不得已時,我們不能不應戰。

  至於戰爭既開之後,則因為我們是弱國,再沒有妥協的機會,如果放棄尺寸土地與主權,便是中華民族的千古罪人!那時便只有拼民族的生命,求我們最後的勝利。

  第四、蘆溝橋事件能否不擴大為中日戰爭,全繫於日本政府的態度,和平希望絕續之關鍵,全系於日本軍隊之行動,在和平根本絕望之前一秒鐘,我們還是希望和平的,希望由和平的外交方法,求得事件的解決。但是我們的立場有極明顯的四點:

(一)任何解決,不得侵害中國主權與領土之完整;

(二)冀察行政組織,不容任何不合法之改變;

(三)中央政府所派地方官吏,如冀察政務委員會委員長宋哲元等,不能任人要求撤換;

(四)第二十九軍現在所駐地區,不能受任何的約束。

  這四點立場,是弱國外交最低限度,如果對方猶能設身處地為東方民族作一個遠大的打算,不想促成兩國關係達於最後關頭,不願造成中日兩國世代永遠的仇恨,對於我們這最低限度之立場,應該不致於漠視。

  總之,政府對於蘆溝橋事件,已確定始終一貫的方針和立場,且必以全力固守這個立場。我們希望和平,而不求苟安;準備應戰,而決不求戰。我們知道全國應戰以後之局勢,就只有犧牲到底,無絲毫僥倖求免之理。如果戰端一開,那就是地無分南北,年無分老幼,無論何人,皆有守土抗戰之責任,皆應抱定犧牲一切之決心。所以政府必特別謹慎,以臨此大事;全國國民亦必須嚴肅沈著,準備自衛。在此安危絕續之交,唯賴舉國一致,服從紀律,嚴守秩序。希望各位回到各地,將此意轉達於社會,俾咸能明瞭局勢,效忠國家,這是兄弟所懇切期待的。

Friday, January 20, 2012

beyond the 5 senses

I watched a Chinese movie called, shadow magic(西洋鏡). It was a pretty interesting film. The story was about how a foreigner introducing Moving Picture to China the first time. The movie itself was light hearted, quirky, and romantic as well. I liked it quite a bit.

It was very interesting to see how the movie showed the reaction of Chinese watching moving pictures the first time. According to a review, those scenes were historically accurate. For example, Chinese would duck aside when they see a train traveling across the picture. Or they would sway along with the waltzing music while there were people dancing on the big silver screen. While watching these scenes, I was amazed. Because for most people at the time, they could not really experience the other kinds of living styles. The background was 1902 at Beijing. Although Chinese already had quite frequent contact then. Most of them would never really see an European city, street, housing, how those people play with each other. Most of them might never experience European music as well. But in this dark room, many Chinese see the other cultures eat, sleep, play, and just plain living the daily life. Although it was perceived through eyes, I think the amazement goes beyond all 5 senses.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

勝利書告

抗戰勝利告全國軍民暨全世界人士書
作者:蔣中正
1945年8月15日


——中華民國三十四年八月十五日——

全國軍民同胞們:全世界愛好和平的人士們:

  我們的抗戰,今天是勝利了,「正義必然勝過強權」的真理,終於得到了他最後的證明,這亦就是表示了我們國民革命歷史使命的成功。我們中國在黑暗和絕望的時期中,八年奮鬥的信念,今天纔得到了實現。我們對於顯現在我們面前的世界和平,要感謝我們全國抗戰以來忠勇犧牲的軍民先烈,要感謝我們為正義和平而共同作戰的盟友,尤須感謝我們 國父辛苦艱難領導我們革命正確的途徑,使我們得有今日勝利的一天,而全世界的基督徒更要一致感謝公正而仁慈的上帝。

  我全國同胞們自抗戰以來,八年間所受的痛苦與犧牲雖是一年一年的增加,可是抗戰必勝的信念,亦是一天一天的增強;尤其是我們淪陷區的同胞們,受盡了無窮摧殘與奴辱的黑暗,今天是得到了完全解放,而重見青天白日了。這幾天以來,各地軍民的歡呼與快慰的情緒,其主要意義亦就是為了被佔領區同胞獲得了解放。

  現在我們抗戰是勝利了,但是還不能算是最後的勝利。須知我們戰勝的含義決不止是在世界公理力量又打了一次勝仗的一點上,我相信全世界人類與我全國同胞們都一定在希望?這一次戰爭是世界文明國家所參加的最末一次的戰爭。

  如果這一次戰爭是人類歷史上最後一次的戰爭,那麼我們同胞們雖然曾經受了忍痛到無可形容的殘酷與凌辱,然而我們相信我們大家決不會計較這個代價的大小和收穫的遲早的。我們中國人民在黑暗和絕望的時代,都秉持我們民族一貫的忠勇仁愛,偉大堅忍的傳統精神,深知一切為正義和人道而奮鬥的犧牲,必能得到應得的報償。全世界因戰爭而聯合起來的民族,相互之間所發生的尊重與信念,這就是此次戰爭給我們的最大報償。我們聯合國以青年血肉所建築的這道反侵略的長堤,凡是每一個參加的人,他們不僅是臨時結合的盟友,簡直是為人類尊嚴的共同信仰而永久的團結了起來。這是我們聯合國共同勝利最重要的基礎,絕對不是敵人任何挑撥離間的陰謀所能破壞。我相信今後地無分東西,人無論膚色,凡是人類都會一天一天加速的密切聯合,不啻成為家人手足。此次戰爭發揚了我們人類互諒互敬的精神,建立了我們互相信任的關係,而且證明了世界戰爭與世界和平皆是不可分的,這更足以使今後戰爭的發生勢不可能。我說到這裏,又想到基督寶訓上所說的「待人如己」與「要愛敵人」兩句話,實在令我發生無限的感想。

  我中國同胞們必知「不念舊惡」及「與人為善」為我民族傳統至高至貴的德性。我們一貫聲言,祇認日本黷武的軍閥為敵,不以日本的人民為敵;今天敵軍已被我們盟邦共同打倒了,我們當然要嚴密責成他忠實執行所有的投降條款,但是我們並不要報復,更不可對敵國無辜人民加以污辱,我們只有對他們為他的納粹軍閥所愚弄所驅迫而表示憐憫,使他們能自拔於錯誤與罪惡。要知道如果以暴行答復敵人從前的暴行,以奴辱來答復他們從前錯誤的優越感,則冤冤相報,永無終止,決不是我們仁義之師的目的。這是我們每一個軍民同胞今天所應該特別注意的。

  同胞們:敵人侵略中國的帝國主義,現在是被我們打敗了,但是我們還沒有達到真正勝利的目的,我們必須徹底消滅他侵略的野心與侵略武力,我們更要知道勝利的報償決不是驕矜與懈怠。戰爭確實停止以後的和平,必將昭示我們,正有艱巨的工作,要我們以戰時同樣的痛苦,和比戰時更巨大的力量,去改造,去建設。或許在某一個時期,遇到某一種問題,會使我們覺得比戰時,更加艱苦,更加困難,隨時隨地可以臨到我們的頭上。我說這句話,首先想到了一件最難的工作,就是那些法西斯納粹軍閥國家受過錯誤領導的人們,我們怎樣能使他們不只是承認他自己的錯誤和失敗,並且也能心悅誠服的接受我們的三民主義,承認公平正義的競爭,較之他們武力掠奪與強權恐怖的競爭,更合乎真理和人道要求的一點,這就是我們中國與聯盟國今後一件最艱鉅的工作。我確實相信全世界永久和平是建築在人類平等自由的民主精神和博愛互助的合作基礎之上,我們要向民主與合作的大道上邁進,來共同擁護全世界永久的和平。

  我請全世界盟邦的人士,以及我全國的同胞們!相信我們武裝之下所獲得的和平,並不一定是永久和平的完全實現,一直要作到我們的敵人在理性的戰場上為我們所征服,使他們能徹底懺悔,都成為世界上愛好和平的分子,像我們一樣之後,纔算達到了我們全體人類企求和平及此次世界大戰最後的目的。

Monday, January 09, 2012

仁義和自由平等

仁義是啥? 如果現在有個人說, 你熱愛仁義. 你認為他在說什麼?  你有啥感覺? 如果現在有個人問你, 你要不要仁義? 你的選擇是啥?

自由平等是啥?  如果現在有個人說, 你熱愛自由平等?  你認為他在說什麼?  你有啥感覺?  如果有個人問你, 你要不要自由平等?  你的選擇是啥?  

如果我今天換一個說法.  如果我不是問你仁義, 而是把上面的問題換成仁慈和正義, 你現在有啥感覺?  有無啥不同?  

仁人也?  義人也?  自由人也?  平等人也?  看到沒有?  仁義可以作形容詞, 但是, 自由平等不容易...  仁人, 義人, 都是形容這個人的作為.  自由人則是形容這個人所處的狀態.  這個狀態, 而不是人的作為.  平等...似乎不能形容人, 至少不能這樣用.  可以說他待人平等.  那麼這描述了這個人的作為嗎?  我想有的.  他對誰都一樣的現象, 必須先表現於外, 才會有這樣的形容.

生之慾

黑澤明的生之慾:



Toyo: What help am I?
Kanji: You - just to look at you makes me feel better. It warms this - this mummy's heart of mine. And you're so kind to me. No; that's not it. You're so young, so healthy. No; that's not it either... You're so full of life. And me... I'm jealous of that. If I could be like you for just one day before I died. I won't be able to die unless I can do that. I want to do *something*. Only you can show me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how. Maybe you don't know either, but, please... if you can... show me how to be like you!

Sunday, January 08, 2012

If I am...

If I am a comic or manga artist and I decided to create a hero character of my own, what would I create?

It has to be tall and big, agile and nimble, strong and powerful, smart and charming, silent most of the time, but witty with words. He knows 中醫, (把脈, 針灸, 草藥), 解剖學. He is a kung fu master.

movie quotes

Jane Eyre, a 2011 movie.

Mr. Rochester: You gaze is very direct. Do you think I am handsome?
Jane Eyre: No, Sir.
Mr. Rochester: What fault do you find with me? I have all my limbs and features.
Jane Eyre: I beg your pardon, sir. I ought to have replied that beauty is of no little consequence.

*They stared at each other for 1 second.

Mr. Rochester: You are blushing, Miss Eyre. And though you're not pretty any more than I am handsome, I must say it becomes you.

*Jane stared down the rug.


-------------------------------------------------


Mr. Rochester: As for you, you'd forget me.
Jane Eyre: How? I have lived a full life here. I have not be trampled on, I have not been petrified. I have not been excluded from every glimpse of what is bright. I have known you, Mr. Rochester, and it strikes me with anguish to be torn from you.
Mr. Rochester: Then why must you leave?
Jane Eyre: Because of your wife!
Mr. Rochester: I have no wife.
Jane Eyre: But you are to be married.
Mr. Rochester: Jane, you must stay.
Jane Eyre: And become nothing to you? Am I a machine without feelings? Do you think that because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, that I am soulless and heartless? I have as much soul as you and full as much heart. And if God had blessed me with beauty and wealth, I could make it as hard for you to leave me as it is for I to leave you. I am not speaking to you through mortal flesh. It is my spirit that addresses your spirit, as if we'd pass through the grave and stood at God's feet, equal, as we are.
Mr. Rochester: As we are.
Jane Eyre: I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.
Mr. Rochester: Then let your will decide your destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me?
Jane Eyre: Are you mocking me?
Rochester: You doubt me.
Jane Eyre: Entirely! Your bride is Miss Ingram.
Rochester: Miss Ingram. She is the machine without feelings. It's you. You rare, unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as you are, please accept me as your husband. I must have you for my own.
Jane Eyre: You wish me to be your wife?
Rochester: I swear it.
...

-------------------------------------------

Saturday, January 07, 2012

the characters I used the most

The characters I used the most in Soul Calibur 2 are Kilik and Astaroth. If I was playing gamecube version, then I'd include Link. But not right now, since I don't have a gamecube controller.

I wonder does it say anything?

what web brings

What internet brings to the table? One of the most important thing is easier to share our experience.

We use speaking sounds, written words, pictures , body language, face expressions to convey and share what we experienced in daily life. But to be able to share our expression genuinely so other people could really feel the same emotions is a gift. We tried to used music to deliver our message to the far away land or to the next generation, because music is easier to remember. Then we tried written words, because, it does not require another human being present other than ourselves. We try hard to use words to describe body language, face expression, and pictures we saw, emotions we feel, and many other things. But language sometimes failed, or could it be most of the time?

Now, we could easily generate pictures with color and lines because of the computer. Then we have internet. So after we watched a great show, we could show it conveniently to the other people, and said, this was what I was telling you! There are body language, face expressions, tones, colors, lines, sounds, words, all mixed together. But do we share the same experience? Sometimes, it does, sometimes, it still doesn't. The reason is because we could share our experience now, but we found that people don't have the same excitement as we do. Then what else?

Friday, January 06, 2012

經典對白

-愛本來就是一種折磨,我知道啊,其實她心裡面很愛我。
-可是她告訴我,她根本不愛你。

-她不愛我。她幹嘛花那麼大力氣折磨我?
-這根本不是真的愛,你們兩個根本不了解對方,你們幾乎沒有講過幾句話,你告訴我,你們最近一次談話是什么時候?你們有沒有談過你們的……內心啊,感覺啊,人生啊。

-記不得,現在腦子一團漿糊。
-我告訴你什麼是一團漿糊——你對愛情的概念.真正的愛情,是跟一個關心你的人在一起,這個人可以讓你表達內心的感受,在她身邊,你可以覺得……自由自在地談任何事情。

-那我現在覺得可以自由自在的,在你身邊談我的感覺,這就是愛嗎?
-你不要亂講
---《飲食男女》(Yin shi nan nu)

梵蒂岡幽默

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning...

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kms... (Remember, the Pope is German...)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 155 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who is it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!

Thursday, January 05, 2012

等超人

我幾個月前看了一部美國的紀錄片. 主要是講美國教育. 尤其是窮孩子和教育的關係, 還有受教育的機會等問題. 其中有一件事情我覺得很有趣. 當影片中談到好的老師找尋好的教育技巧時, 有人提到把教材編成歌謠讓學生歌誦, 就比較容易記憶學習. 我覺得非常有意思. 原因是, 我以前看書看到有關中國醫學的見紹時, 有提到說以前的醫生常常把藥材名字編成詩歌, 讓學生容易記誦. 後來看到有關中國天文曆法的時候, 也有看到古人把廿四節氣編成詩歌, 以下的例子是從維基百科 節氣條目來的:

二十四節氣歌

春雨驚春清穀天;
夏滿芒夏暑相連;
秋處露秋寒霜降;
冬雪雪冬小大寒。
每月兩節不變更;
最多相差一兩天;
上半年來六廿一;
下半年來八廿三。



二十四節令歌

打春陽氣轉,雨水沿河邊;
驚蟄烏鴉叫,春分瀝皮乾;
清明忙種麥,穀雨種大田。

立夏鵝毛住,小滿雀來全;
芒種五月節,夏至不納棉;
小暑不算熱,大暑三伏天。

立秋忙打靛,處暑動刀鐮;
白露煙上架,秋分無生田;
寒露不算冷,霜降變了天。

立冬交十月,小雪地封嚴;
大雪河叉上,冬至不行船;
小寒進臘月,大寒又一年。



十二月節氣歌

正月(寅)立春雨水節;
二月(卯)驚蟄及春分;
三月(辰)清明並穀雨;
四月(巳)立夏小滿方;
五月(午)芒種及夏至;
六月(未)小暑大暑當;
七月(申)立秋還處暑;
八月(酉)白露秋分忙;
九月(戌)寒露又霜降;
十月(亥)立冬小雪張;
子月(十一)大雪冬至節;
丑月(十二)小寒大寒昌。


各地其它諺語

中國:
河北石家莊:秋分早,霜降遲,寒露種麥正當時。
華北地區:早立秋,冷颼颼;晚立秋,熱死牛。(如果立秋時間在日出之前,之後的天氣就會比較冷;如果出現在日出之後,接下來的天氣就會比較悶熱。)
清明前後,種瓜種豆。
植樹造林,莫過清明。
江浙地區:白露身勿露,赤膊變豬玀。
寒露腳勿露。
冬練三九,夏練三伏。
黃河中下游《九九歌》:一九二九不出手;三九四九冰上走;五九六九抬頭望柳;七九河開,八九雁來;九九加一九,耕牛遍地走。
嶺南地區:清明穀雨,凍死老鼠。


另外, 在數學方面也又類似的方法. 其中又以九九乘法表為最有名.

這個方法其實我也在琦君的文章裡有看到, 譬如說, 在他的一篇談到他小時候的啟蒙老師時就有提到. 琦君小時候是從古文開始學習. 他的老師要他背一段文字說明瓦特發明蒸汽機的故事. 被他紀錄下來的這一段文字, 也是以詩歌的形式存在. 念起來就像在念一首七言詩, 非常琅琅上口.

記下這段感言, 希望可以延續這種方式的教學. 我覺得比死記硬背要來的強.

saying something wrong

i am afraid of saying something wrong. and yet, i constantly saying something wrong nowadays. so i tried hard to hold my tongue tight. but the things that slipped out was horrible. even worse, constantly checking and rechecking what i am going to say, makes things super unnatural. it is stiff, and losing the ability to discern the right words, timed the words wrong, and losing the meaning while the words are on the way out.

it is not a state of blank. there is something alright. i do not want to cause trouble. yet, i do, i do. all the reasons cannot save me. i am tired and scared. i talk to myself. constantly. no one hears me if i said anything wrong. i am a selfish person. i am a selfish person. i am scared. i am scared. almost uncontrollable urge to tremble. a dark hole inside of my chest sucking everything from me. i do not want to say anything harmful. i do not want to say anything that would cause pain. i wish everybody is fine and dandy. i hate myself. it is always i i i i i i i i i i !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how come i can't come out right. i want to be right. saying appropriate things. i try hard to. but i am scared, i am jealous, i am angry, i am sad, i am nervous, i lust, i want, i need... iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, January 01, 2012

quotes from la grande illusion

Capt. von Rauffenstein: Let me tell you something... Believe me, My present functions revolt me as much as they do you.
Capt. de Boeldieu: That's being harsh.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: I used to be a combatant. Now I'm a bereaucrat, a policeman. But it's the only way I can still appear to be serving my fatherland. I have burns all over... That explains my gloves. My spine is fractured in two places. A silver plate, in my kneecap, too. I owe these riches to he misfortunes of war.
Capt. de Boeldieu: May I ask you a question?
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Of course.
Capt. de Boeldieu: Why did you make an exception of me by inviting me here?
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Because your name is Boeldieu, career officer in the French Army. And I am Rauffenstein, career officer in the Imperial German Army.
Capt. de Boeldieu: But my comrades are officers as well.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: A 'Maréchal' and 'Rosenthal,' officers?
Capt. de Boeldieu: They're fine soldiers.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Charming legacy of the French Revolution.
Capt. de Boeldieu: Neither you nor I can stop the march of time.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Boldieu, I don't know who will win this war, but whatever the outcome, it will mean the end of the Rauffensteins and the Boeldieus.
Capt. de Boeldieu: We're no longer needed.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Isn't that a pity?
Capt. de Boeldieu: Perhaps.

-------------------------


Capt. von Rauffenstein: Forgive me.
Capt. de Boeldieu: I would have done the same. French or German, duty is duty.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Are you in pain?
Capt. de Boeldieu: I didn't think a bullet in the stomach hurt so much.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: I aimed at your legs.
Capt. de Boeldieu: It was 500 feet, with poor visibility... Besides, I was running.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: Please, no excuses. I was clumsy.
Capt. de Boeldieu: I'm not the one to be pitied. For me it will be all be over...soon. But you'll have to carry on. Carry on a futile existence. For a commoner, dying in a war is a tragedy. But for you and me, it's a good way out.
Capt. von Rauffenstein: I missed my chance.


-------------------------


I got into war in a funny way.
I became a solider because I am a vegetarian

-------------------------

Le lieutenant Rosenthal : I caught it with a brunette.
Le lieutenant Maréchal: Who can you trust?
Le lieutenant Rosenthal : A friend of my mother's. Quite a respectable. She did charity work.
Le lieutenant Maréchal: In good society it's usually the pox. Right, Boeldieu?
Le captaine de Boeldieu : The pox used to be our privilege. But we've lost it. Like so many others. Everything is popularized. Cancer and aren't working-class diseases. But they will be, believe.
Le lieutenant Rosenthal: How about intellectuals?
Someone : With us it's tuberculosis.
Le lieutenant Maréchal: Here's Mr. Pindar.
Le lieutenant Maréchal: And the middle class?
Le lieutenant Rosenthal: Liver and intestinal ailments... They eat too much. We'd each die of our own class diseases. If war didn't make all germs equal.

-----------------------------

Friday, December 30, 2011

睦親

人之至親, 莫過於父子兄弟. 而父子兄弟, 有不和者. 父子或因於責善, 兄弟或因於爭財. 有不因責善爭財而不和者. 世人見其不和, 或就其中分別是非, 而莫明其由. 蓋人之性, 或寬緩, 或褊急, 或剛強, 或柔懦, 或喜閒靜, 或喜紛拏, 或所見者小, 或所見者大, 所稟自是不同. 父必欲子之性合於己, 子之性未必然. 兄必欲弟之性合於己, 弟之性未必然. 其性不可得而合, 則其言行亦不可得而合. 此父子兄弟不合之根源也. 況臨事之際, 一以為是, 一以為非. 一以為當先, 一以為當後. 一以為宜急, 一以為宜緩. 其不齊如此. 若互欲同於己, 必致於爭論. 爭論不勝, 至於再三, 至於十數. 則不合之情, 自茲而啟. 或至於終身失歡. 若悉悟此裡, 為父兄者, 通情於子弟, 而不責子弟之同於己. 為子弟者, 仰承於父兄, 而不望父兄惟己之聽. 則處世之際, 必相和協, 無乖爭之患.

孔子曰: "是父母幾諫, 見志不從, 又敬不違, 勞而不怨." 此聖人教人和家之要術. 宜熟思之.

(袁采 {袁氏世範})


*袁采, 字君載, 宋衢州人. 進士. 初為縣令, 官至監登聞檢院. 著有袁氏世範.


錄自傳家寶典, 曾文樑選自五種遺規

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Correct answer

I want a correct answer!

What?

I want a correct answer!

But...but there's no correct answer...

What?! What you mean by that? No correct answer?!

No. And what was the question?

Well...everything and anything...

Huh?

You know...

No...

I mean I want the correct answer to everything I say...

Pooo....hahahahahaha... There's no such thing! What on earth did you come up with this stupid idea?!

There's no such thing? Then how does a president know what to say to another Country's leader to maximize the advantage for their country? How does a teacher know what to say so his student's could learn? How does a boy know what to say when he was attracted to a girl? How does a person motivate himself to do something he knows he needs to do but lack the strength and courage to act it out? How do you pray to God, but not appeared to be selfish, but humble and obedient before God's eyes?

OOh... Those are loads of questions...

And you are telling me that there's no answer written somewhere?

No, I don't believe so...

That is disappointing.

But I thought you just say whatever is in your mind...

No...

Why not?

Then I won't come out right...

What's wrong with coming out wrong?

Are you kidding me?

No. Explain to me... Why are you so obsessed with being correct? How come you are so afraid of being wrong?

Well...

Yhea...

Well, being right makes me feel good.

Okay...

Being wrong embarrassed me. I hate being embarrassed... Absolutely hated it...

Ah, so you are more afraid of being embarrassed...

Yeah, I guess so...

Hehehe...

Now, now...

Oh, come on now... I am not very far from you... If you can't even stand embarrassed in front of me...

Fine...fine...


*for a long time, chilly wind swirled...

You know, for the longest time, I keep wondering about a question.

Yeah, another one?

Yes. The question is that is it necessary that in order to mature, we absolutely have to experience failures?

I would think so...for most people at least...

So let's say if I don't experience embarrassment, I won't be able to grow?

You see... I don't have the correct answer here... It is a question of 1 + 1... And even for 1 + 1, there are many people who find lots of different answers for it...

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

禮和大同

有一篇文章讓我矛盾. 就是禮記裡的禮運大同篇. 一般來講, 孔子非常注重禮. 但是, 在禮運大同篇裡, 孔子去似乎以次一等的態度來看待禮. 最主要的原因就是, 孔子認為最高的境界應該是大同, 次一級, 也就是小康世得用禮來支撐. 在講大同的那一段, 他沒有隻字提及禮, 卻很注重道. 這樣一來, 禮和道的層次又有所不同.

在我看, 大同世和小康世最大的不同就在於私. 在大同世裡, 無有君臣之名. 小康世卻有. 大同世那一段除了信是之後常常提到的美德之一, 其他的美德無見他提起. 小康世裡, 則幾乎所有美德都提到了. 這一切都和老子的語言有很相近的感覺. 這是一件很有趣的事情. 如果把大同世的描述放在老子或莊子裡, 或許也不會覺得特別礙眼...

我記得韓愈寫過原道, 他認為老子所謂的道與孔子所說的是兩回事. 韓愈認為老子所說的道是出於一己之私, 而從這一點而言, 韓愈認為老子所見者, 小矣. 可是這大同篇的第一段, 到底是顯露了啥呢?

mature

how do you know if a person is mature?
well, a mature person is a fire most of the time.
but if needed, that person can become a wall,
which you could bounce off it.

Monday, December 26, 2011

我和老麵的經歷

我們大概是今年季夏時買了 Joanne Chang 的麵類食譜, flour. 那時候, 媽媽剛看到世界週刊上, 唐嘉麗阿姨介紹 Joanne Chang 的文章. 他一看就覺得好欣賞這個人. 天天都在想要去 Joanne Chang 的麵包店 (flour)試試看. 有一天, 鎮上正在準備開張的 Stop'n Shop 發出了傳單, 傳單上說, 新市場發市第一天到第三天, 每天早上五點半來排隊的前卅名, 這三天都可以拿十塊錢的禮物卡. 媽媽一看就決定要去排隊. 然後, 他把傳單翻過來看, 竟然看到市場開到第三天, Joanne Chang 會來辦一場簽名會. 這下他更樂了!

前兩天, 我都在五點半前被媽媽拖下床. 第一天沒想好, 我們只拿了一張禮物卡. 因為發卡的人把我和媽媽算成一個人. 第二天, 我們排在不同的位置, 我們拿到了兩張禮物卡. 第三天故技重施, 又拿到了兩張禮物卡. 最後一天是星期天, 媽媽在中午的時候要去聚會, 他有點擔心會碰不到 Joanne Chang. 他叫我先去看看. 我又怎麼會講話呢... 但是, 我去了, 市場裡不是很多人, 我們總是猜這個鎮的人不會很喜歡 Stop'n Shop... 因為, 他比租用同一地點已經四十幾年的 Market Basket 貴. Joanne Chang 搭了一個桌子在大門口, 只有一兩個人在那兒和他說話. 他看起來是一個很可愛的女孩. No no, 那我是絕對不敢和他說話的... 於是, 我就坐在市場的門口等. 媽媽聚會完, 很快就趕來了. 我心中想, 唉, 不知道他為啥那麼喜歡 Joanne Chang? 然後我就和他進去. 之後, 媽媽和 Joanne Chang 打了招呼, 說了些我好喜歡你... 之後也不知道要說啥了... Joanne Chang 總是臉上笑容無限的樣子, 盡量親切的打著招呼. 但是, 看樣子, 他鐵定也不知道要怎麼應付. 媽媽看到桌上擺了 Joanne Chang 的書, 他趕緊藉著機會說, 我也很想買你的書. Joanne Chang 忙著接下去說, 啊, 今天你買的話, 有打折喔. 媽媽很高興的拿了書請他簽名. 簽完名後, 我們就和他說再見. 媽媽滿興奮的, 我呢, 則感覺有點不好意思... 唉, 實在很想說啥, 實在沒啥好說的... 到了付錢的時候, 發現要付廿九元! 哇... 媽媽和我都有點傻眼了. 收錢的服務員趕緊說, 如果你有禮物卡, 也可以用的. 我們一聽, 才鬆了一口氣. 趕緊拿出這三天來, 辛苦排隊拿到的共值五十元的禮物卡. 付錢了賬, 然後揚長而去. 媽媽一路走, 一路說, 你看, 我們排隊拿的卡很有用吧...

其實媽媽早就想要這食譜了. 但是我早前說過, 其實圖書館就可以借到了. 才打消他買書的念頭. 如今花了 "禮物卡" 買來的書, 卻使他下定決心要來好好利用這個食譜了. 他回家後天天早上起來就是看食譜. 他看的是津津有味. 常常要念出其中的段落給我聽. 或者是叫我自己讀讀他喜歡的段落. Joanne Chang 想必是很用心的製作這個食譜, 他在每個食譜前面都有一段序言, 介紹這個食譜的來歷和趣事. 媽媽終究是媽媽, 他開始貼小標籤, 畫線, 作註釋, 仔細的查出每個他看不懂的字. 幾天後, 他從食譜上決定了第一個他要做的食物, 香蕉蛋糕(Banana Bread). 媽媽是家裡的腦袋和心, 我是骨頭和肌肉... 我們到市場裡用了剩下的禮物卡, 買了相關的東西, 遵循著 Joanne Chang 的步驟, 經然很成功的作出了香蕉蛋糕! 這個食譜的確是好極了! 蛋糕做出來, 鬆軟黏密, 濕潤可口, 甜度恰到好處. 幾天後, 我妹妹嚐過之後說, 咦, 你以前作香蕉蛋糕的時候, 香蕉都還看得見, 這一次居然沒有! 媽媽那個高興的勁喲.

隔了幾天, 他看到食譜最後面是麵包的做法, 第一個食譜的序寫了好大一串. 大意是說, 麵包要做的好, 麵種很重要! 所以第一個食譜就是怎麼作麵種! 媽媽看了就直嚷著說要做麵種. 於是我們又開始培養麵種, Joanne Chang 的麵種其實滿容易的, 只要一天就可以了. 於是我們就用他的麵種作了他第二個麵包食譜, Country bread. 成品也是非常成功. 媽媽當然也是非常高興. 在之後, 我們又做了幾次同樣的食譜, 效果都很好. 最後, 媽媽卻把注意力帶向了饅頭. 因為長久以來, 我一直都很想做饅頭. 但是, 除了第一次以外, 失敗遠超過成功的次數. Joanne Chang的麵種做法說不定可以拿來做饅頭. 為此, 我特地花了很多時間在網上看看怎麼用老麵作饅頭.

最後, 我終於找到一個孟老師的網站. 他似乎是一個很有名的人. 他在他的網誌上, 描述了他和饅頭的歷史. 原來他們家是來遷台的山東老兵之後. 然後他很詳盡的介紹了老麵的做法, 接著老麵要加多少麵粉, 多少水, 有各種不同的比例, 這些比例可以做出各種不同質感的饅頭. 我們一看就很興奮. 遵照著孟老師的食譜, 開始製作老麵. 饅頭也開始一個一個揉了出來! 我們第一次用 Joanne Chang 的麵種作饅頭時就滿成功的. 之後, 開始用孟老師的比例, 饅頭也取得一定的成功度. 冰箱裡就開始從放著老麵, 並且在媽媽的堅持下, 每隔一天一定餵養一次. 在餵養的時候, 也一定拿出三分之一的老麵, 作為饅頭的麵種.

我對老麵做法的調查, 卻並未停止. 我仍然繼續往下查找各種不同的老麵做法. 中國人的老麵做法是乎都差不多. 但是, 歐美人士在食譜上的做法卻分的更為細膩. 大致上有乾濕兩種. 其中, 據我所查到的是, 濕麵種屬於工業革命的之前的普遍做法. 乾麵種屬於工業革命後, 人類發明酵母粉之後的做法. 但是, 這種分法也又似乎有爭議. 另外還有所謂的 sourdough. Sourdough 的做法屬於濕麵種. 他主要是用 全麥, 或 Rye, 一種類似小麥的植物磨成粉來釀造. 我用釀造兩個字, 因為 Sourdough 的麵種製作過程要超過廿一天. 而期間, 大部分的麵粉都是浸漬在水和廿一天中, 麵種自產的汁液裡. 所有的麵種應該都會冒出酒香, 尤其是 Sourdough.

老麵基本上可以靠著空氣中的酵菌. Sourdough 應該是完全靠空氣中的酵母菌. 其他乾濕麵種, 大部分都會加點人工的酵母粉. 老麵最好的的溫度該是華氏七十二度到八十五度左右. 可以密封放到冰箱冷藏, 甚至可以放到冰庫. 但是, 我沒有是過放到冰庫... 老麵對我而言最大的好處是, 加了麵種的麵團一定發. 因為以前, 我的麵團不一定發的起來, 或者是家裡空氣太冷, 要等很久很久才發一點點; 或者是, 酵母粉擺太久, 已經失效了... 另外, 我以前也會希望把饅頭做好, 不要太軟像麵包一樣, 因而故意少加一點麵粉. 結果, 成品過硬. 自從用了老麵, 確定麵團一定會發, 我比較安心的作饅頭. 即便作出的成品不太像饅頭, 因為可能洞太多, 太軟, 麵團在蒸過之後會塌下去...等等. 我至少知道, 出來的成品, 不會硬到嚼得下巴痛.

quotes from cyrano

1950 film:

Vicomte de Valvert: Monsieur, your nose... your nose is rather large.
Cyrano de Bergerac: Rather?
Vicomte de Valvert: Oh, well...
Cyrano de Bergerac: Is that all?
Vicomte de Valvert: Well of course...
Cyrano de Bergerac: Oh, no, young sir. You are too simple. Why, you might have said a great many things. Why waste your opportunity? For example, thus: AGGRESSIVE: I, sir, if that nose were mine, I'd have it amputated on the spot. PRACTICAL: How do you drink with such a nose? You must have had a cup made especially. DESCRIPTIVE: 'Tis a rock, a crag, a cape! A cape? Say rather, a peninsula! INQUISITIVE: What is that receptacle? A razor case or a portfolio? KINDLY: Ah, do you love the little birds so much that when they come to see you, you give them this to perch on. CAUTIOUS: Take care! A weight like that might make you top-heavy. ELOQUENT: When it blows, the typhoon howls, and the clouds darken! DRAMATIC: When it bleeds, the Red Sea. SIMPLE: When do they unveil the monument? MILITARY: Beware, a secret weapon. ENTERPRISING: What a sign for some perfumer! RESPECTFUL: Sir, I recognize in you a man of parts. A man of... prominence! Or, LITERARY: Was this the nose that launched a thousand ships? These, my dear sir, are things you might have said, had you some tinge of letters or of wit to color your discourse. But wit? Not so, you never had an atom. And of letters, you need but three to write you down: A, S, S. Ass!
Vicomte de Valvert: Insolent puppy, dolt, bunpkin, fool!
Cyrano de Bergerac: How do you do? And I, Cyrano Savinien Hercule de Bergerac.
Antoine Comte de Guiche: Vicomte, come.
Vicomte de Valvert: Such arrogance, this scarecrow. Look at him! No ribbons, no lace, not even gloves!
Cyrano de Bergerac: True! I carry my adornments only on my soul, decked with deeds instead of ribbons. Manful in my good name, and crowned with the white plume of freedom.
Vicomte de Valvert: But...
Cyrano de Bergerac: But, I have no gloves. A pity too. I had one - the last of an old pair - and lost that. Very careless of me. A gentleman offered me an impertinence. I left it - in his face.
Vicomte de Valvert: [Drawing his rapier] So be it!
Cyrano de Bergerac: You shall die exquisitely!
Vicomte de Valvert: Oh, a poet?
Cyrano de Bergerac: Oh, yes, a poet. So, while we fight, I'll improvise a ballade for you, and as I end the refrain, thrust home.
Vicomte de Valvert: Will you?
Cyrano de Bergerac: I will. Ballade of the duel at the Theatre of the Burgoyne, between de Bergerac and... a barbarian.
Vicomte de Valvert: What do you mean by that?
Cyrano de Bergerac: Oh, that? The title.


cyrano de bergerac by Edmond Rostand(might be...and I don't know who translated into english :p)

And what would you have me do?
Seek for the patronage of some great man,
And like a creeping vine on a tall tree
Crawl upward, where I cannot stand alone?
No thank you! Dedicate, as others do,
Poems to pawnbrokers? Be a buffoon
In the vile hope of teasing out a smile
On some cold face? No thank you! Eat a toad
For breakfast every morning? Make my knees
callous, and cultivate a supple spine,-
Wear out my belly grovelling in the dust?
No thank you! Scratch the back of any swine
That roots up gold for me? Tickle the horns
of Mammon with my left hand, while my right
Too proud to know his partner’s business
Takes in the fee? No thank you! Use the fire
God gave me to burn incense all day long
Under the nose of wood and stone? No thank you!
Shall I go leaping into ladies laps
And licking fingers?-or-to change form-
Navigating with madrigals for oars,
My sails full of the sighs of dowagers?
No thank you! Publish verses at my own
Expense? No thank you! Be the patron saint
Of a small group of leterary souls
Who dine together every Tuesday? No
I thank you! Shall I labor night and day
To build a reputation on one song,
And never write another? Shall I find
True genius only among Geniuses,
Palpitate over little paragraphs,
And struggle to insinuate my name
In the columns of the Mercury?
No thank you! Calculate, scheme, be afraid,
Love more to make a visit than a poem,
Seek introductions, favors, influences?-
No thank you! No, I thank you! And again
I thank you!- But…

To sing, to laugh, to dream,
To walk in my own way and be alone,
Free, with an eye to see things as they are,
A voice that means manhood- to cock my hat
Where I choose- At a word, a Yes, a No,
To fight- or write. To travel any road
Under the sun, under the stars, nor doubt
If fame or fortune lie beyond the bourne-
ever to make a line I have not heard
In my own heart; yet, with all modesty
To say: “My soul, be satisfied with flowers,
With fruit, with weeds even; but gather them
In the one garden you may call your own.”
So, when I win some triumph, by some chance,
Render no share to Caesar- in a word,
I am too proud to be a parasite,
And if my nature wants the germ that grows
Towering to heaven like the mountain pine,
Or like the oak, sheltering multitudes-
I stand, not high it may be- But alone!


----------------------

"My nose is Gargantuan! You little Pig-snout, you tiny Monkey-Nostrils, you virtually invisible Pekinese-Puss, don't you realize that a nose like mine is both scepter and orb, a monument to me superiority? A great nose is the banner of a great man, a generous heart, a towering spirit, an expansive soul--such as I unmistakably am, and such as you dare not to dream of being, with your bilious weasel's eyes and no nose to keep them apart! With your face as lacking in all distinction--as lacking, I say, in interest, as lacking in pride, in imagination, in honesty, in lyricism--in a word, as lacking in nose as that other offensively bland expanse at the opposite end of your cringing spine--which I now remove from my sight by stringent application of my boot!"
- Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Act 1


-----------------------


"And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the verb 'to love.' A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bee's brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lover's lip: 'Forever.'"
- Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Act 3


----------------------



"God's whiskers! Your face is hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
- Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Act 3

----------------------

Saturday, December 24, 2011

古代和現代的口號

如果說古代和現代的世界有任何的不同, 我覺得最大的不同處就是現世所提倡的口號和古代大不相同. 自由平等民主, 大概只要是現代人都聽到耳朵流出油來的口號. 但是, 在古代, 我似乎很少看到同樣的名詞. 注意我這裡說的很少看到同樣的名詞. 因為, 我知道雖然相同意思的名詞似乎沒有, 但是相同意思的句子則是有的. 這似乎是一個很小的差別, 但是, 實際上是一個很有趣, 也很有意義的現象. 反觀古老中國, 那時的口號喊的最響的似乎是禮義廉恥, 仁義道德.

從近一百年來的中國歷史來看, 中國人無法真正跳出一個圈圈. 這個圈圈就是中國本身. 這是啥意思呢? 也就是說, 當我們提到自由平等民主的時候, 就會有人說這不是中國的. 也就是說, 好像實行了自由平等民主, 中國就不是再是中國了. 說這話的人可以分成幾種. 一種是政客, 一種是尋找中國意識的人, 另一種是對西方含有敵視的人, 還可以再分下去. 但是, 我不打算做這事情... 我也是其中一種. 我會把我自己歸於那種希望找到中國意識的人.

啥是學找中國意識的人呢? 這是啥意思? 我的解釋是, 希望可以把古代中國的口號和現代的口號銜接上. 我覺得現在最大的問題就在於說, 現代中國人的意識裡, 所有古中國的口號通通都是為了個人修身的道德. 這也就是, 梁啟超說的, 中國人只注重私德, 忽略了公德. 我個人覺得, 這是一種不完全的講法. 但是, 不容易反駁的想法. 不容易反駁的想法, 是因為, 在語法上, 禮義廉恥, 仁義道德, 的確有個人修身的意像. 不完全的講法, 是因為, 當我們回去看古中國口號的來源時, 每一個字又都可以有另外的意義. 這些字就像多變的精靈, 在語法上, 和文法上, 甚至在前後文的對照下, 變化似乎無窮盡.

最明顯的例子, 實際上是禮. 這是自清末一來就飽受評議的字. 禮經在經過孔子之後的幾千年裡, 成為三經. 這三經實際上, 大部分和個人修身無關係. 周禮又叫周官, 紀錄了周朝時的官制和其內容. 儀禮又稱禮經, 紀錄了周朝平日生活送往迎來的禮儀. 禮記, 又分大載禮記和小載禮記, 紀錄一些生活上更瑣碎的禮儀, 還有更重要的是孔子之後的一些學術思想. 裡面有任何個人修身的部分, 禮記佔了大多數. 其他如周官, 實際上是一個提供研究政治制度的來源. 儀禮和禮記則提供了古代人類社會學的資料. 在所有古中國的口號裡, 最能和現代口號銜接的, 應該是禮. 因為如果要把禮直接翻譯成現代的名詞, 制度, 或許是最貼切的譯法. 可是, 這是困難的. 因為在語法上, 禮已經是和法徹底分家了. 一般人提到禮, 最先想到的是禮貌. 而不是憲法之類的東西. 但是, 對於禮教和律法的從新認識對於銜接古中國和現代世界卻非常重要. 幾乎是刻不容緩. 因為, 只有從新認識, 才能夠不再盲目的推崇或仇視.

這裡也有一個需要說明的現象. 也就是說, 現代絕大部分倡導自由的學說或學者, 都有一個最基本的共識. 那就是, 自由, 並不是絕對的自由. 這個自由, 必須是在一個前提之下, 才能真正存在. 這個前提, 實際上就某種限制. 而大家對平等的認識, 也絕不是以為天下人都是一樣的材質, 有相同的環境. 而現代民主理論把行政司法立法分出來之後, 民主, 這一名詞實際上也走向了禮的命運. 也就是說, 民主這一詞在語境裡也變成了多變的精靈. 所以提民主不如一當時的需要, 把行政司法和立法提出來, 才能夠比較正確的表述意思. 而也就在這些大前提之下, 禮和自由平等民主也才能夠銜接. 一旦銜接上, 我們要問的是, 如何可以有一個自由平等和民主的禮教和律法?

Thursday, December 22, 2011

division of pc games

I just had a feeling that there are not much middle class in pc games... I mean either you need a high end pc to play most of the new games on the market, or you could just play it with a tablet spec pc... There're not many pc games coming out for middle ground... lol

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

胡思亂想

自誠明,謂之性。自明誠,謂之教。誠則明矣,明則誠矣。

唯天下至誠,為能盡其性;能盡其性,則能盡人之性;能盡人之性,則能盡物之性;能盡物之性,則可以贊天地之化育;可以贊天地之化育,則可以與天地參矣。

其次致曲。曲能有誠,誠則形,形則著,著則明,明則動,動則變,變則化。唯天下至誠為能化。



看不懂致曲. 我今天突然想到會不會是屈? 大部分的解釋都把曲解作偏. 我想到的屈, 是說受到擠壓的意思. 因為無法自誠明, 但是可以由受到考驗而誠. 一般人都要在失去的時候, 才珍惜. 但是, 有少部分的人, 不需要如此, 就懂得珍惜. 這個失去, 就是我所謂的屈.

胡思亂想, 胡思亂想...

Friday, December 09, 2011

in the ring

There are many different kinds of martial arts. Most of them could be classified as either wrestling related, or striking related. As each branch developed, different rules were also developed along each side. Most of the rules eliminate some aspects of fighting, like greco roman wrestling prohibits striking and holds below the waist, boxing prohibits kicking...etc.

It is true that these rules are in some way impair the students of these martial arts, in terms of dealing a real fight outside of the ring. But as long as the rules indeed help the students of these martial arts to grasp the concept of the arts they are studying. I think it is still a good way to learn.

I think by understanding how these rules let students learn by limiting their resources, we could learn how to design our education system in general better.

I met a Eurasier

I am working as a UPS helper again this year. I was delivering packages to a house one day. The garden in front of the house was half lawn, half pebbles and stones. While I was waiting for someone to come and sign my packages, I admired the scenery. A graceful frail old lady came to open the door, then I was scrambling to scan the packages. I forgot to scan the packages while looking at the garden. As the mess assumed, a dog stepped outside. The dog looked like a chow chow. My hands kept on playing my diad as I asked the frail lady about the dog. She said: oh, don't worry, the dog was mild. he won't bite...

It's probably because she saw me trying turn my behind away from the dog. Yeah, dogs always like to try to smell the behind... It's an experience learned from this line of work.

I asked, is this a chow chow?

No, the lady said, it's a Eurasier.

She must see the confusion on my face. She then explained further, it is a breed from spitz, chow chow, and samoyed.

That was very interesting, I thought. And the dog was very gentle and friendly indeed. He smelled my hands, I petted him on the head, and his body snuggled against my legs. Wow, it really looked like a chow chow. I got signature from the lady then I walked back to the truck through that long drive way. As I looked back, the lady already got inside, but she let the dog out. The dog found a spot in front of the door and sat down calmly with four legs on the ground. I really liked the dog.

Two days later, when I went to the same house again, I did not see the dog. I wanted to see the dog very much. But the package did not need to be signed this time. I could not just go and knock on the door. As I was trying to reach my truck at the end of the street, which was a cul de sac. My eyes suddenly shone upon the dog! He was walking in a leisure kind of way toward me from the other side of street. I was so happy to see him, I bend my knees and lowered my head to welcome him. It was incredible that the dog's eyes seemed to spark and ran to me! I petted him, who also snuggled back. The time was so short though, for I need to go to the next street quickly. I moved on to the truck, as I looked back he moved on the lawn and looked back right at me.

The driver, Nick, was calm. He started the engine and began to drove away. Then he said, for a moment I was scared. I thought the dog was going to attack. Don't pet the dog next time... Dogs are still unpredictable.

Saturday, December 03, 2011

when i sing

when i sing, my cat ran away
when i sing, i was always alone
when i sing, there's only a listener
when i sing...

Friday, December 02, 2011

四維的解釋

管子:
牧民:
國有四維,一維絕則傾,二維絕則危,三維絕則覆,四維絕則滅。傾可正也,危可安也,覆可起也,滅不可復錯也。何謂四維?一曰禮、二曰義、三曰廉、四曰恥。禮不踰節,義不自進。廉不蔽惡,恥不從枉。故不踰節,則上位安;不自進,則民無巧軸;不蔽惡,則行自全;不從枉,則邪事不生。


四維論

柳宗元

《管子》以禮義廉恥為四維,吾疑非管子之言也。
彼所謂廉者,曰『不蔽惡』也;世人之命廉者,曰不茍得也。彼所謂恥者,曰『不從枉』也;世人之命恥者,曰羞為非也。然則二者果義歟,非歟?吾見其有 二維,未見其所以為四也。夫不蔽惡者,豈不以蔽惡為不義而去之乎?夫不茍得者,豈不以茍得為不義而不為乎?雖不從枉與羞為非皆然。然則廉與恥,義之小節 也,不得與義抗而為維。聖人之所以立天下,曰仁義。仁主恩,義主斷。恩者親之,斷者宜之,而理道畢矣。蹈之斯為道,得之斯為德,履之斯為禮,誠之斯為信, 皆由其所之而異名。今管氏所以為維者,殆非聖人之所立乎?又曰:『一維絕則傾,二維絕則危,三維絕則覆,四維絕則滅。』若義之絕,則廉與恥其果存乎?廉與 恥,則義果絕乎?人既蔽惡矣,茍得矣,從枉矣,為非而無羞矣,則義果存乎?
使管子庸人也,則為此言;管子而少知理道,則四維者非管子之言也。


我覺得這實在是極有意思的討論.  我覺得這裡同樣是義, 所包含的範圍不一樣.  事實上, 管子的文字裡, 已經自訂意思了.  而柳宗元的義實在是孟子之後, 把義的意思擴大之後的看法.  於是乎, 柳宗元認為義實際上已經包括廉恥在內.  

歐陽修的新五代史裡面馮道傳前面的卷五十四的序裡有:

《傳》 曰:「禮義廉恥,國之四維;四維不張,國乃滅亡。」善乎,管生之能言也!禮義,治人之大法;廉恥,立人之大節。蓋不廉,則無所不取;不恥,則無所不為。人 而如此,則禍亂敗亡,亦無所不至,況為大臣而無所不取,無所不為,則天下其有不亂,國家其有不亡者乎!予讀馮道《長樂老敘》,見其自述以為榮,其可謂無廉 恥者矣,則天下國家可從而知也。


則歐陽修這裡對於廉恥的用法和柳宗元類似.  這裡很有趣的地方也在於說, 每一個字的用法在某篇文章裡可以自己定義, 但是, 在語法上也有他一定的意思.  再拿忠義這兩個字來說.  不知道, 義氣和柳宗元得仁義, 這兩個義有無程度上, 方向上的不同.  忠呢, 忠恕而已矣, 忠君愛國, 這兩忠在程度上, 方向上有無不同?