Wenyuan | enjoy inferior blessings

Lee Kang Mei

My friend asked me to write him a letter that read: Make a wish of superiority, make a medium-term relationship, and enjoy the blessings of inferiority; choose a high place to stand, find a place to live in peace, and walk to a wide place. This is Zuo Zongtang's famous saying, which was first engraved in the Rong's Plum Garden in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Before the founding of new China, the owner of rong's plum garden was the private garden of the red capitalist Rong Yiren family, and later many officials and literati also followed suit, hanging such banners in the living room or working of the family as a book to encourage themselves. It is said that The world-class rich Man Li Ka-shing also liked this association very much, not only often chanting it himself, but also recommending it to friends. Whether it is Zuo Zongtang, or Rong Yiren, Li Ka-shing, they are all rich, but they remind themselves to "enjoy inferior blessings", is this a pretense to stand and talk without waist pain? In particular, how luxurious and magnificent Wuxi Rong's Plum Garden is, it is really ironic to borrow sentences such as "enjoy the blessings of the inferior" and embed it in the garden.

Some scholars have also interpreted Zuo Zongtang's writings, saying that it is that he has lofty ambitions and ambitions, has an attitude of settling down with fate, and pursues the lives of ordinary people with material things. This association condenses the wisdom of the ancient sages in life of "extremely wise and moderate", implying a profound and universal philosophy of life. In fact, as the lowest level of ordinary people, the yearning for life is simpler and more simple, for example, in the earlier farming era, "two acres of land, a cow, wife doll hot kang head" is the most calm and most comfortable life enjoyment. With the development of the times, in the 1970s and 1980s, young people's engagement and marriage appeared as a standard dowry with watches, bicycles, sewing machines and radios. After the 1990s, the dowry has become the "three gold and one wood" of gold necklaces, gold rings, gold earrings and Magnolia motorcycles, and also the "four major pieces" such as color TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. In recent years, cars and houses have been added, and people's usual pursuit of life is really a trick renovation.

Who is still pursuing "the blessings of the inferior"?

When the ancients created the word "Fu", of course, they were inseparable from the restraint of the primitive years, and that pursuit was almost equal to everyone, and there was absolutely no distinction between high and low. In the oracle bone, the "show" on the left side is actually a sacrificial altar, while on the right is a wine jar, pouring wine on the sacrificial table to show the common begging for the gods. With the evolution of the text, the word "show" on the left side is still a wish and prayer, and the "Ichiguchi Field" on the right is only a meaning and symbol of having rice to eat and land to plant. It can also be seen from the evolution of the word "fu" that the former is the protection of the spirit, and the latter is the small satisfaction of materials.

So is the "enjoying inferior blessings" written from Zuo Zongtang really a pretentious self-deception? In fact, this kind of chanting has nothing to do with identity and status, in the final analysis, it is an attitude to life, a natural peace of mind, and a folk complex that never forgets the original. The rich man has millions of real estates, and he sleeps the same as ordinary people, not to mention that if there is no way to get it, it will be a nightmare connected with a nightmare, and it is no more comfortable and safe than sleeping on a hard bed. Therefore, to "enjoy the blessings of inferiority" is to first walk on the "right path", maintain a normal heart, and always remind yourself that in addition to identity and status, everyone is a mortal fetus. Living in the state of mind of ordinary people and interacting with people will relieve you of many spiritual burdens.

Inferior blessings should also be the category of enjoying blessings, I feel zuo Zongtang's meaning, nor does it mean that there is always a cloth, a rough tea and a light meal, or a peaceful room, and living in the mountains and forests is a blessing; the inferior blessing is by no means to wait for people at the moment, but to have a lofty vision, but to live in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere and mentality. Those who enjoy the blessings of inferiority are the first to leave in their hearts and minds, to leave the drunkenness of paper, and to leave the desire to fly. Even if the work and career are still stuck in the official arena or vanity fair, we must warn ourselves to be kind, not to compare, not to swell, and always maintain an ordinary heart. It is only when you feel carefree and free that you live a life that you should enjoy the blessings of inferiority. If there is a lower blessing, then there must be a superior blessing and a medium blessing, right? Otherwise, Zuo Zongtang would not have deliberately divided "enjoying inferior blessings". According to our habitual thinking, the emperor should enjoy the blessings of the highest class, modern high-ranking officials and rich merchants and celebrities. It should be an alternative group that enjoys moderate blessings. But let's not talk about how much they have to worry about every day, how many things they have to do, even the footsteps and brains, they can't be freely distributed by themselves. So as a high-ranking feudal scholar, did Zuo Zongtang himself have the freedom of life and spirit? I think it should be impossible. What is missing is particularly precious, so it is just a wish, or it can be said that it is just a beautiful yearning!