The Accidental [Eastern] Tourist

[RobertH]

Although i went a little wild in September with Mexican Coke. We had a brief torrid love affair. Still get together in small doses.

 

 

Hmmm Dose the DEA read this site?

[Smitty]

I guess we see what we want to see, 'cuz every time I see this thread, I think it's The Accidental [Eastern] Taoist.

 

Which perhaps makes it even better!

[david_dawei]

I guess we see what we want to see, 'cuz every time I see this thread, I think it's The Accidental [Eastern] Taoist.

 

Which perhaps makes it even better!

good one.

[david_dawei]

Day 11: Macao

 

Last night we watched on TV the 10th anniversary of the return of Macao from the Portugese to the motherland. The China Daily relates that Macao has 34 casinos and surpassed Las Vegas as the gambling mecca in 2006

 

I was recently reading a book on the history of china's foreign policy and will relate some brief comments on Macao from the book, The Dragon and the Foreign Devils:

 

Portugal, like many other countries, was jumping on the bandwagon of trade with china and the more lucrative permanent trading post. Portugal was successful because they learned what many before and many since know about how to deal with chinese matters: Do things the chinese way, and paramount is, bribery will get you what you want. By 1535, China agreed to rent the Macao peninsula in exchange for Portugal ridding the area of pirates; Portugal would soon have a financial monopoly over the area, drawing the envy and jealousy of others.

 

Portugals goodwill including assisting china in fending off attacks, notable was the exchange with the Dutch who wanted a finger in the cookie jar too. The Jesuits helped the Portugese fend off the Dutch and a lucky shot hit an ammo dump causing the final Dutch withdraw. The Dutch would later establish themselves on Formosa, and then even later at Fujian and Zhejiang. Within a hundred years, the British merchant ships arrived there and established more connections in Xiamen and Canton. In the early 1800s, British forces actually occupied Macao, fearing the French would seize it. In an effort to force the British out, the chinese stopped trade. Some clashes did occur but once again, the Portugese seeme adept at handling such negotiations and simply paid the British a random in exchange for their departure. Macao continued as a successful trading port which also attracted smugglers. Foreigners often were required to stay there instead of on the mainland and chinese permits were issues from Macao.

[david_dawei]

Dao and TCM: Patterns of life

 

Dao and Traditional chinese medicine encourages one to follow nature; but as such, 'patterns' are important. That is why I choose the translation for the passage previously provided above. Thus the reasons are really quite profound and extend beyond philosophy and humanism to life itself.

 

All systems operate according to a set pattern; deviation from the pattern can cause disruption. The human body is really no different but the beauty of the principle of dao is that a new pattern will emerge in order to keep the system in check and operating. Exercise less and the body responds by getting fatter but stays alive; Go to another country and the time change on the body is quickly adapted to a new living pattern.

 

The west follows what would be called in TCM as a "Yang pattern; intentional changes"; The east follows "Yin patterns; following changes". There are many examples that could be given, but the key is how well one's changes based on changing situations;

 

My point is that life seeks regular patterns which can adsorb some change but tries to stay within prescribed limits. Human activity is often this way. In nature, change can be dramatic and abrupt and much more forceful. Nature always changes to the situation and adapts in any forceful way without limit. Humans want limits.

 

If we are to learn from nature it is to adapt in any circumstance, as said in this chinese idiom:

ËæÓö¶ø°² - sui yu er an

[Joanne]

As a Chinese, my everyday life has been influenced/guided by these philosophies. It is nice to know the underlying systems. I am learning from your posts.

 

However, don't hide your activities in China behind all these theories.

[tsap seui]

However, don't hide your activities in China behind all these theories.

 

Yeah David, we want the REAL SCOOP...a wild man turned loose in China. I'm a dumb hillbilly and can't understand any of this Tao and Mao stuff yer tawkin' about, anyhow...it's so far over my poor head I might as well as be suckin' mud at the bottom of the Mariannas Trench.

 

tsap seui

[RobertH]

I keep waiting for a midget and a sheep to show up in one of the posts.

 

And where is the car chase? every good post has a car chase in it.

[david_dawei]

As a Chinese, my everyday life has been influenced/guided by these philosophies. It is nice to know the underlying systems.

I always find it interesting that the people who are guided the most (and most naturally) by these principles are the very ones whom you cannot typically engage in conversation about it; they don't think about it nor study it; they just live it since it's a part of the chinese world view and social activity.

 

Of course that's because history and tradition play a paramount role too. Despite the efforts of the CPC to reduce that influence, history has too strong a place in thinking (however subconscious). I have tried to test this out over the years on the younger generation, particularly the Ba Ling Hou, to see what they really attribute to history. And I am surprised to find them talking very similar to the older generation who might say, "There is a chinese word or story for that..." ; similar to my using an idiom in the previous example; which is really just an example of appealing to history.

 

It would be too hard to remove the past from people particularly since education is held as so important. Besides having to master a difficult language with no phonetic bridge, they have over 5000 years of history, stories, meanings, applications to study. This draws within one an appeal to history. In philosophical circles, this appeal is really an eastern appeal to 'truth'; as you and I have talked many times, 'truth' is really relative, and for chinese truth is in history; thus an appeal to history or nature for answers. TCM is built on the idea that nature (through the principle of dao) reveals the 'truth' about how life operates and should be followed.

 

While chinese beginnings of knowledge are not much different than most civilizations (observation of the stars, reliance on nature, hunger-gatherers, totem and tribe, shamanism, etc), the big difference seems to really be the reliance put on history and nature to holding answers. The methods used over the years have changed (shamans, tortoise shell cracking, yarrow sticks, and other divinations) but the general use seems to remain; there is an appeal to looking to the past for answers. The main use now is through education which teaches a history of stories, idioms, and situations from which to live life. One of the oldest books is the Yi Jing (Book of Change) which is used by people around the world as a means of seeking answers.

 

So, what I tend to see a lot of is that many chinese look to the past (in the form of history and nature) for answers, but these are answers to be 'followed'. This finding and following are inseparable staff of life and helps to explain: why some chinese operate best by just "tell me what to do, so I can follow it" mentality. It can also explain why some chinese will listen to other chinese over everyone else. It can explain why actions are more important than words (to not follow--do-what was said means the words are not 'truthful').

 

This 'following' aspect is something that mostly a 'group society' will appreciate and find social harmony in and even build up as part of 'truth'; In relation to dao; to not follow the natural principle of dao is to be without 'de'. 'De' gives one the natural ability to 'follow' nature's way.

[david_dawei]

However, don't hide your activities in China behind all these theories.

 

Yeah David, we want the REAL SCOOP...a wild man turned loose in China. I'm a dumb hillbilly and can't understand any of this Tao and Mao stuff yer tawkin' about, anyhow...it's so far over my poor head I might as well as be suckin' mud at the bottom of the Mariannas Trench.

 

tsap seui

Gotta go with these two, David. What's the skinny on that Mafia guy?

I have yet to find the mafia in this city... so I only hobnob with the police

 

In fact, upon my arrival, most were appalled at the thin outer layer coat I wore; it was not worth trying to explain where I live in the US (Florida) as that would have no bearing where I was at the moment. As well, that I wore six layers has no meaning to. I got sick because the outer layer was 'wrong'... I did not 'follow' what is the logical way; as a result, I was promptly given the warmest standard issue coat in the city: A policemans coat with the arm decals to boot B)

 

I guess I turned into the accidental policeman...

[david_dawei]

Day 12: Breakfast of Champions

 

However, don't hide your activities in China behind all these theories.

 

Yeah David, we want the REAL SCOOP...a wild man turned loose in China. I'm a dumb hillbilly and can't understand any of this Tao and Mao stuff yer tawkin' about, anyhow...it's so far over my poor head I might as well as be suckin' mud at the bottom of the Mariannas Trench.

 

tsap seui

Those who have followed my posting over the years, probably recall I talk an awful lot about drinking in china. This Liaoning jiu must be the closest I'll get to grain moonshine that you hillbillies are so fond of. I have to admit that I've come to enjoy sucking the bottom of the Er Guo Tou cocktail that 'uncle' makes; I can claim the health benefits of the Gou Qi bean and Ginseng.

 

Prior to my arrival, uncle said that he would like to drink everyday with me; that was an offer I have dutifully 'followed' But last night, uncle announced that he cannot 'keep up with my drinking'; After days on end of lunch and drinking until 8pm (which always felt like midnight), we had to stop at 5pm yesterday. Yesterday, they offered to buy me a few jugs which I could bring back to the US B) but I promptly refused... saying I can buy all the Er Guo Tou I want in the US

 

One day we went out to go look in the morning; I asked where was uncle and they said he drank too much Er Guo Tou with breakfast and had to rest.

 

For breakfast, I am an egg man in the US. While in china I'm likely to eat egg at some meal during the day, meat seems as common for breakfast as leftovers must be consumed. This morning I was asked if I wanted some Er Guo Tou for breakfast as well... Once you show a liking for something, you'd better watch out...