RHC Fortnightly Quotemail
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell
(@RHCLambengolmo)
Vol. XXIX, No. 6: February 1, 2025
Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate
Art Director: Verena Keegan
Editorial Associate: Sabrina Saelind
Editorial Assistant: Jessica Breckinridge
Editor’s Note
In 2025, the
Chinese (Lunar) New Year celebrations began on Wednesday, January 29,
which will usher in the year 4723 of the traditional Chinese calendar, which is
the “Year of the Snake” in the twelve-year zodiacal cycle. The celebration of
the Lunar New Year provides us with an excellent opportunity to consider some
of the myriad contributions that China has made to the global human family over
the past five millennia – all of which constitute a very remarkable legacy
indeed!
Sophie’s Introduction
"The Chinese Zodiac
in a Nutshell: The Legend Behind the Chinese New Year”
By Jessica Breckinridge, Editorial
Assistant
The Chinese New
Year is one of the biggest holidays around the globe--a time to celebrate
Chinese culture and tradition. It is a celebration that originated in China
more than 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. The legend behind the twelve
animals of the Chinese Zodiac was born around that same time. It tells the
story of how the Jade Emperor decided to create the Chinese Zodiac and assign
one animal name to each year of his calendar.
The 12 animals in
the story are the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake,
the horse, the ram, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. Each animal
has a story about how it got its place on the Zodiac calendar. The first animal
will become obvious to you as I share each part of the story.
The Jade Emperor's
plan for the calendar was to hold a great competition, like the Olympic Games,
but with a big difference. Each animal would compete in a race across a wide
river and up a steep mountain. The order in which they arrived would decide
their place on the calendar.
The animals were
delighted with the plan and looked at one another to decide who would go first.
But, for some strange reason, there was silence; it seemed that they were all
too polite to be the first animal. Suddenly, the rat announced that he would go
and take first place. But he had a secret plan for how to win the race.
The race was about
to begin when the Jade Emperor announced the rules in a voice so loud it echoed
across the mountains. Each animal had to reach the other side of the river
without help and climb the mountain, then reach him at the top. The first one
to do so would win a place in the Zodiac calendar, followed by each animal in
the order in which they finished. The animals gathered at the bank of the
river. But there was one problem.
A huge wall of
water rushed toward the animals and stopped them in their tracks. The ox, who
was strong and very intelligent, volunteered to carry all the animals on his
back to the other side of the river. One by one they climbed aboard. But the
rat, realizing that the ox would be the last one to cross the river, decided to
ride on the ox's head rather than ride with the others.
The ox quickly
carried his cargo across the water and arrived safely with each animal aboard.
But just as the ox was about to reach the far bank, the rat leaped from his
head and ran to the Jade Emperor. He was the first to arrive, but what happened
next in the race? :)
The ox arrived
next, even though he had carried the other animals on his back, because he had
been deceived by the rat. He was followed in this order: tiger (third), rabbit
(fourth), dragon (fifth), snake (sixth), horse (seventh), ram (eighth), monkey
(ninth), rooster (tenth), dog (eleventh), and pig (twelfth). But one of the
animals was very unhappy--can you guess which one?
One very upset
animal was the cat, who had overslept--so he missed the big race. This was one
of the reasons that people in China came to dislike cats. In fact, cats are not
even allowed in the Jade Emperor's city of heaven, for even the gods still hold
a grudge against them. But all the animals were thrilled with the new Zodiac
calendar, and they have celebrated the Chinese New Year ever since, honoring
the story of the Jade Emperor's grand competition a long time ago in a galaxy
far, far away.
“The Yellow Emperor’s Tea
Ceremony”
By Grace Chen, Staff
Writer
A sacred ritual, an elegant grace
Fragrant, fragrant as the blossoms on the pine
A divine communion with the Dao, the Way of things.
The water, the leaves, the cup, the pot
All in balance, all in harmony
A union of the senses with the spirit
A connection in the depths of each person's heart
A ritual to honor that connection To honor the divine within each one
of us
The scent of the tea, the taste, the warmth,
The feeling of peace, comfort, and joy
A feeling of well-being, of inner bliss
A feeling that one is in tune with the Dao
A feeling that one belongs, that one is loved
A feeling that one is home, no matter where one is
The Yellow Emperor's tea ceremony
Is a reminder that we're all connected
To other people, to nature, to the world
A reminder that there's a harmony to life
A reminder to live in accord with the Way
To be in tune with the natural flow of the universe
A reminder that there's a sacred connection
That connects all things, and that we're part of it
The Yellow Emperor's tea ceremony
Is a reminder to cherish this life
To embrace the present moment, and to be grateful
For those closest to us, for those in need
For the planet that sustains us, and for all life
That we are to respect and to love, to nurture, and to protect
We are all part of a beautiful tapestry
Of life, of love, and of the Divine
A tapestry that envelops us all, that connects us all That is the Way
“The Dragon’s Sister”
By June Yore, Staff
Writer
Is told by me for you,
Of a boy and a dragon
And his sister, too.
A serpent in the hills
Had fallen to the ground.
The boy found him lying there
Just like a broken-down cart.
“Your scales are cracked and broken!”
He cried in deep despair.
“Oh let me help you now!
Please open up your lair.”
The dragon did not answer
And did not say a word
And then he opened one eye a crack
Just like a waking bird.
“Come, child,” he said to the boy
“Your words have touched my heart
For though I do not know your name
I know a brother’s part.
You’re the first to seek me out
To help me in my pain
And so for that I grant you
Upon this day of spring,
And take this jar of water
To give to your sister.
If you take one sip each day
You will never grow old.
Your hair will not turn gray
And soon it will turn gold.
The spring of life is inside
A liquid just like dew.
I give you two a precious thing;
I will be forever true!”
The boy did what the dragon told
And set out for his home.
The sister waited long for him,
So long she nearly died.
She had no other friend
Except the brother by her side.
The boy showed her the jar and said,
“It’s magic like a dream!
No, it was really given to me
By a magical green dragon.”
The sister drank from the jar
She felt all her pain go away
Her skin was soft, her hair was gold
She was refreshed, renewed in every way.
The sister asked, “What magic is in here?”
The brother told her simply
“It was a gift the dragon gave
And magic for you and me.
The dragon is so old that now
He does not need this gift,
And so he gave it to me
And I will use it if I must.
But sister, you can use it first.
I hope one day we’ll be united
If any day should come when I must go,
I trust the dragon’s little gift
Will keep you well and strong;
And though I will be gone,
You’ll be safe and loved for so long.”
The dragon in the hills did say
As he took his final breath
“I will forever be your guardian now
To keep you warm and blessed”
The dragon’s magic never failed;
It flowed like a river through the earth.
The boy now rests upon his grave;
His magic now returns its worth
“Mulan”
By Tracy Albert, Staff
Writer
Author’s Note: Mulan is a courageous young woman from China who is known for her bravery and determination. She disguises herself as a male soldier in order to take her father's place in the army, and through her wits, skills, and courage, she saves China from invasion. Her story has been told in many forms of media, including the classic Disney animated film Mulan, which was released in 1998.
Born a girl in China's east,
A daughter meek and shy,
Yet with determination fierce,
She sought to prove herself free.
With brave convictions strong
And inner strength like steel,
Mulan faced both man and beast,
To prove her courage real.
Now the hero of her people,
Mulan's name is sung,
For her bravery and loyalty
Her story will never be done.
General Mulan surveys the Great Wall of China. (Image
Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
“Classical Chinese
Philosophies of Leadership”
By Rob Chappell, M.A.,
Editor
Adapted & Condensed
from Cursus Honorum IX: 1 (August 2008)
China has produced
many outstanding leaders in world thought, and their writings have become
increasingly popular in the West during recent decades. Two notable Chinese
sages whose insights on leadership (and the human condition in general) have
inspired billions of readers across the centuries are Confucius and Lao-tzu,
who represent the Confucian and Taoist schools of philosophy, respectively.
Lao-tzu (fl. 6th
century BCE) is regarded as the founder of the Taoist school of philosophy.
According to traditional accounts of his life, he was an older contemporary of
Confucius who worked as a royal archivist for the Chinese Kingdom of Chou. In
his later years, Lao-tzu retired from public life at the royal court to write
his masterpiece, the Tao Te Ching (The
Way and Its Virtue). Lao-tzu and his followers emphasized the
importance of exercising leadership in daily life through compassion,
moderation, and humility. They also taught that humans should seek to live in
harmony with Nature – a teaching that resonates very strongly with today’s
environmental concerns.
Confucius (551-479
BCE), a younger contemporary of Lao-tzu, lived in troubled times, when China
was divided up into small kingdoms that warred against each other, causing much
social upheaval and economic hardship. He developed a philosophy of life that encouraged
people to exercise leadership through benevolence toward all, loyalty to one’s
benefactors, devotion to one’s family, and well-rounded learning. Political
leaders were expected to cultivate these character traits in order to set a
good example for their subjects. Confucianism eventually came to be recognized
as the leading political philosophy of East Asia. Its most popular text is the Analects, a collection of Confucius’
aphorisms and dialogues, which was compiled by his students and their
successors.
Both the Taoist
and Confucian schools of thought have found some common ground in the I Ching (Book of Changes), a
classical Chinese text that was compiled between 1000 and 500 BCE by several
generations of sages and scholars. This book, through its aphorisms about the
harmonious balance of the Universe, humanity’s place in the cosmos, and the
constancy of change, still resonates deeply with many thoughtful people in
today’s world.
Over the
centuries, rising generations of leaders around the world have been influenced
by the sages of ancient China. The writings of Confucius, Lao-tzu, and their
followers continue to be as relevant today as when they were first penned some
2500 years ago. Now that this age-old wisdom is available in Western languages,
we can use it not only to improve our own leadership skills, but also to build
bridges of understanding between East and West.
Recommended Reading
·
Myths and Legends of
China by E. T. C. Werner (Public
Domain – 1922)
·
The I Ching or Book of Changes (Bollingen Series) by
Cary F. Baynes and Richard Wilhelm (Princeton University Press, 1967)
·
The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy by Sun-Tzu, Lao-Tzu,
Confucius, and Mencius (Canterbury Classics, 2016)
·
The Path: What Chinese
Philosophers Can Teach Us about the Good Life by Michael Puett and
Christine Gross-Loh (Simon & Schuster, 2016)
·
The Art of Living:
Chinese Proverbs and Wisdom: A Modern Reader of the Vegetable Roots Discourse
by Hong Yingming (Better Link Press, 2020)
“Ring Out, Wild Bells”
(1850)
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
(1809-1892)
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
“Kubla Khan” (a/k/a
“Xanadu”)
By Samuel Taylor
Coleridge (1772-1834)
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But O, that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As ever beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her daemon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced;
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me,
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight ‘twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.
The Great Khan’s sanctuary at Xanadu in 13th-century
China. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
Winged Words of Wisdom
By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer
As
the lunar year draws to an end, we greet the first dawn of a new day. The New
Year represents endless possibilities and a fresh start for all of humanity.
The dawn marks the beginning of something new and unknown; a chance to leave
the burdens of the past behind and start anew. With the dawn comes clarity and
insight – a new start at a new dawn!
Sayings of the Stoic
Sages
By Amy Kendrick & Grace Whittier, Staff Writers
"The best revenge is to be unlike the one who performed the
injury." – Marcus Aurelius
This quote teaches
us that instead of sinking to the level of our enemies and attempting to seek
revenge in kind, it is far better to stay true to ourselves and our principles.
By rising above the situation and refraining from engaging in the same harmful
behavior that we condemn in others, we can demonstrate our strength of
character and our commitment to virtue.
"It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness."
– Seneca the Younger
This quote reminds
me of the importance of persistence and resilience on the path to achieving
one's goals and dreams. Just as a rough road is often difficult and rocky, so
too is the road to greatness. But just as a rough road leads to breathtaking
views from the heights, so too does perseverance lead to rewarding successes.
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." –
Gautama Buddha (Dhammapada 1)
The Dhammapada
is one of the most revered Buddhist scriptures, containing over 400 verses
spoken by the Buddha himself. This particular verse highlights the power of our
mindset in shaping our reality. As we embark on the new year, it's a reminder
to cultivate a positive and compassionate mind for a fulfilling life ahead.
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