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Li-Yan and Wu-Lei Celebrate Their Family History

by Isabelle Ghaneh

Long ago in China, in the year of 100 A.D., Li-Yan and her younger brother, Wu-Lei collect bamboo shoots for the yearly ritual worship of their ancestors. The people of their village believe that relatives who have died watch over family after their death. Li-Yan's extended family will get together to give offerings to her deceased relatives. This way the family can be certain that the souls of the ancestors are at peace, and that they will look after the family and make sure good things happen.

During this special Chinese ritual, poetry will be recited and sung and musical instruments will be played. Li-Yan's mother prepares offerings of grain and wine, which will be placed at a small alter. Li-Yan's Uncle Dou practices the "Three Perfections", as they are commonly known in her village. They consist of painting, poetry, and fine handwriting, called calligraphy. These art forms are considered the highest form of expression.

Calligraphers take animal hair and make it into a brush. By holding this brush straight up in the air over bamboo slates, Uncle Dow can paint Chinese characters in graceful, finely lined strokes. A calligrapher is not supposed to touch his hands or elbows on the document he is writing on. Uncle Dou doesn't always manage to achieve that kind of fine precision with his brush. The words of the poem should look as beautiful as the meaning of the words, so Li-Yan's uncle practices daily to achieve this.

Chinese writing uses characters instead of letters. The writing of characters is a pictograph, which is a picture that conveys a thought. Pictographs express what the word would be. Each character stands for a whole idea or object. Sometimes two characters are needed for the meaning to be clear.

Uncle Dou paints from right to left in columns on bamboo slates, which have been made by tying bamboo shoots together with rope. Uncle Dou does his calligraphy on silk only when he can afford to purchase the material from the local trader at the village market.

Wu-Lei is excited about the musical instruments that are to be included in tonight's ceremony. One of the instruments is called a ch'in. A ch'in is a stringed instrument with a round wooden face. In English it is called a moon lute.

The word music is written with the same character as enjoyment. That is something Li-Yan's Uncle Dou has written down many times. The Chinese philosophers feel that music is an expression of joy. Poetry and music are used to communicate emotion, which will be very apparent at tonight's observance.

Li-Yan's village thinks of bamboo as a symbol of survival in adversity, since it is sturdy but bendable. It bends so it can rise above storms and winds without breaking. With armfuls of bamboo, Li-Yan and Wu-Lei greet their family. They are eager to participate in the worship of their ancient ancestors.

The End

References

Harvey, M. (1998) Look What Came From China. New York: Franklin Watts, A Division of Grolier Publishing.

Ebrey, P. (1996) Cambridge Illustrated History: China. Cambridge: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.

Isabelle Ghaneh has published poetry in Dimsum, Asia's Literary Journal, Pedestal Magazine, Surface Art Magazine, Pennine Ink, SNReview, The Fairfield Review, EOTU Ezine, The Copperfield Review and The Ridgefield Press; short stories in The Copperfield Review, The Ridgefield Press, The Circle Magazine and silverthought.com; and feature articles in Learning Through History, Art Times, The Blue Review, and The Llewellyn Journal.

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