sharing the moonlight across thousands of miles
My exploration of life in the universe seems to have never ceased; I have long wanted to understand it, ever since I was young. Therefore, year after year, I travel across mountains and rivers, trying to understand real-life from the natural world and to create something lasting. Life is too short—how many can truly live forever beneath the setting sun on the ancient road? Though I am nearly half a century, I do not yet feel old, and I remain deeply immersed in artistic creation. The east sky lightens, and the moon still shines brightly. As I turn my head, who is there continuing to create in the dim light?
In long and short sentences of my poems, how many proud moments have gone in an instant? Writing five-character quatrains for life, which is often more significant than works of poets and scholars! Even looking at the sky with cold eyes, life is difficult for you. After thousands of years, only the moon remains unchanged. Our galaxy experiences cycles of birth, aging, illness, and extinction—what else can you truly hold onto?
My creative work is done by shedding all attachments, one painting after another, by the time it's completed, it’s already become part of history. Isn’t life the same? I journey alone through thousands of mountains; who will be there to see me off?
How fragile is an artistic career for which you’ve devoted your entire life! In an incredibly short time, people will judge whether your artwork is a success or failure, often based on foolish imagination. While I forget to eat and sleep just to create a single piece of art, am I not the inheritor and promoter of history and culture? It is worth far more than anything ordinary; it should be viewed as an accomplishment of something truly difficult, and thus worthy of great admiration.
The foundation of my artistic creation is from thoroughly experiencing and comprehending life in the universe and showing its truly incredible sphere in paintings. This process is one of personal reflection and awakening.
Regardless of how one navigates the world, unaffected by the cycle of "birth, aging, illness, and death," it is perfectly clear that one can wander leisurely through the life of the universe, which manifests from one’s own mind - a truly happy life! Even the joy described in Zhuangzi’s The Happiness of Fish* is too inferior to bear comparison.
When I look back and reread my experiences, golden rain and red clouds (symbolizing a splendid atmosphere), spiritual water, and the tranquil mountains (representing peace and auspiciousness) come to mind. From a glimpse of the graceful posture of a nude female figure as a lotus flower emerging from mud, to discover your inherent true nature; to feel the brilliance of all creation under enlightening illumination. In the deep spring when the garden is full of aromatic grass and flowers, taking a sip of the peace and freedom that comes from a life well-reflected upon, how wonderful this feeling of letting go is! This life has just begun.
It has nothing to do with worldly affairs or the heights of the sky—simply set your heart single-minded to achieve.
You saw flowers blooming and falling, however, the gentle fragrance of plum blossoms wafting in the air when you cross the bridge.**
The depressions or anger in your chest of half a life transforms them into a vast expanse of clouds, spread your wings and begin to soar across thousands of miles to the firmament.
Let the Earth follow its natural course, while I, naturally, turn back to creating powerful art, as a symbol of the pride of the universe.
Xiao-Yao inscribed at the Building of Endless
Early winter of 2003
*Zhuangzi (莊子) – was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period. In the conclusion of the section called “The Happiness of Fish”, the following conversation takes place:
Zhuangzi and Huizi were strolling along the dam of the Hao Waterfall when Zhuangzi said, “See how the minnows come out and dart around wherever they please! That’s what fish really enjoy!”
Huizi responded, “You’re not a fish—how do you know what fish enjoy?”
Zhuangzi replied, “You’re not me, so how do you know I don’t know what fish enjoy?”
Huizi said, “I’m not you, so I certainly don’t know what you know. On the other hand, you’re certainly not a fish—so that still proves you don’t know what fish enjoy!”
Zhuangzi answered, “Let’s go back to your original question, please. You asked me how I know what fish enjoy, so you already knew I knew it when you asked the question. I know it by standing here beside the Hao.”
Another interesting story is The Butterfly Dream:
Once, Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly—flitting and fluttering around, happy and doing as he pleased. He didn’t know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly, he woke up, and there he was, solid and unmistakably Zhuangzi. But he didn’t know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamed he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. There must be some distinction between Zhuangzi and the butterfly! This is called the Transformation of Things.
**The spirit of plum blossom symbolizes nobility, strength, perseverance, and loyalty. It resists the cold of winter, represents the courage to take the lead, and embodies constant self-improvement.
嬋娟共千里
我對於宇宙人生的探討似乎從未停止過停止過，從年輕時就想探個究竟，因此歲歲年年遊山玩水，企圖從大自然中去了解真實人生，同時更想創造永恆。人生太短，古道斜陽下有幾人會得永生？儘管年已半百，卻不知老之將至，猶津津於創作之中。東方既白，明月依舊，驀然回首，誰在燈火闌珊處？
長短句中，多少得意剎那逝去，五言生涯，何止騷人墨客！就算你白眼青天，不過處處難為了。千載之下唯嬋娟未變，銀河之中生老死滅，還有什麼放不下的呢？
創作就在放下中完成，一張張的畫作，當它完成時早已成為歷史，人生不也是如此嗎？千山我獨行，誰能相送？
將全付生命換來的藝創生涯是多麼脆弱啊！呼吸之間論功過，痴人談夢痴更痴！雖然為了一張紙而廢寢忘食，這也不就是歷史文化的傳承與推動者嗎？何止可貴，當屬難能。
藝創的根源就是對宇宙人生徹底的體悟，並將其中不可思議的境界真實的展現於畫作之上，這是個人反思覺醒的一個過程。
無論人情世故，不關病老死生，明明白白的悠遊於自心變現的宇宙人生之中，是何等的快活！連逍遙遊裡的莊魚之樂，亦望塵莫及。
當此回顧之際，金雨彤雲，靈水煙山；從驚鴻泥裡，探見一番真性；於覺照之下感得萬物華光；在春深滿庭的當兒，啜一口回顧中的安然自在，是多麼的放下啊！這人生才剛開始哩！
不關世事與天高，一心一意將心調；
只見花開與花落，暗香浮動過小橋。
半生塊壘化銀濤，展翅萬里上九霄；
任他娑婆從心造，我自回首創天嬌。
逍遙識於無盡樓
歲在癸未初冬