artist's diary

I am always fascinated by gardening and plants like flowers. They grow out of an intense love of life. Some artist said they show the refusal to make the soul selave of the body. I think there is inner richness of soul in those artists who love simple ways of life and who are somewhat impatient with the business of making money. Nowadays, even in China, where the Taoist philosophgy has been worked for several thousand years, life still goes in merrily with lots of people beliving in wealth and fame and power. Every time I see my water bottle, a picture of Tao Yuan Ming, the greatest poet and recluse in China, always comes to my mind. It was his love of nature and ignorence of social success that were expressed in the poem written in November, A.D. 415:

“… …

Why not go home,

Seeing that my field and garden with weeds are over grown?

Myself have made my soul sever to my body,

Why have vain regrets and mourn alone?

These the trees, happy of heart, grow marvelously green,

And spring water gushes forth with a gurgling sound.

I admire how things grow and prosper according to

Their seasons

And feel that thus, too

Shall my life go its round.

… …

Enough!

How long yet shall I this mortal shape keep?

Why not take life as it comes, and

Why hustle and bustle like one on and errand bound?

Wealth and power are not my ambitions, and

Unattainable is the abode of the gods!

I would go forth alone on a bright morning

Or perhaps, planting my cane

Begin to pluck the weeds,

And till the ground

… …

(*the poem was translated and published by Chinese scholar Lin, Yutang in 1937)

Why not go home