Chinese longevity culture

Author: Yin Wei/Yin Feiran
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The character is a walking entity; the path it traverses is a genuine cultural map. The character is reproductive; every vibrant character, nourished by history, possesses a vast community. If each character is a seed with full grain, then "Fú," "Lù," "Shòu," "Xǐ," and "Cái" have fortunately landed in the fertile soil of Chinese culture. Over five thousand years, the rich nutrients have allowed them to develop deep roots and flourish. Each plant is a magnificent sight. German philosopher and anthropologist Michael Landmann believes, "Culture, by definition, is created by the free originality of human beings. For this reason, humans have given culture so many styles: one nation differs from another, one era differs from another. However, in the process of creating culture, humans have created themselves." Among all cultural phenomena, the cultural landscape generated by blessings and prayers is the most common in daily life, distinguishing one nation from another. For example, the Chinese greet each other with "Gōngxǐ Fācái" during the Spring Festival, while the British and Americans say "HAPPY NEW YEAR" on New Year's Day. Beyond practical communication needs, there is a ritual that almost all nations share—blessings. Generally speaking, blessings are between people, expressing good wishes, and are altruistic; prayers are personal matters, also expressing wishes, but for oneself (and also for the collective). However, in terms of specific interests, the content of blessings and prayers is highly consistent. In traditional Chinese culture, it mainly revolves around "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái." This is an interesting question: Why do these five characters summarize the blessings people enjoy, rather than others? The high level of generalization in traditional culture leaves us amazed. Among "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái," "Fú" takes the lead. The meaning of "Fú" can be both superficial and profound. Compared to the other four characters, it is more metaphysical—it is not specific but encompasses the others. A person's understanding and enjoyment of "Fú" are related to their worldview and values. Longevity is a blessing, health is a blessing, and a large family is a blessing—classic dialectical evolution. People might even "find fortune in misfortune" (like the story of "The Old Man Who Lost a Horse"), but going too far might lead to "misfortune following fortune." Thus, "Dìng" (stability) is also closely related to "Zhù" (blessing) and "Qí" (prayer). Each of "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái" has a rich history. The longevity of civilization is reflected not only in the specific meanings of the characters but also in their history. The history of a character is the history of people, the history of a nation and culture. Each character's history is a splendid cultural landscape. We have long been fascinated by these characters, and our desire to understand them has become even more urgent. However, when we take it seriously, apart from concise explanations in dictionaries, it is often difficult to delve deeper. We are grateful to the culturally insightful scholar Yin Wei for meticulously selecting and compiling the illustrated "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái" series of Chinese folk auspicious culture books from the vast historical classics and the rich tapestry of folk culture. Each character is presented in its own volume, with each volume boasting over one hundred thousand words, following a consistent format. From the origin and meaning of the characters to allusions and customs, from the worship of character spirits to anecdotes of blessings and prayers, the books are richly referenced and engaging. The publication of this series has fulfilled our desire to understand the culture of "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái." As an important cultural symbol, each character, from its birth, is filled with ambiguity, the danger of contradiction, and the expectation of growth and creation. The character is a walking entity; the path it traverses is a genuine cultural map. The character is reproductive; every vibrant character, nourished by history, possesses a vast community—as Yin Wei presents in "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái." If each character is a seed with full grain, then "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái" have fortunately landed in the fertile soil of Chinese culture. Over five thousand years, the rich nutrients have allowed them to develop deep roots and flourish. Each plant is a magnificent sight. In daily life, we may see scattered branches or exposed roots, but we cannot see the whole picture. Yin Wei's contribution in compiling this book is to paint the full picture of the tree, allowing us to see the well-developed lineage of the "Five Favors." Even more precious is that Yin Wei has included one hundred carefully collected folk illustrations in the book, making it not only informative but also visually delightful. Undoubtedly, the publication of the "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, and Cái" series of Chinese folk auspicious culture books is a generous gift to the book market, a feast of folk culture for readers, and an unconventional blessing for festivals.