From nature to humanities

Author: Wei Menghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Oceans' Ode
Have you ever bird's-eyed the Pacific? Its vast majesty always fills one with awe; have you ever gazed at the Atlantic? Its wondrous power always subdues one; have you ever flown over the Southern Ocean? Its ringed waters drape the Earth in a silver-white scarf; have you ever looked down on the Arctic Ocean? Its pristine ice cap crowns the Earth with a magnificent diadem. Yes. I have crossed the Pacific, flying from China to the United States; I have also traversed the Pacific, from Alaska to Antarctica; I have once gazed at the Atlantic, reminiscing about the myths of the Bermuda Triangle; I have also gazed at the Southern Ocean, awestruck by its breathtaking scenery. Now, I have arrived at the Arctic Ocean, living with it day and night. No matter where I go, its vast silhouette is always within my sight.
Sometimes, the sea is calm as a mirror, as if the ocean has fallen into a sweet slumber; sometimes, the wind howls fiercely, waves surge into the sky, as if the ocean has lost its temper; sometimes, waves roll and spray, as if the ocean is whispering softly; sometimes, icebergs stand like forests, clad in silver, as if the ocean has put on its winter coat.
I often stroll alone by the ocean's shore, reluctant to leave. Suddenly, a bird glides past before me, soaring into the azure sky; occasionally, a seal pops its smooth head out of the water, taking a deep breath to the heavens; jellyfish with umbrella-shaped bells trail long tails, dancing gracefully in the transparent sea. If lucky, one can see massive whale herds slowly swim from afar, occasionally spraying towering water columns.
The sky is dyed red by the sunset, like an anonymous fire blazing at the horizon; the waves shake the earth, as if a thousand armies are charging the shore, battling; the sun never sets, circling the Earth daily, repeating its cycle; the moon rises and falls, waxing and waning, following a completely different path.
Perhaps it's because of the scenery that stirs my emotions. With constant daydreaming, over time, I have developed a sense of reverence for the ocean, or what one might call "ocean consciousness."
We praise the Earth, calling her the mother of humanity, and this is correct, for humanity indeed evolved from the Earth and has thrived on it. However, paleontologists say that the earliest life forms on Earth, such as bacteria and algae, can only be found in their fossils in marine sedimentary rocks. This means that life on Earth first originated and developed in the ocean. Of course, this development spanned billions of years, evolving from simple to complex, from primitive to advanced, from single-celled to multicellular, from invertebrate to fish, from aquatic to amphibious, from oviparous to viviparous, and ultimately to humans.
As everyone knows, each of us begins as a single cell, gradually maturing. Therefore, this nine-month gestation perfectly reflects the history of life's evolution on Earth. And the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus seems to suggest that primitive life originated in water. Thus, when people worship the Earth mother with reverence, they should not forget the ocean's contribution. In fact, the ocean is the mother of all life on Earth. Without those seemingly insignificant primitive life forms, humans would be like trees without roots, as the Bible describes them as being created by God.
We celebrate the Earth, calling her the cradle of human civilization, and this is also correct, for the Earth has indeed bestowed upon us fertile land for survival. But have you ever considered that without rain, this fertile land would be barren. And this precious rainwater is continuously supplied by the evaporation of ocean moisture. The ocean is like this—it gives the Earth greenery through its selfless dedication, bestows vitality upon all creatures, and maintains the ecological balance of the planet.
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