Fleeing for Fifteen Years - Yu Qiuyu

Author: Yu Qiuyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Yu Qiuyu prefers to be called a "cultural traveler." In the dozen years since stepping out of academia, "I have tasted the hardships of a traveler and felt the details left by history in various parts of the world. As a writer, I record my observations and experiences, preserving my thoughts and experiences about natural landscapes in the form of essays. They are my reflections on life, culture, and history, and also my responsibility as a traveler. I am willing to share with readers my inner longing for culture."
Fifteen years ago, Yu Qiuyu introduced Cultural Hardship Journey to Harvest, marking the beginning of a cultural prose that blended historical depth and modern consciousness, causing a sensation both domestically and internationally. Fifteen years later, Yu Qiuyu reviewed every step of his long journey, leaving behind the Fifteen Years of Departure in this book. It collects only a small portion of the articles I wrote during the fifteen years of exploring Chinese and world cultures. My exploration, though extensive, primarily focused on searching for the "nerve systems" and "acupoints" of major civilizations, making the hardships I encountered twofold: the difficulties of travel and the difficulties of thinking. In fact, there is an even more subtle hardship—the hardship of expression. I cannot show readers the unique spiritual paradox of a traveler, nor can I exaggerate the difficulties already overcome on the road, nor can I pass on the obstacles yet unresolved in my thoughts to readers. These layers of expressive hardships nearly permeated all fifteen years of my life. Therefore, the articles readers see, no matter how carefree and they appear on the surface, are accompanied by the comprehensive torment of life. I have always cherished my words deeply, something readers can understand. My writings on Chinese culture have been selected and reprinted more frequently, so this time the selection leans more toward my exploration of world cultures.
—Yu Qiuyu
I will resurrect Yu Qiuyu.
In the morning, I sat on the balcony and wanted to read some English materials I had obtained at the Parthenon Temple yesterday. But as soon as I sat down, I stood up again, only to realize that the Parthenon Temple was on the mountain peak in front of me to my left. I sat down again and gazed at it for a long time. Greek civilization emerged step by step from under its feet, but after the golden age of Greek civilization passed, it remained. Is this a blessing or a curse for all the ruins? Having accompanied its own glory, it has long vanished, leaving only a tragic memory standing amidst withered grass and the setting sun. It is too grand, too beautiful, and none of the later powerful rulers could let it be left alone in peace. During the Roman Empire era, it became a Christian church; during the Ottoman occupation, it became a mosque; during the 17th-century war between the Venetian and Ottoman armies, it became a powder keg for the Ottomans. The powder keg once exploded, and the Venetian army then heavily bombarded it as an enemy stronghold in a true ruin. In the early 19th century, the British ambassador to Turkey transported the finest sculptures of the Parthenon to Britain, which are still preserved in the British Museum today. Destruction came not only from barbarism but also from other civilizations that tried to impose themselves on others. Therefore, the Parthenon is both a symbol of the continuation of civilization and a symbol of its humiliation. The old grandmother, having suffered so much humiliation, is even more respected by the younger generation.
In the mid-20th century, on the days nearing the end of World War II, the German fascists still ruled Greece. Two Greek youths climbed the vertical cliffs at the eastern end of the Parthenon Temple with their bare hands and raised a Greek flag. This act greatly honored the Parthenon Temple, and the two youths were immediately arrested. A few days later, Germany surrendered, and they became heroes. Today, that Greek flag still flies there, a gift from the grandchildren to the grandmother.
I remember yesterday evening, when we left the Parthenon Temple very late, it was already time for it to close. The staff repeatedly urged us to leave in Greek, English, and Japanese, but we pretended not to understand and continued to explore around with great enthusiasm. This actually moved the staff. Suddenly, they remembered that we might be the Chinese repeatedly reported in the local newspapers. So, it was actually them who stopped to look at us. Most of the staff were young girls, standard Greek beauties, guarding the ancient temple with their slender figures. On the hillside, they walked with grace, everything except their clothes resembling the priestesses of two thousand years ago. When we finally had to leave, someone at the entrance was handing out materials. At the time, I took some without looking closely, but now when I read them, I can’t take my eyes off them. It turns out that an organization and several professors are calling on tourists worldwide to bring the Parthenon sculptures back from the British Museum in London. The reasons are stated firmly:
1. These artifacts have their own shared name—Parthenon, and Parthenon is in Athens, not London;
2. Only when these artifacts return to Athens can they find their natural position, forming a complete and coherent structure.