The benevolent enjoys mountains, the wise enjoys water. Although I am not good at math and slow in reflection, I still like water.
Habits of the Ocean#
At the beginning of civilization, it is fortunate to have a sea suitable for navigation. Then, following the goals of maritime civilization, step by step from trading goods to a commodity economy. This habit of the ocean, like our personality, becomes an indelible mark of maritime civilization.
Ocean or Land Danger?#
Focusing on the sea will naturally create a balance between people. Ambitious people find it difficult to control the sea, and naturally find it difficult to control the people on the sea. But if you focus on the land, "there are no non-royal ministers on the shores of the land."
On the surface, water is extremely dangerous, as boats can capsize at any time; while mountains are thick and profound, standing tall. However, enemies can come to me and I can go to them, so who can escape from Mount Wuzhi? And the vast sea, even if Zhu Yuanzhang hides overseas, Zheng He's voyages to the West are mostly in vain.
Mountains Move, Water Stays Still#
Therefore, I prefer water. Not because of the flow of water, as everything in the world is in absolute motion, but because water stays still. Just like mountains. With a small boat, you can navigate through vast expanses. It is just like seeking peace through war, which is the best strategy.
Mountains Move#
We often strive for many things, such as studying, taking exams, making money, getting married, having children... But most of the time, we are not studying for the sake of studying, taking exams for the sake of taking exams, making money for the sake of making money, getting married for the sake of getting married, having children for the sake of having children. It seems that we climb mountains and reach shores one after another, but we always forget that although we won't drown on the mountains and shores, we can be captured by bandits or suppressed under the Five Finger Mountain at any time.
Water Stays Still#
Although the sea is not a paradise, there is no need to go ashore for the sake of going ashore. On the sea, one is truly the master. The rules of the ocean are not made by humans, but by nature, or rather, by gods. Anyone on the sea who understands the laws of nature can live a comfortable life. And the ocean is vast enough, the understanding of natural laws will not disappear due to changes in dynasties, but will gradually accumulate under the conditions of balance, and eventually undergo a qualitative change, evolving into an interstellar civilization, into a broader world.
Mountains Move, Therefore Unhappiness#
Whether going ashore or climbing mountains, people are merely objects and tools shaped by social needs. Studying is not for the sake of studying, although it is not illogical, it is very painful. Because we only value the value of results, and do not pay attention to the value of the process; we only value exchange value, and do not pay attention to use value; we only care about society, and do not care about individuals...
Today, the reason why I complain is that doing one thing purely is too happy. Studying, making money, taking exams, getting married, having children are all joyful things, so why are we not happy now? Because we are on the mountains, on the shores. And on the mountains and shores, it is the world of bandit kings. We cannot escape to the sea, and our food will be taken by bandits. We cannot wholeheartedly explore the mysteries of nature and the wonders of the universe. We are harvested before we mature, how can we move forward?
Humans are destined to die, but civilization still has a slight chance of change. Humans should be like whale falls, turning their life's traces and legacies into nutrients that make civilization more fertile, rather than becoming dry feces left behind by rulers after eating blood-filled buns.
Mountains Move, No Liberal Arts#
Many people say that studying liberal arts is useless. I also hate the useless bird knowledge I have learned. What's the use? Besides licking ass, it's just scolding like a shrew. Studying science can create guns and cannons, connecting with the laws of nature. Studying liberal arts can only bark loudly, connecting with social rules. When encountering a society with rules, you can bark a little louder, but when encountering bandit kings, there are no rules.
"The king establishes laws." - Records of the Grand Historian, "Book of Law"
Learning the laws of nature inevitably leads to a belief in nature; learning social rules inevitably leads to a belief in society. In a primitive society, social rules are largely influenced by rulers, so many people treat rulers as their masters. But the study of social rules is about society, and society includes not only all the dead and the present, but also future generations... The master of liberal arts is society, but the dead, with their cultural deficiencies and their legacies burned and Confucian scholars buried, only know simple social rules, the ones where rulers are the masters. Future generations need to rely on modern culture to strive for change. Today's liberal arts, unwillingly, are indeed the barking dogs of the rulers.
Me in Society and Nature#
My Dream of the Starry Sea#
As a person in society, I have a dream. I hope that in the future, liberal arts will respect social rules and take all humanity as its object, rather than being a tool for the rule of a few. I have a dream that people will no longer be dogs of the rulers, but individuals who can contribute to civilization without causing harm. I have a dream that one day we can live on the sea, explore the stars, instead of being confined to the land...
Civilization also has its decline#
But as a person in nature, I don't think so. Humans have life and death, and civilization also has its decline. Ancient civilizations like Ancient Egypt and the Maya, which I know little about, are now just remnants waiting to disappear. Life and death are determined by circumstances, and there is no need to take it too seriously. I particularly admire A Zi from the novel "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" who returned someone's eyes in the end, although the means were a bit extreme, it is also a proper attitude towards the group. I accept the offerings of the group, whether it is knowledge or material, and return it without owing anything.
2023-12-19