Radical 11-1甫Fǔ, seedling

Radical 11-1甫Fǔ, seedling  

“If we water this seedling carefully, fertilise, remove weeds and protect it from insects it will grow up to be strong and healthy!!!”

This character 甫Fǔ shows a seedling sprouting out of the ground. It represents a young plant but the meaning can include also the person whose job it is to help it grow. It can mean grass that grows naturally on its own but also a gardener that takes care of it.

People who do this type of work must love plants and must be capable of taking care of them with expertise and experience. They must make sure that the plants do not suffer from the heat watering them often of necessary. In winter they also have protect them when the ground freezes. 傅fù “expert" is made up of 甫Fǔ (seedling)人 (person) 寸(hand) , 師傅 Shī fù  “the master craftsman”, a combination of  師 Shī "Professor" or "teacher" and 傅fù "expert"; it describes someone who has experience or who has expertise in an art or craft.

師父Shī fù is also used to describe someone who is expert in an art which has a cultural value such as Opera, Martial arts, Buddhism or Taoism etc..

It can also refer to a teacher in the sense of role model, more than a teacher of a certain subject, someone who shows us a path to follow in life.

一日為師,終身為父

Yī rì wéi shī, zhōngshēn wèi fù

"Teacher for a day, father for life ",

師 Shī means professor or teacher and refers to a master in the sense of someone who shares knowledge. Instead, 師父Shīfù means more than just master of a subject, it means life role model.

It is difficult to translate a Chinese word that does not exist in western languages but 師父Shī fù could possibly be translated as mentor, someone whose teachings go beyond the simple sharing of a subject matter.

The relationship between young and old people based on kindness and respect is rare nowadays. In Chinese the concept of “Teacher Craftsman” exists. It describes the relationship between teacher and pupil which helps the teaching process. It is the transmission of technical and artistic skills but also wisdom or martial arts skills.

Under the influence of Confucian culture, in all far eastern countries this kind of teaching culture and mutual respect requires the student not just to frequent classes but to live with the teacher.

In this way teacher and pupil form a bond which lasts a lifetime, hence the expression “Teacher for a day, father for life”.

During this period new knowledge is not necessarily shared every day. Sometimes the lessons have the same objective for many years. However we are not describing students who paid school fees, they simply worked for their master as apprentices and received everything they need to survive on a daily basis in return. Knowledge was shared and matured during every-day life.

In a modern school system this kind of relationship is rare. It only survives in a few traditional art forms considered cultural heritage such as opera, martial arts, religious practices of Buddhism and Taoism and traditional medicine. These days it is still possible to find the father-teacher relationship necessary in the long preparation needed in some sports. ©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo
Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese
Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

Radical 22-1生 Shēng, to be born

Radical 22-1 生 Shēng, to be born 
"After the harsh winter a seedling is pushing its way up, out of the earth and is touched for the first time by the sunshine!!!"

In the bottom part of the character, we see a seed that is fighting its way out of the ground and into the sunlight. Finally, the seedling can take part in the dance of life.

The character 生 Shēng means ”to be born, to give birth, to live...". Let’s look at the separate parts:土 Tǔ (earth) at the bottom, which gives us the idea of the earth which gives life to everything that lives on the ground. If we link it to other words we can make new ones, 生產 to give birth , 生長  to grow, 生命life  生活 life, to live. Or 生命力 vitality 生動vivacious 生機to survive . All these terms describe something or a situation which embodies the concept of “life”.

置之死地而後生 

jhìh jhih sǐh dì ér hòu sheng
taken from the Book of War by Sūnzi‧jiǔdi《孫子‧九地》”It is when you are in life threatening situations that you really live . “This can be interpreted as meaning “If you can get over the fear of death then you can start to live.”

Being born is symbolically like being dead in the womb and then coming back into the world. It is like passing from the dark into the light. Death and life are not only in opposition but are also dependent on each other: "what the caterpillar calls death, the butterfly calls freedom ". Each phase of life or nature is both death and birth. Being dead while still alive is also possible. There are many situations and forms of behaviour which can kill us before we die physically.

Every time the rigidity of prejudice opens up to the discovery of modernity. Every time the ice of hatred gives way to understanding. Every time a hand, which is usually closed, gets the courage to open up and hold another hand. Every time a heavy thought becomes light, as if inspired by the flight of a swallow.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo
Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese
Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

Radical 05-1月yuè, the moon

Radical 05-1 月yuè, the moon

“This evening thee will be a crescent moon, just a few more days and there will be a full moon!“

Since ancient times the Chinese have had a strong relationship with the moon. The regular cycles have always been used as the basis for a calendar. The Chinese use the lunar calendar, called 陰曆Yīnlì that is based on the moon’s movement around the Earth. Each cycle takes about 29~30 days, so 12 months of the lunar calendar are 354 days of the year. The word for moon is月亮Yuèliàng, a lunar cycle is 一個月 Yī gè yuè “monthly.” In every-day language, many words are made up with the character月yuè:

• 月 票 Yuèpiào monthly bus or train ticket...

• 月 薪 Yuèxīn monthly wage

• 月 曆Yuèlì the calendar

The moon is the first celestial body we encounter after leaving the Earth. It is the closest to us but it is still “alien”. The light of the moon is inspiration to poets, 千江有水千江月 Qiānjiāng yǒu shuǐ qiānjiāng yuè "The water of a thousand rivers reflect just as thousand moons ". This is a proverb, which refers to the fact that a clear mind can be as brilliant as the light of the moon.

The mind can be misled. It can become blind and deaf if it does not see or hear through the heart. Only the heart is capable of loving and protecting. The mind can make us suffer without us realising if it is not connected to the heart. If it is in a state of unconsciousness, the mind can “lie” to us. If however the mind is clear, we are able to see past our misconceptions and prejudices, or even past our limits.

This leads to a deep understanding of ourselves and a deeper “consciousness” and we perceive the beautiful moon in our hearts, that each of us, in our own small, can reflect just as thousand moons on the waters.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo
Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese
Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

Pictographic style seals in bronze: beautiful and achingly ancient! From the top and from right to left we see: top right 千 Thousand, below this 江 River, at the bottom 有to Have; top centre, larger than the others to stress the nature and the importance 水 Water, centre, once again 千 Thousand and below once again 江 River; the whole left side is taken up with 月, a beautiful moon. — Minhua Lin

Radical 14-1未 Wèi, not yet

Radical 14-1 未 Wèi, not yet

"Each year the leaves and buds grow on branches that stretch out over the earth while the trunk grows ever higher!!! “  

In this pictogram, the character未 Wèi indicates a twisting tree whose branches grow vigorously upwards while the roots grow deep into the ground. All this represents a mature tree, which has almost reached an age where it will start to flower.

This character represents the idea that “the right time is not yet here”. It is used to mean “not yet”, 未曾 not yet done, 未知 uncertain, 未定 not yet confirmed, 未完 not yet finished,未來 in the future.

未濟Wèijì “before it happened”,thelast hexagram of the I King (Book of change), indicates a period of great effort or concentration as if made when one is about to complete something.

In the hexagram the unbroken lines (一yang) are in soft positions while the broken lines (-- yin) are in strong positions.

Li, fire or sun ☲（離 lí ）is above water ☵（坎 kǎn）, the idea it communicates is of the sun rising over the sea at dawn. This hexagram also gives the idea of an unfinished project, which has to be carefully completed. Even when the rebirth cycle is still to be initiated, we have to be ready. Even if we still cannot see the end to certain projects they still give us hope for the future.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese

Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

Radical 27-1 川Chuān,great river

Radical 27-1 川Chuān,great river

 “The water flows day and night, it bathes everything on earth with its great energy ! ”

This pictogram of the character 川chuān gives the idea of the flow of a great river河川héchuān. We see three equal parallel currents of water. This is a representation of the characteristics of a great river, 川流不息chuānliúbùxī the impressive and perpetual flow of the great river. This can also refer to a crowd of people or to road traffic, or to the continuous flow of commercial activities.

從善如流 cóng shàn rú liú  "One should naturally follow good advice, just like the river follows its course”. This is an idiomatic expression in Chinese, which advises us to accept good advice without hesitation or resistance, just like water that follows its course.

Water reaches every part of the earth as it flows downward along tortuous paths, but always calmly and with determination, like a wise people who have serene and happy lives. Even if they fall, they remain calm and manage life’s highs and lows with tranquillity.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese

Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

Radical 17-1 谷Gǔ, valley

Radical 17-1 谷Gǔ, valley

“Slow down, walking in this valley and getting back in touch with yourself…is the best way to feel good !!! ”  

“A path that winds its way through mountain peaks.” In the lower part of the character, we see a kind of opening which leads us onto the plain: that is the how the character 谷Gǔ, valley was depicted originally, often putting it together with the character山shān mountain we get山谷Shāngǔ or with the a flowing river or stream we get 河谷Hégǔ.

Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world, the ancient Chinese saw the links between man and nature and this concept is often expressed in the Chinese language. 虛懷若谷 Xūhuái ruògǔ this is a saying which indicates a humble person who, however has a mind as open as a valley, 樹大成蔭鳥來宿，虛懷若谷人來聚。Shùdà chéngyīn niǎo láisù, Xūhuái ruògǔ rén láijù.“Big trees allow birds to rest and be safe, people who have minds as open as valleys naturally attract other people.”

Real authority is not created by power or force, but rather from the ability to listen and understand. Real friendship is colour blind. People who have a heart as big as a valley become a refuge for other people.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese
Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry

 

Radical 16-1山Shān, mountain

Radical 16-1 山Shān, mountain

“ What a view ! Look at the peaks! Only after climbing up a high mountain, can one find that there are more higher mountains !"  

Have you ever climbed a mountain, admired the view from the top, and realised how small you are, and how fascinating and magnificent the landscape is?

The mountains are exceptional places for, as the natural environment is concerned, they are the concentration of the wildest possible variety of all natural phenomena and forms. They are somehow a concentration of the truth of nature or even I'd say its essence.

“A mountain with a central peak rising above two smaller ones of equal height “. That is the image described by the pictogram of the character山Shān, mountain. The verb to go up a mountain is: 登山dēngshān or 爬山Páshān.

If we put together the character for mountain and the character for water we make the word: 山水Shānshuǐ sweeping view, or landscape. 山水畫 Shānshuǐhuà, a classic subject of Chinese painting showing an abundance of mountains, rivers and villages.Classical Chinese painting is the traditional art form carried out in China for more than a thousand years. That is really something to think about! It has its roots in an antique but original way of thinking which underlines the way humankind are one with the cosmos.

山高月小,水落石出Shāngāo yuèxiǎo  shuǐluò shíchū  This was written by the by the great poet Su Shi ( 蘇軾Sūshì 1037-1011 ) during the Song dynasty: seen from below, the mountain is immense while the moon shines small and lonely in the sky. Only when the water flows away are stones visible.

In modern language 水落石出 shuǐluò-shíchū. Only when the water flows away are the stones visible. This is a chengyu, a very common proverb which means, “doubts fade away once we are in possession of the facts”.

©兒童手搏文創Kids Shou Bo Arte Cultura & Saggezza Cinese Elaborated by M°Dante Basili /M°Stefano Danesi  Translated by Neil Berry