For centuries, Chinese people have always had Somme the most daring minds as
well as magnificent dreams. Ancient Chinese often were self-content, enjoying
themselves as in the proverb "take the sky as quilt, and the earth as matting"
meaning that the whole world is theirs, that nature has given them the power
to do whatever they want .So if you pay heed to this proverb building the Great
Wall may not be such an amazing idea after all.
Today in the quiet suburbs of Beijing, near the picturesque "Water Pass"
of the Great Wall, 12 of the most sought after Asian architects have designed
and built a collection of villas like nothing you ever seen before. Their creativity
is beyond perfection, all sharing a common theme to conform to and belong with
nature. Even its name has that effect -Commune by the Great Wall.
Walking
through the Commune, I'm somehow touched. The architects seem to have grasped
a feeling that projects tranquility without any expectation. No confusion of
chaos. Even though the homes are located at random, leaning on the hills, there
is certain serenity here, which is surreal, it's the simplicity of the houses
set in such celestial surroundings. There was a time when people lived a simple
life, indifferent to fame and wealth, but that time has long passed. Before
visiting the Commune, I was strolling along the crowded East Third Ring, wondering
what has happened to the simplicity of life .I suddenly felt cold .The concrete
and glass buildings are climbing higher every day, and people are constantly
struggling to climb to the top to get a bird-eye view of other people also doing
the same. What a monstrous, miserable and chilling thought.
Longing for simpler times, I recalled a verse from a famous poem view the southern
mountains leisurely", which describes the simple life. But as hard as we
might it's quite impossible for us to endure such a life now. People nowadays
would hardly abandon their modern comfort to pursuit absolute spiritual simplicity.
The problem is that simple life and comfort are irreconcilable.
However I cannot prevent people from dreaming of the ideal life. And the Commune
by the Great Wall delivers exactly the epitome of such dreams -light fog, woods,
stone paths and brooks, everything that usually exist in traditional paintings
right in front of your door. Li Yu, the famous epicurean of Ming Dynasty, said
a house is valued for its sophistication not magnificence, for its originality
not opulence and for its elegance not extravagance. The buildings in the Commune
subtly fulfill the philosophy of Master Li, giving predominance to simplicity
and harmoniously integrating modern concept with quality life. Here, life means
sipping green tea, feeling the wind rustling through the trees and listening
to the birds sing.
No.7 villa designed by Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, ingeniously uses a bamboo
wall to physically divide two atmospheres-tranquility and elegance-just like
the Great Wall, which at one time separated two different cultures and lives
by blood and sword. Inside the bamboo wall, streamlet winds, light tea and I-go
are served, as if we were in a world of Taoism.
No.6 villa by An Dong ha a unique flavor. Lying on the wooden balcony you can
feel the breeze coming from the wild, barren lands near the Great Wall .In the
distance the green hills and relic of the Great Wall seem like a reflection
of ancient times .As how ancient tales tells of old Chinese warriors celebrating
victory with chrysanthemum, sword and wine, there seems to be a modern coffee
fragrance that is somehow infused with ancient times, calling me to my heritage
.In fact, all the villas at the Commune are special within their own architecture
,each one simple in design where everything refuses the unnecessary .This is
the very life that we have been expecting .
For about six years I have been reading a thread binding book named "Scripture
of Conjee", written by Huang Yun-Hao. And I recite my favorite passage:
"clean, flowing and refreshing water should be adopted. Use firewood to
cook the conjee, the fire should at first gentle then gradually turn to high
heat .The container should be earthenware pot, should be cleaned .It is fine
to enjoy the conjee alone, at noon, or treat the simple-hearted people. After
dining you should clean you beard, have a slow walk of 100 steps, and exhale
from your stomach scores of times." This passage is so profound-"treat
the simple-hearted people"-even the person with whom you have conjee should
be chosen carefully. As a matter of fact, it's my understanding that true happiness
comes from the simple life may not be enough to free you from the mortal world.
And no one can deny hi insignificance when confronted by the Great Wall with
all its history stands in the distance, remembering past times, silently.
That day at the Commune, I stood, for a long time, on the balcony of No.6 villa.
I lit a cigarette, recognizing the taste of life.
