He said he wanted to create a salon like the legendary one that had existed at the Heian Court--a gathering place of aristocratic refinement, where a small group of people devoted to the arts and other intellectual pursuits could come together and enjoy each other's company. In a word, he was looking for stimulating conversation, and he thought that the Internet could actually make that a reality.
Think about it: here at our fingertips we have a technology that can put us in touch with thousands-- literally thousands upon thousands-- of people. With such technology, it should only be a matter of filtering-- to find just the right handful of people.
**
The Heian Court-- It was a world where the most brilliant minds of the time gathered. In clothing so beautiful it boggles the mind, they wiled away their days exchanging gorgeous love poems, attending banquets where dances from Central Asia-- slowed way, way down-- were performed by the light of the full moon, and with their dragon boats in the style of the Continent; they lived within a cloud of fragrant incense clouds and blossoming flowers.
They were not only connoisseurs of the highest rank, but they were performers of the arts as well-- as, of course, at that time "art" was not something to be viewed, but rather something to be practiced.
Just imagining how exquisite their world was-- well, who wouldn't be "green with envy?"
You can imagine how my friend's experiment went....
But, wait, perhaps you agree with my friend that surely the Internet could bring together a small group of such like-minded people? Think about it, though. What would a salon like he was envisioning really require?
Well, an Internet connection for one. And then an interest and commitment to talking about art or other intellectual matters perhaps?
While certainly that would be a great place to start, however, I cannot help but feel that like most every other conservation I see online, things would before long petter out. Politics will always generate heated discussion, but real intellectual community? Just taking the Heian court as an example, I think something more is required. And that something more is, I suggest, a shared literary and cultural background. I honestly cannot come up with anything else that would serve as the necessary framework for the kind of conversation my friend is looking for.
Not only would the shared background ensure that the cultural, artistic and psychological associations were being made that are the hallmark of a true salon, but it is perhaps the only real way to achieve elegant conversation of the kind he is talking about.
In that sense, I think we have lost much in our increasing drive toward specialization. Not that long ago, a university education perhaps at the very least included a cursory reading in Greek mythology or Latin; Roman history and Western philosophy. I remember once sitting in a bar with a group of Japanese colleagues and someone mentioned "summer nights"-- and that was it, as if on cue, they all chanted in perfect unison the famous opening lines written by the Lady herself, Sei Shonagon
Natsu wa yoru. In summer, it is the night. It is of course delightful when the moon is out, but no less so on dark nights when countless fireflies can be seen mingling in flight. One even feels charmed when just one or two pass by, giving off a gentle glow. Rainy nights, too, are delightful
夏は夜。月のころはさらなり。闇もなほ、ほたるの多く飛びちがひたる。また、ただ一つ二つなど、ほのかにうち光りて行くもをかし。雨など降るもをかし。
The words were a thousand years old. And, I thought, what line could a handful of random Americans repeat like that-- perhaps other than the Pledge of Allegiance?
This brings me to my second point. Most traditional salon societies (like that at the Heian Court) had a strong emphasis on learning "by heart." Westerners often disparage what they call "rote learning" but it does have a few merits. In fact, I would argue, that without this kind of "learning by heart," the shared cultural achievements of the salon would have been impossible-- because of course there was an undeniable emphasis on performing; for example, being able to reply with the perfect reference to an ancient poem, recognize the exact blend of aromatics, recall a historical precedent from the Continent, etc. These were all required abilities. And for better or worse, it is this that is one glaring difference between conversations in the blogosphere and what we read about in the Tale of Genji.
**
With this in mind, I hear that the first installment of Red Cliff has been released and is playing in theaters in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Japan will not see the first part till November. The second part will be released throughout Asia in early 2009. The US and Europe are getting the short 1 part version (which is 2 hours compared to the full 4 hour original version).
Of course, I would give anything to be sitting in a Hong Kong movie theater right now watching it. Based on the Chronicle of the Three Kingdomswritten in the 3rd century, the 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms has got to be the most famous, most popular book in the world! And the Battle of the Red Cliffs is perhaps the book's most famous scene.
Anyway, long before the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written, my favorite man from the Kingdom of Shu, Su Shi 蘇軾 penned two beautiful essays, together known as Ode to Red Cliffs. I have re-read them a hundred times, and a hundred times, they have meant something different to me. I'm not the only one either, for a thousand years, calligraphers have tried their hand at producing their own rendition of the work. Some have made their compositions in standard script while others have made it in wild cursive. Some even have dashed out copies in illegible drunken script. The point being that anyone reading the work, would have known the actual words by heart .
And because of this shared knowledge, slight re-interpretations or variations in brush-work; the infusing of emotion or abstraction-- even the blatant breaking of calligraphic rules would have been immediately comprehend-able to the literate viewer--- no matter how removed in time.
(脱線)
Did I mention that Su Shi is perhaps more famous under his pen name, Su Dongpo (蘇東坡). Have you ever heard of Dongpo pork? It is a stew dish said to have been invented by when Su Shi was preoccupied by a game of chess he was playing, he forgot the stew cooking on the fire.
There is a work of "art" housed in The Collection in Taipei called "Meat Shaped Stone." One of the latter Qing emperors was so delighted by this interestingly-shaped rock, and so reminiscent was it of Dongpo pork that he had a special mounting made and then placed the rock in the Collection. One of Japan's greatest authorities on the history of the Palace Collection Keiji Furuya, remained stunned by the inclusion of this piece and wrote:
As you can see, this rock bears an uncanny resemblance to the Chinese pork stew known as Dongpo pork. The braised skin and the fat of the meat are uncannily similar to the dish and even the red portion of the stone is reminiscent of the porous skin one finds in a piece of braised meat. If this rock were placed on a plate and served up for dinner, not many people would pause before raising their chopsticks.
It is unusual and fantastical-- surely a rock unique Under Heaven. Still, it lacks the virtue and spirit of jade. It is just a rock. And that the Qing Emperor decided to include this rock in the Collection is a mystery. If the Qing Emperor felt that objects no longer required the aspect of virtue, than perhaps we can understand why the dynasty was to soon fall.
**
And, I leave you with Red Cliff:
"What would a salon like he was envisioning really require?"
Time. Those courtiers and artists had long long hours to while away with no real jobs.
The new film is fine, not quite as good as the reviews have been claiming, IMO. A competent rendering of the story, with little character vignettes and big showpieces. And doves, of course.
Posted by: Phil | July 17, 2008 at 03:53 AM
Hi Phil,
Time? It's interesting that you say that, but I ruled time out as a required factor because, well, first of all I am surrounded by people with nothing but time, and it seems the more time they have the less they are inclined to do. But more to the point, the kind of Internet salon my friend was hoping to create just required the amount of time it would take to be a literate person-- to read and think about what you read; to look 鑑賞 and think about what you were looking at; to listen 聴くand think about what you were listening to. THat is, the time it takes to turn off the TV a few nights a week??
Anyway, I think wearing those kimono, preparing that tea and incense and following that intricate calendar might have actually demanded a lot of time.
So, you saw the movie? I am jealous! I am getting ready to re-read the Romance of Three Kingdoms-- and wondered if my copy (trans Roberst) was the best out there? Any recommendations?
Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by: Peony | July 17, 2008 at 01:43 PM