The Taste of Life

Music: Exquisite Beauty

Performer: Mr. TAM Po-shek (Chinese vertical bamboo flute), Mr. CHIN Kwok-wai (Celesta)

Spring Begins (立春）has passed. Slanting winds and gentle rains silently nourish the earth. Su Shi ( 蘇軾）captures this essence beautifully in one of his lines of poetry: "Tasting knotweed buds and mugwort bamboo shoots on the spring platter, the joy of life lies in simple pleasures (蓼茸蒿筍試春盆，人間有味是清歡).” This statement carries profound meaning.

In spring, a folk custom of tasting wild vegetables and fruits emerges during the season, known as the “Spring Platter” (春盆）One of the notable ingredients highlighted in Su Shi's spring platter is smartweed, which is particularly interesting. The stems and leaves of smartweed tend to have a bitter and pungent taste. An insect called the smartweed caterpillar feeds exclusively on this extremely bitter plant. The ancients were fascinated by the smartweed caterpillar, which, despite having delicious celery nearby, chooses to eat only the bitter smartweed, finding joy in its bitterness.

Chinese culture embraces the idea of facing bitterness, as we understand that sweetness often follows hardship. Our cuisine has many bitter foods, such as bitter melon, mustard greens, endive, arugula, olives, and tea. These bitter foods can benefit health by clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and soothing internal organs. As one poem expresses: “The sweetness of the world is like honey on the tip of a knife, while the bitterness of the human heart is like a worm in the knotweed.”

Those with experience and understanding recognise that sweetness isn't always virtuous while embracing bitterness often leads to personal growth. Just as it applies to food, so it applies to life.

Great wisdom is leisurely, unrestrained and free, allowing things to take their natural course.

大智閒閒，放蕩無拘，任其自然。

—— Qiu Chuji (丘處機)

Calligraphy: TAM Po-shek

The value of life lies in our experiences. Truth, goodness, and beauty nourish our bodies and minds. Through personal experiences, we come to understand the sorrows that life brings. It is through profound experiences that we learn life's truths. After facing setbacks, the courageous individuals dust themselves off and continue moving forward. They are wise, enduring hardships while embracing their passion for life.

The room is filled with fragrance, like the home of immortal;

滿室天香仙子家，

here lies a lute, a sword, and a cup of tea.

一琴一劍一杯茶。

—— Bai Yuchan (白玉蟾)

Calligraphy: TAM Po-shek

In the span of a single night, winter retreats, and spring arrives. Listening quietly to the rain as it falls, drop by drop, we begin to understand many things that were previously unclear. After enduring toil, we can savour the sweetness of life. As we cross mountains and ridges, we glimpse a world where the wind and smoke are pure. After journeying  bythrough half a lifetime, we return still feeling youthful…….

Drink less alcohol, sip more porridge.  Eat meat less, and greens more,

(少飲酒，多啜粥)  (多茹葉，少食肉)

Speak less, close your eyes more.  Comb your hair more, bathe less.

(少開口，多閉目)  (多梳頭，少沐浴)

Socialize less, rest alone more.  Collect more books, accumulate less treasure.

(少群居，多獨宿)  (多收書，少積玉)

Seek less fame, endure more humiliation.  Do more good deeds, pursue official titles less.

(少取名，多忍辱)  (多行善，少干祿)

—— Reading Note from the Hermitage of Past Reflections (《昨非庵日纂》)

Calligraphy & Painting: TAM Po-shek