Observations From Living in China

 

Observations From China

Written by Steve Contes

I had the opportunity to live in China for the past three years and had been making regular trips to China since 2002. My original intention regarding my long stay was for Taiji Study. The experience and education I gained went far beyond martial arts, but did exemplify Taiji principles on a most practical level (every day living and survival). I will share with you some interesting observations regarding people living and working old school style. Many of our modern conveniences are absent yet they seem happier.  I also understand that this type of life-style is not exclusive only to those in China. It just happens to be the environment where I was exposed to it along with both a blend of Chinese philosophy and tradition and how it is ultimately adaptable to any type of surroundings or way of life.  Same as Taiji (born of Chinese philosophy and tradition) which also proves to be adaptable when and wherever needed.

 

Chinese philosopher, Meng Zi (372-289 BC):

 

“天降大任与斯人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身……”

“When Heaven is about to place a great burden on a man，it always tests his resolution first，exhausts his body, makes him suffer great hardships and frustrates his efforts to recover from mental lassitude．Then Heaven toughens his nature and makes good his deficiencies.”  Greatness is born

 
 
I believe life’s lessons present themselves (in the forms of challenges and difficulties) as needed and it is up to the individual whether he accepts what is being offered or chooses to ignore it. The more important the lesson is the greater the challenge will be. This theory explains why so many seemingly ordinary people do extraordinary things.  We are all constantly facing challenges on different levels. When it comes to every day living, most of us here in America have been exposed to a fairly modern life-style where many things are often taken for granted. China is also enjoying rapid progress in becoming a modern country. It still has a large curve to turn before the majority of its people catch up to what most of us here consider a basic standard of living. Unfortunately often when something is gained another is lost. I have already personally observed this phenomenon here in China over the past ten years. From my perspective some of the trade offs possess more of a negative than positive effect on China’s future.   

 

Bedtime on a cold winter’s night 

Hot water, heat, warm beds to sleep in, mattresses to sleep on, air-conditioning, bathrooms, bathtubs, showers, toilets and well equipped kitchens, washing machines, dryers etc… are not the norm in many areas. I lived in a six story building for teachers at a public high school. (I was the only foreigner there) Most of the apartments had no bathing facilities nor did they have a kitchen. Heat and AC was also not available on the first five floors.

Most of us here in the states depend on motor vehicles instead of bicycles or walking. Not so in China. Time and time again in the U.S., I have witnessed drivers attempting to park in a busy mall or shopping center, circle the lot  five or six times. All just to get a spot closer in order to avoid the slightest amount of what they believe to be unnecessary walking. That mentality wouldn’t fly in China. For those of you that do not fit in to the above category of typical American living, you can easily relate to the larger number of people in China I am referring to. For the rest of you, try to use your imagination

 

Hot or cold, rain or snow, the bicycle is an indispensable tool used 365 days a year. From students traveling to school or women in dresses and men in suits on their way to the office, biking is the acceptable method of travel. Construction workers hauling materials or people making deliveries, even small restaurant kitchens that set up on the road-side all working off bikes or trikes.

 

 

 

                                              Food Vendors


 So here are some of my observations.

I have had the opportunity to watch many people in different places performing a large variety of tasks. The group I am speaking of usually range from forty or so on up. (Way on up) From street vendors outside in sub-zero temperatures to men doing the work of machines or climbing mountain paths carrying pails of water to pulling unthinkable loads on bicycles etc...

 

Bikes doing the work of trucks, people doing the jobs of engines.

Electric Bike

 

One thing holds true with their methods. What at first glance seems to be a slow and inefficient performance of ones responsibilities, slowly and methodically transforms itself into both a practical and successful way of completing a job more than well done. Nothing deters them from their objective, which does not even appear to be finishing as much as just doing, which somehow naturally manifests the end and needed results.  Speed here is not even a consideration and appears to have no value and perhaps more likely to be considered a disadvantage, because it can’t compete with the slower, fluid and steady process. Their persistence and skill operate like a happy marriage from start to finish no matter what the challenging task may be.

 No movement needs to be done twice. No use of any modern tools or devices. Mostly some home made concoction using a combination of other items that may have outlived their original purpose only to be reincarnated and modified to live another productive life. The other ingredient embedded in each task is the element of enjoyment which is hard to comprehend due to the nature of the job itself and the often harsh environment in which it takes place. (Extreme weather both summer heat and frozen winters)  My 5:00am morning bike ride to the park (for Taiji practice) was always filled with the sounds of early street cleaners and vendors laughing, singing and joking. It became an inspirational part of my day that I grew to look forward to. I guess the magic lies in the simplicity of it all, not the motivation to finish one thing so you can start another and the fundamental principle of appreciating life. There is no feeling sorry for yourself here, no matter what the situation. It is also the same enjoyable discipline possessed by my fellow Taiji practitioners in the park. Come rain or shine (or  blizzard) the many dedicated and most of them elderly rarely miss a morning workout.. But in the end objectives are met and all goes well. This is also how they approach other aspects of their lives as well.

 

As hard as they work, they balance it out with ample time socializing and enjoying family and friends.

 I was fortunate to make some very good friends there and was invited in to there homes for food, (some of the best I ever ate although sometimes strange at first glance like many new encounters I met up with) drink and the many of the family oriented gatherings they enjoy.

 
Some local delicacies

 Be it a holiday or just an evening to share with family (usually three or four generations worth) or friends the topics of discussion never addressed complaints about one’s living conditions or daily difficulties.  It is not that they are complacent or lack ambition.  Conversations were often filled with passion, emotion and controversy, but no self-pity.  Even arguing and confrontation here seems to lack stress, anxiety and a prolonged negative effect on one’s attitude. No place is perfect and China is certainly no exception. That’s ok with me because I am not looking for perfection, just peace and contentment. I have learned that with the right perspective I can find exactly what I am looking for anywhere and anytime. (I fully became aware of this principle while living in China.)
 

 I will try to benefit from this philosophy and apply it to my own life. So in the long run, I have learned an important lesson that I will cherish, hold and continue to expand on.

As for me, I now prefer the simpler life style I came to know and love in China. I began to enjoy such basic responsibilities like riding my three kids to school on my bike. (Two separate trips for three children- two kids and an adult on a bike is a common sight and four or five on an electric bike doesn’t even turn heads. ) Early training (5:30am) in the park even when winter served up some of the coldest days I have ever witnessed, was one of my favorite parts of the day. Stopping at a few street vendor/restaurants on my way back home and picking up hot breakfast for my family of five for about the equivalent of $1.75 which never ceased to amaze me, but always put a smile on my face followed by a sensation of fullness in my stomach.  Hard boiled eggs cooked in a flavorful broth, rice with beans and fruit congee and of course steamed Bao zi (steamed bread stuffed with anything you like) which also served as an efficient hand warmer topped off with traditional fresh bakery items. I would have more than enough for everyone and leftovers for an in between meal time snack. With each task that required an enjoyable effort, I was also rewarded with a greater satisfaction in a way that I had never previously experienced.  With the exception of being absent from my parents, eldest daughter, other family members and friends any originally believed to be concessions of my American life became integral lessons in personal growth. Example: I am an avid driver (cars, motorcycles and trucks) and have driven throughout 46 of the contiguous states and loved every mile of it, but  no longer missed driving my own vehicle.  The bicycle was a sweet replacement that not only transported me from place to place, but provided a closer look at the beautiful scenery on the way (certainly missed by any motorized transportation) and a stronger, healthier body with less of a dirty anthropogenic footprint on our struggling environment. Also the travel itself was always as gratifying as the arrival. That is just a small sample of my personal but beautiful experience living in China. 

Regarding Taiji principles: The life-style and philosophy discussed above lead to a balanced life full of contentment, but not blinded by any harsh realities.

 I personally have begun to take a slower approach to my practice and my life. Less driving and more biking. Still training hard 2-3 hours a day, but without the great demands I previously put on my self. (Also noticeably less injuries leading to more consistency in my training)  It’s another example of the aforementioned. It is no longer important for me to study more and more new forms, but instead to understand fewer more deeply and clearly. I don’t focus on quantity.  I just enjoy the training and that has led me to better see and understand Taij and the rest of my life from a new perspective. Taiji without the pressures and the goals is now giving me even more benefits than before. So without goals, goals are also achieved in a very natural way.

That is my interpretation on some fundamental Taiji principles and how they can impact our lives both short and long term in a most positive way. Please send me your thoughts on this article.

 

Email: taijicenter@aol.com

Web Site: taijicenter.com

 

About the author: A practicing martial artist for over 40 years and researcher of philosophy and health from around the world, old and new.