07 The Children’s Cry
孩子的呼喊
Beijing |
China
Chinese
Behind the scenes
This text was born in Beijing, from one of those moments that suddenly brings us back to the present. I was lost in thought, carefully observing the stone lions lined up in front of the Forbidden City-still, almost severe. And then, all at once, I heard children bursting into laughter, filled with contagious joy.
I imagined this text as that sudden awakening-something that stops you in your tracks and says: “Pause, and take in the present moment.”
Echoes of the world
“四十二只石狮子” is pronounced in Mandarin Chinese sì shí èr zhī shí shīzi – “forty-two stone lions.” Listen to the repetition of the shi sound: how can such different words emerge from syllables that seem almost identical?
Chinese is largely monosyllabic. Because the number of possible syllables is limited, meaning is distinguished through tones. A single syllable can completely change meaning depending on the tone used. For example, ma can mean 妈 (mā: “mother”), 麻 (má: “hemp”), 马 (mǎ: “horse”), or 骂 (mà: “to insult”).
This is one of the aspects that makes learning Chinese so demanding. I have experienced moments when I meant to say one thing… and my listener understood something entirely different. In Chinese, a subtle melodic variation can transform meaning.
And you, are you naturally anchored in the present, or do you need an external signal to bring you back to it?
To reflect and capture your thoughts, turn to the dedicated pages in the book.
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