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shijiujun · 4 years

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[起承] Chris’ Mini Concert in Taipei 20191222 - Summary

As promised, the concert summary!!

First, let’s look at this gorgeous background and what Chris wore in his first song - Totally magical my god and GALAXY THEMED!!! Okay it was actually purple themed because he likes the colour and a lot of fans actually turned up in purple things.

Being the dumbass that I was, I did not do that because I didn’t even THINK OF IT HONESTLY so in my haste i had to go buy some purple cap that is really cute (unicorn-themed!) and yes turned up for the concert.

I went with a lovely new friend this time along with two other friends (all of who I met on Tumblr!!) and when we first reached the venue, there were so many other fans there already as usual giving out freebies - I have completed a set of five plastic fans with Chris and Jake faces printed on it, and now I have three plastic sheet 2020 calendars with Chris’ lovely face on it so amen. A lanyard also, and ooooh like they printed fake passenger tickets with chris’ face on it HAHA

Venue/Seating: 20 Rows, 20 Seats, 10 on each side with a row cutting down the middle and then a stage - In terms of venue I think it was a pretty cozy venue, definitely smaller than the venue for the Trapped Taipei and Taichung fanmeets so everyone got a much better view. This is the venue they used for the first History Party

I was seated in the 4th row, which was farkinggggg close. Ann and Elle were seated in the 2nd row, and we were technically all in the same area - BEST

So after we were seated, suddenly there was a lot of commotion from the fans, and that’s when we realised that ANDY AND KENNY WALKED IN!!! They came in with caps and face masks on, and they sat themselves in the first row on the right section - I’d like to mention that seated in the same row were also Chris’ parents, his brother (real or like bro I haven’t figured out yet), Diane and Director Lee from Trapped (ahhhh Diane is farking pretty) and yes, Jake was not there, BUT BUT BUT I do believe he was invited, but he’s just busy with work. Jake and Zhang Guang Chen (the guy who plays Andy in Trapped) both liked Chris’ concert photo on Instagram!!

Photos weren’t allowed, and they were damn fucking strict about this which I honestly DONT UNDERSTAND but am not surprised at - It’s like he’s thanking his fans for turning up and he’s really touched and everything and all fans want to do is have some really nice photos of him you know CRIES IN A CORNER - So it was like the Trapped fanmeet media mafia again, people standing at the sides watching and making sure you dont take photos

BUT BUT BUT in the first two songs they couldn’t control us all because we were ALL taking photos, which is why I have photos from the first two songs but NOWHERE ELSE, but tbh the first song’s visuals were so beautiful that those were all I needed for photos, seriously - Which is nice because I rented a cam for this and I REALLY WOULD HAVE CRIED IF I WALKED AWAY WITH NO PHOTOS

He sang a few Chinese ballads, and then he went to change clothes, and THEN HE TURNED UP IN THIS SHIRT AND DANCED TO THE WEEKND’S CAN’T FEEL MY FACE

At the beginning of the concert he told everyone that he wasn’t going to cry and we all called bullshit on that and hahaha lo and behold he cried halfway through and then at the end A LOT

Xiao Yi hosted it again!!! My god, I love Xiao Yi so much, he’s honestly the best and he’s way more handsome in person than he is on Instagram HAHAHA and I love how close he is to the Trapped boys

I do have more photos of this but they’re all half blur because I was trying to dodge the photo police, but hip thrusting moves? Check. Skin reveal? Four holes in his shirt, CHECK.

Anyway, the entire show was filled with like crazy good dance numbers and Chris sang songs such as A Whole New World, and also two of his self-composed songs!! I can’t remember what the first song was called but he did sing this at the Taichung fanmeet, and the second song is called 「不想分開」which means ‘Don’t Want To Separate From/Leave Each Other’ and they’re pretty good

Chris said that HE MIGHT have some album/single release activity next year and asked us to look forward to Jan 2020 I don’t know what to expect tbh HAHAHAHA

And Chris also sang Della’s song from Trapped - and halfway through the song DELLA APPEARED AND STARTED SINGING WITH HIM!! And he was so touched that he started to cry (as always, the crybaby), then the audience and Xiao Yi got Della and Chris to duet one of Della’s other more popular songs, and then SHE WAS THE BEST BECAUSE SHE led Chris down the stage and into the crowd and got him to touch everyone’s hands (okay not everyone, but whoever who could reach him) - Unfortunately I was literally two arms length away from him, so I didn’t even try reaching out for him but as always he came real close, and I got to witness that face up close for the fifth time this year, thank you god and all the higher powers above and buddha for giving me this excellent year

And everytime Xiao Yi and Chris asked questions to the audience Kenny would be like this absolute fanboy yelling from his seat - Gotta love the friendship between them

Xiao Yi printed like photos of him and Chris and stuck it on chocolate bars and gave them out to the audience for like question and answer LMAOOOO funniest shit ever - So XY asked how much do we love Chris, and the first fan was like ‘I left my kid at home to come and watch Chris’ and then another one was like ‘I came here on a TOUR and now I have left my tour group secretly for a few hours so I can come attend this’ LMAOOOO

And CHRIS’ attire was fucking on point that day, all his outfits were like fucking A+++++++++ like sexy and handsome and WOOOHOOO

Okay and now storytime - The one SHITTY thing that happened during the concert:

So there was this older lady seated in the first row, and in the beginning she kept getting up to talk to the staff and I didn’t think much of it - You know maybe she’s a hardcore fan or something and she knows the staff and has some special connections or whatever

And then, LITERALLY HALFWAY THROUGH A SONG, she stands up and she starts shouting. I’m not joking, she starts fucking shouting and pointing at like some fans in the second row saying, “Why is it they can take photos but I can’t?! You guys are too much!!!”

Mind you all, Chris is literally PERFORMING and she’s making a scene

So the staff get her to sit down, and then we think it’s the end of it right, but no she proceeds to yell at shout the same thing across like three fucking songs, and then at one point she stands up and tries to get attention from the staff to come and catch another fan seated behind her because she’s taking photos

In the end no one else in the vicinity dared to take photos or whatever and she was still being a bitch and yelling - And the dumb thing is that she wasn’t asked to leave. This crazy woman in the first row making a scene and she’s not being asked to leave wtf

And then she just keeps shouting throughout the entire concert, and at two instances Xiao Yi had to say “Hey guys, everyone, be good okay? Everyone, please be good”

Okay and then some point in between crazy lady brings out a decanter of like whiskey and chugs it down - Like so wild

So okay, she’s sitting in the first row, and it doesn’t take a genius to know that the risk of sitting in the first row or at the sides is that staff can easily get to you to ask you to not take photos - and she’s in the “because I can’t have it NO ONE ELSE CAN” mode, which is like... okay that’s one thing, but the other part is-

CHRIS IS LITERALLY PERFORMING WHY WOULD U CAUSE A SCENE FOR HIM?!!!

And she was just plain fucking rude she was honestly yelling and scolding like other fans, and I feel like that she doesn’t have a right to do that

Around me were ALL the major Chris fanclub/fanaccount fans and they were all like wtf is wrong with her?

Basically she was such a disruption and idk why she wasn’t asked to leave

Worst of all, in his every very last song, Chris actually sang half a verse to her directly, and IDK if he knows her, or maybe heard that she was being very enthusiastic, or didn’t know that she was being a crazy bitch, in any case, Chris effectively rewarded her bad behaviour

A lot of the fans were really upset about that, because this woman fucked up the entire experience for us (just imagine someone yelling like two rows in front of you and shouting and pointing throughout the whole like 45 minutes) and Chris basically signalled to her that it’s okay to be a nuisance to everyone else, even if it was done accidentally

Otherwise, A+ concert!!! So happy to be in Taipei again and seeing the boys!!!!! And Lisley and Kana were both there as well, and i have to say I really, really love Diane <3333

Concert was a little bit short imo but the tickets weren’t expensive so it’s alright. No fan benefits this time HAHAHA

#chris wu #wu chengyang #吳承洋 #mini concert #history3: trapped #kenny chen #andy bian #summary!

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mystic-entertainment · 4 years

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Calendar of Events

January

January 11th: Lara Wen’s Birthday (Trainee)

January 27th: Kil Youngil’s Birthday (Trainee)

February

February 14th: Maps Debut Anniversary

February 17th: Ryon Dahee’s Birthday (Trainee)

February 24th: Sol Sungki’s Birthday (Trainee)

March

March 13th: Xian Xing’s Birthday (MAPS)

March 15th: Ko Jongyeol’s Birthday (Trainee)

March 20th: Su Yoonji’s Birthday (Trainee)

March 31st: Sagong Taeyeon’s Birthday (Trainee)

April

April 10th: Logan Marshall’s Birthday (Trainee)

April 13th: Jeon Jeonghan’s Birthday (MAPS)

April 13th: Yang Youngmin’s Birthday (MAPS)

April 16th: Wu Yi’s Birthday (Trainee)

May

May 11th: Han Hyunjae’s Birthday (MAPS)

May 14th: Maps Fandom Anniversary

May 16th: Kyong Kwangsu’s Birthday (Trainee)

May 29th: Ikari Sorai’s Birthday (Trainee)

June

June 5th: Yeo Yejun’s Birthday (MAPS)

June 11th: Ri Seongeon’s Birthday (Trainee)

June 26th: Kyo Hyeonu’s Birthday (Trainee)

June 29th: Xing Wuying’s Birthday (Trainee)

July

July 2nd: Yamagishi’s Asaji’s Birthday (Trainee)

July 9th: Tian Jiao’s Birthday (CEO)

July 18th: EverLasting Debut Anniversary

July 30th: Hyong Hyego’s Birthday (Trainee)

August

August 3rd: Jung Jinyoung’s Birthday (MAPS)

August 16th: Maeng Ujin’s Birthday (Trainee)

August 24th: Sang Hojin’s Birthday (Trainee)

September

September 4th: Yoon Youngho’s Birthday (MAPS)

October

October 13th: Dai Liuxian’s Birthday (Trainee)

November

November 1st: Qian Xiang’s Birthday (Trainee)

November 7th: Jyoti Chakravarti’s Birthday (Trainee)

November 17th: Liu Lijun’s Birthday (MAPS)

December

December 1st: Chwa Namju’s Birthday (Trainee)

December 27th: Ryu Jongsu’s Birthday (Trainee)

#Mystic Entertainment #Calendar of Events

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bookofjin · 5 years

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Biographies of Tuoba Shijun & Tuoba Yi

[From WS015. Modern historians have speculated if Tuoba Yi was actually Tuoba Gui’s brother.]

Shijun was August Emperor Zhaocheng's [r. 338 – 376] concubine-born oldest son. He was by nature witless, dull-witless, calm, patient and inhumane. In Zhaocheng's last year, Fu Jian dispatched his Duke Xintang, Fu Luo. and others to come and rob the southern frontier. Zhaocheng dispatched Liu Kuren to confront them in battle at Zi High Pass. Zhaocheng at the time was incapable, and was not able to personally direct the multitude armies. He therefore led the various sections to escape the difficulties at Yin Mountain, and crossed north of the desert. The Gaoche robbed and plundered on all directions, he then crossed south of the desert. Fu Luo's army had withdrawn, he therefore returned to Yunzhong.

Earlier, Zhaocheng, since his younger brother Gu had yielded the state, he therefore used half the section to confer on Gu. Gu passed on, his son Jin lost the post and was resentful in his breast, and wished to wait for a crack to make chaos.

At that time, August Emperor Xianming and King Ming of Qin, Han, were both previously demised. Taizu was 6 sui old. Zhaocheng was not well. Although Empress Murong's children, Epo and others, were of age, yet the command of the state was not yet decided. Jin because of that advised Shijun, saying:

The Emperor wants to establish the [children] born to Murong. He fears you will be a catastrophe, and wishes first to kill you. So in recent days and onwards, the various sons are dressed in armour, and at night grasp weapons of war and surround your dwelling, waiting for when to readily command to send out. I sympathizes and are telling [you].

At the time Fu Luo and others were still at Junzi Ferry, and at night there was often alerts and precautions. The various imperial sons clasped weapons by their side and fretted between the dwellings. Shijun looked and observed, and considered Jin's words to be true. He therefore led his subordinates to fully murder the various imperial sons. Zhaocheng likewise violently expired.

That night, the various imperial sons' wives and people ran to tell Fu Luo's army. Jian's general's Li Rou and Zhang Hao led the troops inside to pressure, the section followers left and scattered. Fu Jian heard about it, and summoned Yan Feng to ask about its reasons. He made a descriptive reply. Jian said:

The crimes Under Heaven are singular.

He therefore seized Shijun and Jin, and dismembered them by chariots in Chang'an's western market.

Shijun's grandson Wuqi ranked Inspector of Ding province. He was bestowed the feudal rank of Marquis of Linlü. He passed on. His son Liuzhuang was Marquis of Zhending.

The Clarifying [ming] King of Qin, Han, was August Emperor Zhaocheng's third son. As young he had lofty spirit. At the age of 15 he readily requested to led cavalry to campaign and chastise. The Emperor was impressed with him, and sent him to led 2 000 cavalry. When he reached adulthood, he commanded the troops, his commands and orders were strict and trustworthy. He patrolled around and campaigned and chastised, and often was overcoming and triumphing. 10th Year of Jianguo [347 AD], he passed on. When Taizu was enthroned [386 AD], he was posthumously conferred King of Qin, with the posthumous title Clarifying [ming].

His son Yi was 7 chi, 5 cun [~190 cm] tall, his looks and appearance were very imposing, with pleasing beard and whiskers, and had calculations and schemes. As young he was able to do the sword dance, and ride and shoot beyond other people. Taizu favoured the Helan section, he attended and accompanied in setting out and enter.

At the beginning of Dengguo [386 – 395], he was bestowed the feudal rank of Duke of Jiuyuan. He accompanied to rout the various sections, and had merit in planning battles. When Taizu was about to plot against Murong Chui, he dispatched Yi to display the covenant. Chui asked Yi the purpose behind Taizu not coming himself. Yi said:

[Our] ancestors and onwards have for generations occupied the northern lands, sons and grandsons have succeeded each other, and have not lost their past. Therefore the founder accepted Jin's calendar, his feudal rank called King of Dai. To the east [we] and Yan have been brothers for generations. Yi's receiving the instructions can arguably be said not to be a mistake.

Chui was impressed with his reply, and after that jokingly said:

My power is increasing [within] the Four Seas. Sir's ruler not seeing me himself, how [can you] say it is not a mistake?

Yi said:

Suppose Yan does not cultivate civil virtue, but wishes to use military power to strengthen yourself. So therefore the affairs of the home court's generals and leaders is not known by Yi.

When he returned back, he reported, saying:

When Chui is dead, then we can plot. Now it is just not possible.

Taizu with rising colour asked him about it. Yi said:

Chui's years are already setting, his son Bao is weak and without power and his planning is indecisive. Murong De carries himself with an air of talent, and is not a subject of a weak ruler. To pledge and rise up inside, this can be the plan for it.

Taizu considered it to be so. Later changed his fief to Duke of Pingyuan.

Taizu campaigned against Weichen. Yi set out along a separate road. He captured Weichen's corpse and transmitted the head to the Acting Palace. Taizu was greatly pleased and moved his fief to Duke of Dongping. He was instructed to direct the agricultural garrisons North of the He. From Wuyuan to Guyang outside the frontier, he allotted farming grain and greatly obtained the people's heart.

At Murong Bao's robbing of Wuyuan, Yi administered and occupied Shuofang, and threatened his return journey. When Bing province was pacified, Yi's achievements were many. He moved to Prefect of the Masters of Writing.

He accompanied to besiege Zhongshan. At the defeat of Murong De, Taizu used Pulin's wife, Ms. Zhou to bestow on Yi, and also his pages, servants, wealth and valuables. He soon moved to Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in the Centre and Outside and Imperial Chancellor of the Left. He advanced in fief to King of Wey.

Zhongshan was pacified. Then dispatched Yi to chastise Ye, he pacified it. Taizu wanted to return to Daidu. He set up an Acting Tribunal of Zhongshan, and decreed Yi as Provisional Prefect of the Masters of Writing to thereby headquarter it. Distant and near adhered in their breasts. Soon after summoned Yi as Imperial Chancellor to enter and assist.

He also accompanied on the campaign against the Gaoche. Yi separately accompanied north-west to rout their separate section. He also accompanied to chastise Yao Ping and had merit. He was bestowed tabby silk, cloth, floss silk, cattle, horses, sheep, etc. Yi's physical strength was beyond other people, his bow's strength was maybe 10 shi. The Duke of Chenliu, Qian's spear was greatly claimed as unusual. At the time people talked of the King of Wey's bow, King Huan's lance.

When Shizu was just born [408 AD], Taizu was happy and at night summoned Yi to enter. Taizu said:

When Sir heard the nightly call, [you] then was not astonished or afraid?

Yi said:

Your Subject pushed forward sincerely to thereby serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty clarified and made known, Your Subject immediately calmed himself. Suddenly receiving the nightly decree, astonished with it, fear is truly not nothing.

Taizu reported then the birth of Shizu. Yi rose up and bowed, and then sang and danced. Thereupon they paired up to drink into the early dawn. He summoned the crowd of subjects to enter, and bestowed on Yi driving horses, driving belt, double-thread silk, brocades, etc.

Before this, Hou Ji of Shanggu [or “the Marquis of Shanggu, Ji?], Zhang Gun, Xu Qian of Dai commandery, and others who were famous in their time, and who had studied broadly the new and old, began to come and enter the state. They heard Yi received gentlemen, and first went to Yi. Yi was equally courteous to them, and they conversed together on the activities of their generations. He drew with his fingers the mountains and rivers, distinguished the walled towns, with successes and failures and strategic points. Qian and others sighed in deference, and spoke, saying:

The Duke of Pingyuan has great talents but does not scheme for the generation. We will attach ourselves to his tail.

Taizu considered Yi capable and admirable, and treated him with particular esteem. He several times favoured his mansion, with the rites of people of the same house. Yi bragged about his achievements and was sure of his favour. Thereupon he and the Duke of Yidu, Mu Chong, planned to make chaos. He hid military gentlemen to wait for Taizu, and wished to be rebellious. Chong's son Suiliu was among the hidden soldiers. Taizu summoned him, wanting to have him do something [?]. Siuliu heard the summons and feared setting out, he went over the walls to report the circumstances. Taizu kept it secret and pardoned him.

6th Year of Tianci [509 AD], Heaven's patterns had many alterations. The divination stated:

There will be a traitorous subject, the prostrate corpse sheds blood.

Taizu hated it, and rather killed nobles and ministers, wishing to thereby satisfy and attending to Heaven's calamity. Yi on the inside could not calm himself, and escaped and ran on a single horse. Taizu sent people to pursue and apprehend him. Thereupon he was bestowed death and was buried with the rites of a commoner. Yi had 15 sons.

#ws015

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cursedxwt · 4 months

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🪓🪶 9/1 Yi Sang - Rodion

#rodya #limbus company #yi sang #rodion #limbus yi sang #limbus rodion #limbus rodya #cursed draws #yi sang calendar #HALFWAY THERE LET'S GOOOOOOO

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fareastfilm · 4 years

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THE GOLDEN MULBERRY 2020 GOES TO BETTER DAYS!

10,000 votes and 3,000 pass-holders from 45 countries: here are all the numbers of the digital edition.

UDINE – 3,000 accredited pass-holders from 45 countries and 25,000 votes to decide the winner of the Audience Awards 2020: those are the numbers that tell the story of how this digital edition of the Far East Film Festival went. And what a success story it is! Both the initial numbers (46 titles in the lineup, including 5 world premieres, corresponding to dozens of production companies deciding to back the online FEFF) and the final ones, collected after 9 days of programming (not just films but also 45 livestreamed events, 38 video-messages from directors and 10 press conferences, not to mention all the many meetings organized on Zoom by the FEFF Campus and by Focus Asia).

The Golden Mulberry went to the powerful Chinese youth drama Better Days by Derek Tsang (son of the legendary Eric Tsang): an unforgettable story of love and violence at school that also won the Black Mulberry Award, selected by Shogun pass-holders. The Silver Mulberry went to Malaysian director Layla Ji's debut film Victim(s) (Malaysia's first time on the winners' podium) which had its world premiere at the FEFF 22. The Crystal Mulberry went to Taiwanese pop fairy tale I WeirDo by Liao Ming-yi (another world premiere), which also won the Mymovies Purple Mulberry. The White Mulberry for First Time Director, selected by an international jury (La Frances Hui, Leopoldo Santovincenzo and Mark Adams) instead went to Lee Sang-geun's South Korean action-comedy Exit. South Korea also won the special mention for Kim Young-hoon's noir Beasts Clawing at Straws. And let's not forget that all the Mulberry awards are crafted by IdeaPrototipi.

Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, the FEFF directors, say: «We dreamed up and created an actual festival, even if it was online. We managed to put together a lineup featuring some extremely important films, many first features and numerous female directors. We sought to maintain the atmosphere that can usually be found in Udine, where for over twenty years an international community has been gathering for the nine days of the festival. One thing is for sure: we will treasure the things we've learnt from this experience (which it might be more accurate to call an “experiment”!) and we’ll keep them close to our hearts when we start on FEFF 2021. In real life, this time».

90% of FEFF's virtual audience chose the Festival's daily calendar over the on-demand library, which shows that the public understood and appreciated the risk the organizers took in completely re-imagining the Festival. Because the revolutionary nature of FEFF 22 didn't just consist in it being transferred online - it consisted in adapting every single section and every single operating space to the laws of the web. But while moving the headquarters "virtually" onto MYmovies.it and "physically" to the Hotel Clocchiatti in Udine, where the various sets for live events were set up, might have meant the Festival changing its syntax, it certainly didn't mean changing its soul - it's remained a thrilling dive into the heart of Asian pop cinema (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia)!

It wasn't just the public who understood and appreciated the organizers' vision, choices and (let's face it) daring, though: Far East Film Festival 22 was also able to count on public institutions and private sponsors, once again finding essential help in the local area to allow it to take wing and to continue that flight which began in 1998 with Hong Kong Film, the FEFF's historical ancestor.

And acting as a symbolic bridge between 2020's daring "virtual" edition and the next one - which has already been scheduled from the 23rd of April to the 1st of May, 2021 - a precious document: the bilingual FEFF 22 catalogue, which the organizers were determined to have printed in physical form. 255 pages of synopses, essays and interviews to act as a tangible reminder of this journey and not just a colourful trail of pixels.

#FEFF22 #FaceToFaceHeartToHeart

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arabellaflynn · 4 years

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Advent Calendar: "Charan"

From Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts, and Fairies. Translated from the Korean of Im Bang and Yi Ryuk by James S Gale. E P Dutton &co, New York, 1913.

In the days of King Sung-jong (A.D. 1488–1495) one of Korea’s noted men became governor of Pyong-an Province. Now Pyong-an stands first of all the eight provinces in the attainments of erudition and polite society. Many of her literati are good musicians, and show ability in the affairs of State.

At the time of this story there was a famous dancing girl in Pyong-an whose name was Charan. She was very beautiful, and sang and danced to the delight of all beholders. Her ability, too, was specially marked, for she understood the classics and was acquainted with history. The brightest of all the geisha was she, famous and far-renowned.

The Governor’s family consisted of a son, whose age was sixteen, and whose face was comely as a picture. Though so young, he was thoroughly grounded in Chinese, and was a gifted scholar. His judgment was excellent, and he had a fine appreciation of literary form, so that the moment he lifted his pen the written line took on admirable expression. His name became known as Keydong (The Gifted Lad). The Governor had no other children, neither son nor daughter, so his heart was wrapped up in this boy. On his birthday he had all the officials invited and other special guests, who came to drink his health. There were present also a company of dancing-girls and a large band of musicians. The Governor, during a lull in the banquet, called his son to him, and ordered the chief of the dancing-girls to choose one of the prettiest of their number, that he and she might dance together and delight the assembled guests. On hearing this, the company, with one accord, called for Charan, as the one suited by her talents, attainments and age to be a fitting partner for his son. They came out and danced like fairies, graceful as the wavings of the willow, light and airy as the swallow. All who saw them were charmed. The Governor, too, greatly pleased, called Charan to him, had her sit on the dais, treated her to a share in the banquet, gave her a present of silk, and commanded that from that day forth she be the special dancing maiden to attend upon his son.

From this birthday forth they became fast friends together. They thought the world of each other. More than all the delightful stories of history was their love—such as had never been seen.

The Governor’s term of office was extended for six years more, and so they remained in the north country. Finally, at the time of return, he and his wife were in great anxiety over their son being separated from Charan. If they were to force them to separate, they feared he would die of a broken heart. If they took her with them, she not being his wife, they feared for his reputation. They could not possibly decide, so they concluded to refer the matter to the son himself. They called him and said, “Even parents cannot decide as to the love of their son for a maiden. What ought we to do? You love Charan so that it will be very hard for you to part, and yet to have a dancing-girl before you are married is not good form, and will interfere with your marriage prospects and promotion. However, the having of a second wife is a common custom in Korea, and one that the world recognizes. Do as you think best in the matter.” The son replied, “There is no difficulty; when she is before my eyes, of course she is everything, but when the time comes for me to start for home she will be like a pair of worn shoes, set aside; so please do not be anxious.”

The Governor and his wife were greatly delighted, and said he was a “superior man” indeed.

When the time came to part Charan cried bitterly, so that those standing by could not bear to look at her; but the son showed not the slightest sign of emotion. Those looking on were filled with wonder at his fortitude. Although he had already loved Charan for six years, he had never been separated from her for a single day, so he knew not what it meant to say Good-bye, nor did he know how it felt to be parted.

The Governor returned to Seoul to fill the office of Chief Justice, and the son came also. After this return thoughts of love for Charan possessed Keydong, though he never expressed them in word or manner. It was almost the time of the Kam-see Examination. The father, therefore, ordered his son to go with some of his friends to a neighbouring monastery to study and prepare. They went, and one night, after the day’s work was over and all were asleep, the young man stole out into the courtyard. It was winter, with frost and snow and a cold, clear moon. The mountains were deep and the world was quiet, so that the slightest sound could be heard. The young man looked up at the moon and his thoughts were full of sorrow. He so wished to see Charan that he could no longer control himself, and fearing that he would lose his reason, he decided that very night to set out for far-distant Pyong-an. He had on a fur head-dress, a thick coat, a leather belt and a heavy pair of shoes. When he had gone less than ten lee, however, his feet were blistered, and he had to go into a neighbouring village and change his leather shoes for straw sandals, and his expensive head-cover for an ordinary servant’s hat. He went thus on his way, begging as he went. He was often very hungry, and when night came, was very, very cold. He was a rich man’s son and had always dressed in silk and eaten dainty fare, and had never in his life walked more than a few feet from his father’s door. Now there lay before him a journey of hundreds of miles. He went stumbling along through the snow, making but poor progress. Hungry, and frozen nearly to death, he had never known such suffering before. His clothes were torn and his face became worn down and blackened till he looked like a goblin. Still on he went, little by little, day after day, till at last, when a whole month had gone by, he reached Pyong-an.

Straight to Charan’s home he went, but Charan was not there, only her mother. She looked at him, but did not recognize him. He said he was the former Governor’s son and that out of love for Charan he had walked five hundred lee. “Where is she?” he asked. The mother heard, but instead of being pleased was very angry. She said, “My daughter is now with the son of the new Governor, and I never see her at all; she never comes home, and she has been away for two or three months. Even though you have made this long journey there is no possible way to meet her.”

She did not invite him in, so cold was her welcome. He thought to himself, “I came to see Charan, but she is not here. Her mother refuses me; I cannot go back, and I cannot stay. What shall I do?” While thus in this dilemma a plan occurred to him. There was a scribe in Pyong-an, who, during his father’s term of office, had offended, and was sentenced to death. There were extenuating circumstances, however, and he, when he went to pay his morning salutations, had besought and secured his pardon. His father, out of regard for his son’s petition, had forgiven the scribe. He thought, “I was the means of saving the man’s life, he will take me in;” so he went straight from Charan’s to the house of the scribe. But at first this writer did not recognize him. When he gave his name and told who he was, the scribe gave a great start, and fell at his feet making obeisance. He cleared out an inner room and made him comfortable, prepared dainty fare and treated him with all respect.

A little later he talked over with his host the possibility of his meeting Charan. The scribe said, “I am afraid that there is no way for you to meet her alone, but if you would like to see even her face, I think I can manage it. Will you consent?”

He asked as to the plan. It was this: It being now a time of snow, daily coolies were called to sweep it away from the inner court of the Governor’s yamen, and just now the scribe was in charge of this particular work. Said he, “If you will join the sweepers, take a broom and go in; you will no doubt catch a glimpse of Charan as she is said to be in the Hill Kiosk. I know of no other plan.”

Keydong consented. In the early morning he mixed with the company of sweepers and went with his broom into the inner enclosure, where the Hill Kiosk was, and so they worked at sweeping. Just then the Governor’s son was sitting by the open window and Charan was by him, but not visible from the outside. The other workers, being all practised hands, swept well; Keydong alone handled his broom to no advantage, knowing not how to sweep. The Governor’s son, watching the process, looked out and laughed, called Charan and invited her to see this sweeper. Charan stepped out into the open hall and the sweeper raised his eyes to see. She glanced at him but once, and but for a moment, then turned quickly, went into the room, and shut the door, not appearing again, to the disappointment of the sweeper, who came back in despair to the scribe’s house.

Charan was first of all a wise and highly gifted woman. One look had told her who the sweeper was. She came back into the room and began to cry. The Governor’s son looked in surprise and displeasure, and asked, “Why do you cry?” She did not reply at once, but after two or three insistent demands told the reason thus: “I am a low class woman; you are mistaken in thinking highly of me, or counting me of worth. Already I have not been home for two whole months and more. This is a special compliment and a high honour, and so there is not the slightest reason for any complaint on my part. But still, I think of my home, which is poor, and my mother. It is customary on the anniversary of my father’s death to prepare food from the official quarters, and offer a sacrifice to his spirit, but here I am imprisoned and to-morrow is the sacrificial day. I fear that not a single act of devotion will be paid, I am disturbed over it, and that’s why I cry.”

The Governor’s son was so taken in by this fair statement that he trusted her fully and without a question. Sympathetically he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me before?” He prepared the food and told her to hurry home and carry out the ceremony. So Charan came like flaming fire back to her house, and said to her mother, “Keydong has come and I have seen him. Is he not here? Tell me where he is if you know.” The mother said, “He came here, it is true, all the way on foot to see you, but I told him that you were in the yamen and that there was no possible way for you to meet, so he went away and where he is I know not.”

Then Charan broke down and began to cry. “Oh, my mother, why had you the heart to do so cruelly?” she sobbed. “As far as I am concerned I can never break with him nor give him up. We were each sixteen when chosen to dance together, and while it may be said that men chose us, it is truer still to say that God hath chosen. We grew into each other’s lives, and there was never such love as ours. Though he forgot and left me, I can never forget and can never give him up. The Governor, too, called me the beloved wife of his son, and did not once refer to my low station. He cherished me and gave me many gifts. ’Twas all like heaven and not like earth. To the city of Pyong-an gentry and officials gather as men crowd into a boat; I have seen so many, but for grace and ability no one was ever like Keydong. I must find him, and even though he casts me aside I never shall forget him. I have not kept myself even unto death as I should have, because I have been under the power and influence of the Governor. How could he ever have come so far for one so low and vile? He, a gentleman of the highest birth, for the sake of a wretched dancing-girl has endured all this hardship and come so far. Could you not have thought, mother, of these things and given him at least some kindly welcome? Could my heart be other than broken?” And a great flow of tears came from Charan’s eyes. She thought and thought as to where he could possibly be. “I know of no place,” said she, “unless it be at such and such a scribe’s home.” Quick as thought she flew thence, and there they met. They clasped each other and cried, not a word was spoken. Thus came they back to Charan’s home side by side. When it was night Charan said, “When to-morrow comes we shall have to part. What shall we do?” They talked it over, and agreed to make their escape that night. So Charan got together her clothing, and her treasures and jewels, and made two bundles, and thus, he carrying his on his back and she hers on her head, away they went while the city slept. They followed the road that leads toward the mountains that lie between Yang-tok and Maing-san counties. There they found a country house, where they put up, and where the Governor’s son became a sort of better-class servant. He did not know how to do anything well, but Charan understood weaving and sewing, and so they lived. After some time they got a little thatched hut by themselves in the village and lived there. Charan was a beautiful sewing-woman, and ceased not day and night to ply her needle, and sold her treasures and her jewels to make ends meet. Charan, too, knew how to make friends, and was praised and loved by all the village. Everybody felt sorry for the hard times that had befallen this mysterious young couple, and helped them so that the days passed peacefully and happily together.

To return in the story: On awaking in the morning in the temple where he and his friends had gone to study, they found Keydong missing. All was in a state of confusion as to what had become of the son of the Chief Justice. They hunted for him far and wide, but he was nowhere to be found, so word was sent to the parents accordingly. There was untold consternation in the home of the former governor. So great a loss, what could equal it? They searched the country about the temple, but no trace or shadow of him was to be found. Some said they thought he had been inveigled away and metamorphosed by the fox; others that he had been eaten by the tiger. The parents decided that he was dead and went into mourning for him, burning his clothing in a sacrificial fire.

In Pyong-an the Governor’s son, when he found that he had lost Charan, had Charan’s mother imprisoned and all the relatives, but after a month or so, when the search proved futile, he gave up the matter and let them go.

Charan, at last happy with her chosen one, said one day to him, “You, a son of the gentry, for the sake of a dancing-girl have given up parents and home to live in this hidden corner of the hills. It is a matter, too, that touches your filial piety, this leaving your father and mother in doubt as to whether you are alive or not. They ought to know. We cannot live here all our lives, neither can we return home; what do you think we ought to do?” Keydong made a hopeless reply. “I am in distress,” said he, “and know not.”

Charan said brightly, “I have a plan by which we can cover over the faults of the past, and win a new start for the future. By means of it, you can serve your parents and look the world in the face. Will you consent?”

“What do you propose?” asked he. Her reply was, “There is only one way, and that is by means of the Official Examination. I know of no other. You will understand what I mean, even though I do not tell you more.”

He said, “Enough, your plan is just the thing to help us out. But how can I get hold of the books I need?”

Charan replied, “Don’t be anxious about that, I’ll get the books.” From that day forth she sent through all the neighbourhood for books, to be secured at all costs; but there were few or none, it being a mountain village. One day there came by, all unexpectedly, a pack-peddler, who had in his bundle a book that he wished to sell. Some of the village people wanted to buy it for wall-paper. Charan, however, secured it first and showed it to Keydong. It was none other than a special work for Examinations, with all the exercises written out. It was written in small characters, and was a huge book containing several thousand exercises. Keydong was delighted, and said, “This is enough for all needed preparation.” She bought it and gave it to him, and there he pegged away day after day. In the night he studied by candle-light, while she sat by his side and did silk-spinning. Thus they shared the light together. If he showed any remissness, Charan urged him on, and thus they worked for two years. To begin with, he, being a highly talented scholar, made steady advancement day by day. He was a beautiful writer and a master of the pen. His compositions, too, were without a peer, and every indication pointed to his winning the highest place in the Kwago (Examination).

At this time a proclamation was issued that there would be a special examination held before His Majesty the King, so Charan made ready the food required and all necessaries for him to go afoot to Seoul to try his hand.

At last here he was, within the Palace enclosure. His Majesty came out into the examination arena and posted up the subject. Keydong took his pen and wrote his finished composition. Under the inspiration of the moment his lines came forth like bubbling water. It was finished.

When the announcement was made as to the winner, the King ordered the sealed name of the writer to be opened. It was, and they found that Keydong was first. At that time his father was Prime Minister and waiting in attendance upon the King. The King called the Prime Minister, and said, “It looks to me as though the winner was your son, but he writes that his father is Chief Justice and not Prime Minister; what can that mean?” He handed the composition paper to the father, and asked him to look and see. The Minister gazed at it in wonder, burst into tears, and said, “It is your servant’s son. Three years ago he went with some friends to a monastery to study, but one night he disappeared, and though I searched far and wide I have had no word of him since. I concluded that he had been destroyed by some wild animal, so I had a funeral service held and the house went into mourning. I had no other children but this son only. He was greatly gifted and I lost him in this strange way. The memory has never left me, for it seems as though I had lost him but yesterday. Now that I look at this paper I see indeed that it is the writing of my son. When I lost him I was Chief Justice, and thus he records the office; but where he has been for these three years, and how he comes now to take part in the examination, I know not.”

The King, hearing this, was greatly astonished, and at once before all the assembled ministers had him called. Thus he came in his scholar’s dress into the presence of the King. All the officials wondered at this summoning of a candidate before the announcement of the result. The King asked him why he had left the monastery and where he had been for these three years. He bowed low, and said, “I have been a very wicked man, have left my parents, have broken all the laws of filial devotion, and deserve condign punishment.” The King replied, saying, “There is no law of concealment before the King. I shall not condemn you even though you are guilty; tell me all.” Then he told his story to the King. All the officials on each side bent their ears to hear. The King sighed, and said to the father, “Your son has repented and made amends for his fault. He has won first place and now stands as a member of the Court. We cannot condemn him for his love for this woman. Forgive him for all the past and give him a start for the future.” His Majesty said further, “The woman Charan, who has shared your life in the lonely mountains, is no common woman. Her plans, too, for your restoration were the plans of a master hand. She is no dancing-girl, this Charan. Let no other be your lawful wife but she only; let her be raised to equal rank with her husband, and let her children and her children’s children hold highest office in the realm.” So was Keydong honoured with the winner’s crown, and so the Prime Minister received his son back to life at the hands of the King. The winner’s cap was placed upon his head, and the whole house was whirled into raptures of joy.

So the Minister sent forth a palanquin and servants to bring up Charan. In a great festival of joy she was proclaimed the wife of the Minister’s son. Later he became one of Korea’s first men of State, and they lived their happy life to a good old age. They had two sons, both graduates and men who held high office.

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fairfieldustudyabroad · 7 years

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Yunnan Province & Chinese New Year - Aliyah (’18)

As my winter break came to a sudden halt, I waited and watched as the newest group of TBC students arrived on campus. I was excited and nervous to meet the incoming class of spring semester 2017 students. Although I had already been in Beijing for the past 6 months and felt extremely comfortable with the language, culture, surroundings and my own daily routine, I began to feel like a newbie again. Fresh off the 15 hour flight from America, were 27 new faces that I had never met before. It was a strangely paradoxical feeling to have the confidence of a veteran student and the awkward butterflies of a Beijing newcomer. Nonetheless, we all slowly began to get to know each other throughout our five day orientation, which actually felt like two weeks. During orientation we were given a general layout of the semester and of course our semester excursion to Yunnan. Yunnan (云南省) is a province in Southern China. We were all very excited to explore a part of China opposite Beijing and its frigid winter weather. We left for Yunnan on January 22 and returned on February 2. After just a four hour flight, we arrived in a tropics-like paradise. Light, warm air filled our lungs and brightened our smiles. We were so excited to remove our thick coats and some of our now unnecessary layers.

TBC Spring 2017

When traveling to every destination, we always split into two smaller groups, which we called Bus A and Bus B. We arrived in Yunnan province’s capital, Kunming (昆明); a beautiful tourist city with many hills, lakes, and of course tons of people. Yunnan is home to 25 of China’s 56 ethnic minorities, therefore we were able to encounter some of the many distinct cultures that make China such a beautifully diverse country. Unfortunately as we were limited with time, we only got to experience five ethnic minority cultures in person. Among these were the Yi, Hani, Dai, Naxi, and Bai Peoples.

In the Yi village we were greeted by some of the village women in their traditional, hand sewn dress. They also performed a “dragon dance” and treated us to some welcoming shots of baijiu 白酒 (rice wine liquor). Later we were further separated into groups of 5-6 people to be assigned to a homestay and a homestay mother. We relinquished ourselves of our heavy luggage and loaded into the back of a medium sized truck, in order to make our way up the mountainous hillside and dirt roads to the have dinner shore side of the infamous Yangtze River. There, we took pictures, played games and learned another traditional dance called the bug dance. We had dinner on the grass beside the river which was cooked outside over a rustic wooden flame.

Yi Women in traditional dress as they prepare dinner

In the Hani Village, we were again greeted by the village women dressed in Hani style traditional dress. They sang us a song in the Hani language and offered us a pulpy citrus drink in tiny, hand carved wooden cups. We were escorted to a village house for lunch. Several dishes adorned each table, and we were ready to dig in. We ate and chatted amongst each other and some village children while also listening to the village women sing and dance in circles. After lunch, we were escorted by a few young village children on a hike up through the village and along the handmade rice terraces. These rice terraces were unlike anything I had ever seen. The terraces carried on for miles, extending to the highest mountain and throughout the widest part of the area. The hike was fun yet challenging. It was as if we were a playing a game of who will fall into the rice terraces first. Despite our tiny fears, we reached our destination. The views were magical and the air was so fresh and crisp.

Rice Terraces in Hani Village

On our way to the Dai Village, we stopped in city called Jinhong (金红) where we celebrated Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is the most celebrated holiday in China. All companies, schools, and most restaurants close at least two weeks before Chinese New Year. This is because most people travel back to their home provinces in order to celebrate the New Year with their families. Even though in China the calendar year is now based off the Gregorian calendar, as in the West, Chinese people still recognize many aspects of their traditional lunar calendar, which is why Chinese New Year is never on the first of January. The Chinese even have separate zodiac signs based on one’s lunar calendar birthday. There are 12 animals that are included in the Chinese zodiac. As the clock clicked down, fireworks went off throughout the city and continued for almost two weeks after the New Year. It’s safe to safe that Chinese people love fireworks as a celebratory gadget.

Yunnan Gadgets

Now, at the Dai Village the weather was just shy of 80 degrees. Unlike the other two villages we had previously visited, the Dai village was very touristy and had tons of visitors. We explored the streets, purchasing and trying on customary attire and ancient Chinese knickknacks. Once the village “closed” the crowds disappeared, and we were allowed to stay as overnight guests. Before bed, we attended a performance on the basketball court lit by street lamps. Dai villagers, other visitors, and of course all the Tbc students and staff, spent the night enjoying each other’s company and sharing and embracing one another’s culture. Before the night ended, we performed the cupid shuffle, the “whip & nae nae” and a poorly executed soul train line.

TBC Students with Dai Villagers and other tourists

Then we made our way to a city called Lijiang (丽江) where the Naxi Village was. Here we had a social dinner, and explored the village streets. There were animals roaming every street and around every corner. As in the last village, after dinner there were more performances. The Naxi people sang in Chinese, English and Dongba, their native language. Two men even performed a fire dance which was insane to watch. They rubbed fire on their skin, clothes, hair, and even put flaming sticks down their pants for a few laughs. Four other TBC students and I sang the infamous “Aint No Mountain High Enough”. Lastly, four other TBC students from Columbia rapped a reggaetone song and then even performed a Columbian dance called choque to the fast paced beat.

TBC students with Naxi woman

Our final village was that of the Bai people. The Bai people are Muslim. It was cool to see how their Islamic practices and Chinese culture combined so gracefully. I liked this because it shows how many different kinds of people there are in the world. In the U.S, Islam is solely associated with Middle Eastern peoples, even though it is such a wide spread religion, touching all continents across the globe. They prepared us lunch, which was a combination of Southern Chinese cooking with a clear Islamic influence. Then we explored the village and made our way to the village mosque. This mosque was different than some of the mosques I saw in Xinjiang Province. This mosque had less of a Middle Eastern architectural influence and remained mostly Chinese in architecture and overall structure. Afterwards, some friends and I, accompanied by an older Chinese man, climbed the bell tower and he helped us ring the bell which could be heard throughout the village.

View of Bai Village from Mosque Bell Tower

Finally, we made our way home as we completed our 12 day itinerary with a return flight back to Beijing. After just 12 days, the same group which had previously been total strangers to each other were all hanging out and chatting together as if we had all been friends for years. #FriendshipsHappenInChina

“Bus B”

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