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» Chinese-Society-Articles » Reading: "Revenge Strikes Hope"
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| Revenge Strikes Hope |
By:
Todd Cornell |
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China, no different from many cultures in the world, is full of strong traditions that embrace age old values, many of which dictate standards of social interaction.
When considering the Chinese expression "君子報酬十年不晚" - revenge can be a slow process. This expression, if looked at closely, can take on two different interpretations; one positive and one negative.
The idea of a gentleman taking ten years to get revenge can, in some ways, offer a window into a way of thinking somewhat different from the "I want it yesterday" attitude. When things are allowed to take a natural course in time, time becomes a stronghold. In this expression people may be admonished to wait for the best opportunity, window of time, to achieve what they want. Don't rush it! There may only be one opportunity, so let it be at the most favorable time and bring about the most desired result - triumph.
This expression is challenging us to take our time and not to jump to conclusions. Often when we jump to conclusions it is our emotions doing the thinking, not our logic. If someone who is looking for an opportunity to seek revenge is able to slow down and take their time, they will either find a better time or realize that they were being controlled by their emotions, therefore they may be able to move beyond their dilemma and grow as a person.
If we look at the expression - Ten years is not late for a gentleman to seek revenge, from a different angle we can consider that time may appease the desire for revenge, whereby allowing the person time to "cool off".
These are thoughts, which seem to offer a glimpse into a different way of looking at things, offering insight into a culture much different from the one we where sports plays are positioned as strategies and business lingo, where "huddle", “curve ball”, and "hole in one" can all communicate ideas in both business and play.
This expression communicates something that is very real within the bowels of humanity. Here, however, it exists within the linguistic culture of a people. Hardly to be heard, this class of ideals is kept in ones heart, not placed on one's lips. These kinds of expressions are never spoken except when used to cast thought provoking wonderment to the listener. It could be as a beam of light bringing to light deep intent. Some say their mother always warned them about the quiet-types. I wonder why? Could it be because she didn’t know what they had stored in their hearts?
Each culture has its own value system and an accepted means of social interaction. When that standard is challenged by an opposing or foreign way of thinking it will respond in ways to protect what appears to be sacred in its own views. Religion is much the same. Religion is both a creator of culture and a destroyer of culture. Can we learn to open ourselves to new ways of perception whereby finding answers beyond our own understanding?
I don't know if anyone really knows what the ancients meant when they coined this expression or what the situation was that it came from. But I do know that there is more than one way to understand it and my understanding affords me the option of regarding this expression from two perspectives. One, negative and hopeless, giving an excuse to follow through with harmful desires; the other, positive and hopeful - allowing for goodness and hope in humanity to prevail. |
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