| by Edward Wong
( October 7,
2012, Beijing, Sri Lanka Guardian) The following are translated excerpts
from a 11-page letter and the complete translation of a poem that Bo Xilai, a
fallen Chinese official and son of a Communist leader, wrote to Li Danyu, a
military doctor who is the daughter of a senior Communist Party official. The
letter is dated July 14, 1975, and is written in the form of an “eight-legged
essay,” used in imperial exams. The Cultural Revolution was waning in 1975, and
the two started a love affair that year. They lived in different cities. Ms. Li
said they wrote each other every three days. The two were married in September
1976 and had a son the next year. They separated under bitter circumstances
four years later, and Mr. Bo eventually married Gu Kailai, the daughter of an
army general. Ms. Gu was given a suspended death sentence on Aug. 20 after
being convicted of poisoning a British businessman, Neil Heywood. Last month,
the Communist Party announced that Mr. Bo was being expelled from the party and
would be prosecuted on criminal charges. In an interview, Ms. Li said: “Bo
Xilai was a hard-working young man with a lot of ideals and talent. I feel a lot
of sympathy for him because of the way his political career ended. He is an old
man now. I only hope he can have a quiet old age.”
From the letter:
“I, your little
brother”
First off, I must
say something. I write with very large characters not because I’m lazy or feel
like I need to fill space. It’s because I’m used to writing with big
characters, and this is more comfortable for me. When you see how much ink I’ve
spent on this letter, you’ll realize how diligent I’ve been.
I’m writing you
so much today because this is a very rare opportunity. I need to fully take
advantage of it. Right now it is 11:20. Before writing this, I was reading your
letter over and over again. I closely examined a picture of me that I’m going
to send you. I was ordered to take the picture on my birthday when my head was
shaved bare. I look terrible. Feeling inferior is not good though, so
regardless of how bad I look, I’ll send it to you. Go ahead and poke fun at me.
In the following lines I’m going to discuss my views on a number of questions;
we can discuss them together. I’ve written it in the form of an eight-legged
essay.
— — — — —
“The question of
image”
From your
letter, I can tell that you are the kind of person who loves carving and
refining images of people in your mind. This is very similar to Nasser [纳赛尔]. He frequently
places a photograph on his desk and then spends half an hour just gazing at it.
I’ve heard that by doing this one can obtain a basic impression of a person
that is very accurate. I don’t think this is entirely false, and I find it very
interesting. Perhaps you’ve been influenced by him. Images of people actually
objectively exist, and on some levels they reflect the people’s innermost worlds,
including their thoughts, qualities and personalities.
Though some
people’s actions do not match their words, I think this can be controlled.
These people can hide their feelings. But hypocrites who perform as upright
people aren’t very convincing. In the end, the fakeness will be peeled off. No
wonder Dzerzhinsky [捷尔任斯基] always loved attentively gazing
at “images” with his pair of sharp eyes. In interactions with friends, we all
care about examining each other’s images, and we carefully emphasize the images
that we present to our friends. The closer one is with someone, the more we
care about this. People never want to feel insignificant in the eyes of someone
else, unless we despise this person and want them to quickly forget us.
Concerning your image
in my mind, sometimes I can recall you with perfect contentment. I particularly
remember the two things you said to me as we parted. I was extremely moved. I
can even clearly remember my exact expression and posture at the time. But at
other times, your image is more indistinct – does this mean that my love for
you is not true enough? Maybe not, because I always wish that I had a clear
image of you. Images and emotions are related, but they are not directly
proportional. It’s true that images are important, but they naturally fade.
When one is carefree, images become more comfortable and relaxed.
Though I may not
have a lofty image in your mind, and there are some things about me that may
even make you uncomfortable, if my image retains its true character, I will be
content. I believe that day by day, in a natural manner, we can deepen our
understandings of each other. We can establish a true image, one that is no
longer subjective. If I conceive of your mind as a theater, perhaps all of the
seats are already sold out. Maybe I’m arriving too late, because your mind is
already full of medical terms like “coronary heart disease,”
“arteriosclerosis,” “cholesterol,” or “electrocardiogram.” But all I need is patience, and I’m confident
we will both find seats. Disappointment does not befall one with aspirations.
We don’t only
depend on “images” to arouse passion and excitement in our lives. More
important is to have a rational spirit and help each other move forward. After
all, “images” are just a means of getting one’s foot in the door.
— — — — —
“Sentimentality”
One should not
be inflexible or old-fashioned. Besides studies and work, one should take time
to soul-search and think about other things. Life is better with a little
romance. Thoughts are better with a bit of vigor. Feelings are better with a
bit of depth. Many revolutionary leaps and achievements are accompanied by the
colors of romance.
One cannot
always walk the conventional path. When we reflect on the masters of
revolution, they often allowed rigor and romance to simultaneously be part of
their lives.
— — — — —
“Strictness and
Tolerance”
This is my
policy towards my friends, and I hope you can always be like this. I received
my first lesson on this. I used to think that one always had to be strict with
one’s friends. If they have a weakness, one must point it out immediately. “Say
all you know, and say it without reserve.” Nothing should be held back. When
there is a contradiction, one must settle it while it is still in the bud. One
should not blindly accommodate. At the same time, one must encourage one’s
friends to strive to be their best; one must watch over them to ensure that
they put their plans into action. I am far from being a firm and resolute
person, and I do not always abide by the rules, so I especially need this kind
of “encouragement” from friends. No matter what you request of me, I will
always be able to understand.
— — — — —
“Accumulated
Materials”
A couple of days
ago I was copying the maxims that we had to learn, and I was very excited
because I saw that you favored similar maxims. I reflected back on the words of
our Chairman: “Smart people often begin with low social status, and they are
looked down upon and humiliated by others. Socialist societies are no
exception.” How insightful!
These days, I
have developed a habit — when I read something good, I need to highlight it so
that I can remember it. Otherwise, in the future it will be lost. With time, as
these things accumulate, they will become precious. A couple of months later,
when I return to these things, they feel fresh, as if I’m meeting an old
friend. I hope that I can see the things that you highlight in your life.
I am
particularly fond of the maxim that you copied down: “If a person is not
tenacious, decisive, and always leaping forward toward their ambitions, then
their labor will never result in anything.” I find the phrase “leaping forward”
fabulous.
Excerpts were
translated by The New York Times Beijing bureau.
— — — — —
From the poem:
“Moving Forward”
The Five Peaks
majestic,
The Three
Mountains imposing,
Memories
cherished with fond hearts.
Mourning heroes
and martyrs driven away,
Their blood a
crimson spring.
They placed
nation before family,
And brushed away
hardship.
The Taihang
range’s deep green pines,
Rolling river
and tough grasses,
Awe-inspiring
righteousness, proudly overlooking the central plain.
Reading the
historical records, I ask China’s children,
Who will take
over?
Two hegemons
have fought for supremacy,
Rousing the four
seas, black winds and violent waves.
Don’t waste your
youth,
like a fire
burning hot;
Bravely shoulder
The people’s
aspirations.
Intimate friend
of common virtue,
Our hearts hot
as flame,
As we grow gray,
our longing will not fade.
Raise the army
banner,
and laugh still
more, gazing at the red cosmos,
spare no effort
to move forward.
Translator’s
note: The first name of Li Danyu means “red cosmos.”
The poem was
translated by The New York Times Beijing bureau and Eric Abrahamsen.
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