the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第24章
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glimpse of a mountain peak framed in picture…wise between the nearer
hills； or； at their appropriate seasons； the blossoming of the many tree
flowers； which in eastern Asia are beautiful beyond description。 For he
appreciates not only places； but times。 One spot is to be seen at sunrise；
another by moonlight； one to be visited in the spring…time； another in the
fall。 But wherever or whenever it be； a tea…house； placed to command the
best view of the sight； stands ready to receive him。 For nature's beauties
are too well recognized to remain the exclusive property of the first chance
lover。 People flock to view nature as we do to see a play； and privacy is
as impossible as it is unsought。 Indeed； the aversion to publicity is
simply a result of the sense of self； and therefore necessarily not a feature
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of so impersonal a civilization。 Aesthetic guidebooks are written for the
nature…enamoured； descriptive of these views which the Japanese
translator quaintly calls 〃Sceneries；〃 and which visitors come not only
from near but from far to gaze upon。 In front of the tea…house proper are
rows of summer pavilions； in one of which the party make themselves at
home； while gentle little tea…house girls toddle forth to serve them the
invariable preliminary tea and confections。 Each man then produces
from up his sleeve； or from out his girdle； paper； ink； and brush； and
proceeds to compose a poem on the beauty of the spot and the feelings it
calls up； which he subsequently reads to his admiring companions。 Hot
sake is next served； which is to them what beer is to a German or absinthe
to a blouse； and there they sit； sip； and poetize； passing their couplets； as
they do their cups； in honor to one another。 At last； after drinking in an
hour or two of scenery and sake combined； the symposium of poets breaks
up。
Sometimes； instead of a company of friends； a man will take his
family； wife； babies； and all； on such an outing； but the details of his
holiday are much the same as before。 For the scenery is still the centre of
attraction； and in the attendant creature comforts Far Eastern etiquette
permits an equal enjoyment to man； woman； and child。
This love of nature is quite irrespective of social condition。 All classes
feel its force； and freely indulge the feeling。 Poor as well as rich； low as
well as high； contrive to gratify their poetic instincts for natural scenery。
As for flowers； especially tree flowers； or those of the larger plants； like
the lotus or the iris； the Japanese appreciation of their beauty is as
phenomenal as is that beauty itself。 Those who can afford the luxury
possess the shrubs in private； those who cannot； feast their eyes on the
public specimens。 From a sprig in a vase to a park planted on purpose；
there is no part of them too small or too great to be excluded from Far
Oriental affection。 And of the two 〃drawing…rooms〃 of the Mikado held
every year； in April and November； both are garden…parties： the one given
at the time and with the title of 〃the cherry blossoms；〃 and the other of
〃the chrysanthemum。〃
These same tree flowers deserve more than a passing notice； not
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simply because of their amazing beauty； which would arrest attention
anywhere； but for the national attitude toward them。 For no better
example of the Japanese passion for nature could well be cited。 If the
anniversaries of people are slightingly treated in the land of the sunrise；
the same cannot be said of plants。 The yearly birthdays of the vegetable
world are observed with more than botanic enthusiasm。 The regard in
which they are held is truly emotional； and it not actually individual in its
object； at least personal to the species。 Each kind of tree as its season
brings it into flower is made the occasion of a festival。 For the beauty of
the blossoming receives the tribute of a national admiration。 From peers to
populace mankind turns out to witness it。 Nor are these occasions few。
Spring in the Far East is one long chain of flower fetes； and as spring
begins by the end of January and lasts till the middle of June； opportunities
for appreciating each in turn are not half spoiled by a common
contemporaneousness。 People have not only occasion but time to admire。
Indeed； spring itself is suitably respected by being dated conformably to
fact。 Far Orientals begin their year when Nature begins hers； instead of
starting anachronously as we do in the very middle of the dead season；
much as our colleges hold their commencements； on the last in place at on
the first day of the academic term。 So previous has the haste of Western
civilization become。 The result is that our rejoicing partakes of the
incongruity of humor。 The new year exists only in name。 In the Far
East； on the other band； the calendar is made to fit the time。 Men begin
to reckon their year some three weeks later than the Western world； just as
the plum…tree opens its pink white petals； as it were； in rosy reflection of
the snow that lies yet upon the ground。 But the coldness of the weather
does not in the least deter people from thronging the spot in which the
trees grow； where they spend hours in admiration； and end by pinning
appropriate poems on the twigs for later comers to peruse。 Fleeting as
the flowers are in fact； they live forever in fancy。 For they constitute one
of the commonest motifs of both painting and poetry。 A branch just
breaking into bloom seen against the sunrise sky； or a bough bending its
blossoms to the bosom of a stream； is subject enough for their greatest
masters； who thus wed； as it were； two arts in one；the spirit of poesy with
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pictorial form。 This plum…tree is but a blossom。 Precocious harbinger of
a host of flowers； its gay heralding over； it vanishes not to be recalled； for
it bears no edible fruit。
The next event in the series might fairly be called phenomenal。 Early
in April takes place what is perhaps as superb a sight as anything in this
world； the blossoming of the cherry…trees。 Indeed； it is not easy to do the
thing justice in description。 If the plum invited admiration； the cherry
commands it； for to see the sakura in flower for the first time is to
experience a new sensation。 Familiar as a man may be with cherry
blossoms at home； the sight there b
