(Minghui.org) This year's Shen Yun show includes two pieces about relationships between a young man and a young woman. Some practitioners thought such programs should not be displayed on Shen Yun's sacred stage. They argued that the stories were advocating free love, which is associated with the degenerate culture of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
I think these practitioners have been poisoned by the CCP, which has stolen bits and pieces of traditional culture for its own use and confused people. As a result, some people took the evil CCP's culture as traditional culture. Even Dafa practitioners who thought they were cultivating well had such misunderstandings. As to the point, it's evident how badly the Party has destroyed Chinese culture.
The following quotes about Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, whose love story is featured in Shen Yun, are from documents written in the Tang and Song dynasties.
Early in the Tang dynasty, Mr. Liang Zaiyan wrote in Shi Dao Si Fan, “The righteous woman Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo were buried in the same tomb.” It's the earliest mention of the couple's story.
In the late Tang Dynasty, Ms. Zhang Du wrote in Xuan Shi Zhi, “Yingtai, daughter of an local official surnamed Zhu in Yu County (located in today's Zhejiang Province), disguised herself as a young man and left home. She met Liang Shanbo and studied with him in Huiji (located in today's Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province). Zhu returned home before Liang. Two years later, Shanbo visited his former classmate and figured out Yingtai was a woman. He was at a loss and asked her parents for permission to marry her, but her parents had already promised her to Ma's family. Shanbo later was assigned to work as the Yin County magistrate, died of illness, and was buried in west Mao County (next to Yin County). When Yingtai was forced to marry Ma and her boat was passing Shanbo's grave, the wind suddenly shifted and the boat was becalmed. She knew Shanbo's tomb was nearby, so she got off the boat and went to take a look. Zhu Yingtai's sorrow made the tomb crack and open, and she jumped into it and was buried with Shanbo. Xie An, Jin Dynasty Prime Minister, reported it to the emperor, who named the tomb 'Righteous Woman Tomb.'”
Song Dynasty literature also mentions her in Siming Local History by Zhang Jin: “The Righteous Tomb is the grave of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who were buried together. A temple was located in the west of the county as a memorial to the couple. It's recorded that they had been classmates for three years, but Shanbo didn't know Yingtai was a woman. They were so innocent.” It's also recorded in Shidao Sifan that “Righteous Woman Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo were buried together.”
Though briefly mentioned in literature, Zhu Yingtai was highly praised as a righteous woman. I believe she was incredibly righteous. When her marriage boat passed Liang Shanbo's grave, it cracked open and Zhu Yingtai jumped into the tomb and was buried with Liang Shanbo. I think it was a righteous act. How many people are so greedy when it comes to earthly joys but then drift and live without purpose? People often ask, “How much is a pound of righteousness?” Zhu Yingtai's righteous act is really worth thinking about.
The Song Dynasty author Zhang Jin who wrote “They were so innocent” about Yingtai and Lian Shanbo was amazed at their simplicity! Today, however, relationships between men and women often fall below the bottom rung of acceptable human behavior. The difference between noble and sordid is obvious.
Another program in this year's Shen Yun show tells about a general's daughter who fell in love with a craftsman who carved Taoist statues. They exchanged tokens of love. One of the general's subordinates, who had evil intentions on the daughter, reported it to the general. Furious, the general brandished his sword to kill the craftsman but killed his own daughter instead. The general was so grief-stricken that he felt as if a knife was being twisted in his heart. Before her death, his daughter had told him not to embarrass the craftsman. The craftsman knelt down immediately, kowtowed, and worshipped the god. His piety touched the god, who brought the general's daughter back to life. The couple kowtowed to the god, expressing their gratitude.
My understanding of this story is that it's the compassionate gods who truly cherish life and tolerate human beings. Just think, such a couple was saved by a god. If they couldn't become guardians of the gods or practitioners, they would at least be a couple who believed in gods.
What I want to say is: Fellow practitioners, Shen Yun's programs were monitored and produced by Master Li. If we understand them from the perspective and realm of degenerated people today, we can't understand real things. So please keep it to yourself if you can't understand it. Confucious said, “It's wise to hold what you know and admit it when you do not know; this will lead to knowledge.”
Above is my personal sharing. If you find anything inappropriate, please point it out and correct it.
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Category: Improving Oneself
