The Philosophy of a Noachide Chinese

I absolutely loathed the term Noachide, as it has a connotation of a new religion. In fact what we are doing now is nothing new, we are just going back to our root, rediscovering our heritage. As now I am advantageous enough to know of a few people of different religious background, I have come to a conclusion that actually we are just not that different from others. Well, we could have different perspective on various issues, the solution is often the same. Figuring out the Godhead that is...

The discovery

What made me realise this point is my current involvement with the Hanfu innovators movement. I termed them innovators as they accept new elements readily and though they do practice traditional rituals and decorums, they do add and subtract to the rituals as they seem fitting in modern society. In my opinion, this is not something that is arduously wrong. It is rather an honest remark and a practical way to reintroduce what had lost for generations.

Well, knowing myself, I am someone who prefers things to be 'original' so to speak. Even if it is NOT original I would like to know from which source it derives from, and which formulaic principle is used to create it. I am not someone who would take things that are plausible in every way but are created out of no where.

The discovery I have made so far, corresponded to my belief (as a 27 years old that is...), that each and every belief is much closer than you think. Why we are different is because we differ from each other habitually, culturally, and philosophically. Deep down, we are the same. We have the same yearning for the basic things in life. Water, food, oxygen, and Divinity.

What we should do is, instead of proclaiming anyone being greater than anyone, it is better to acknowledge that everyone is as equal as everyone else. Why we are different culturally? It is because we do things different from each other. Something that has go on for at least a few thousands years couldn't be VERY wrong. My argument is always that, as a Chinese, we have everything in a complete set and why would we want to vouch for others' when we have our own way of doing things?

Religion aside, as this is a complete different matter. Religion entails belief and when it comes to belief, it is a rather personal thing. Culturally, we can choose but before we choose, why don't we try exploring something closer to home first?

The Realisation

That music cultivates the mind and soothe the soul is true. I would like to quote my own personal experience, whee I believe that proper music conditions the mind in a fitting way. What we feed ourselves with tell a lot to others. Our Chinese Sages talk about proper music or elegant music, if you may, condition a person to act accordingly. What entails proper music is the thing that I am currently interested in.

May I find what I am looking for.

菁菁者莪 (Luscious is the Tarragon)

Though modified from a marriage poem, this shi is used to celebrate the audience given by a feudal lord to a vassal.

菁菁者莪

菁菁者莪、在彼中阿。
旣見君子、樂且有儀。

菁菁者莪、在彼中沚。
旣見君子、我心則喜。

菁菁者莪、在彼中陵。
旣見君子、錫我百朋。

汎汎楊舟、載沈載浮。
旣見君子、我心則休。

Luscious is the Tarragon

Lusciously the tarragon grows,

In the midst of the slope.

The audience with our lord,

Blissful but yet courteous.

Lusciously the tarragon grows,

In the centre of the islet.

The audience with our lord,

Gladdens my heart.

Lusciously the tarragon grows,

In the middle of the mound.

The audience with our lord,

Bestows me much prosperity.

Unsteadily the osier boat rocks,

Oft-times it plunges and bobs.

The audience with our lord,

Has set my heart to rest.