世新中文 ‧ 中國文學名著英譯選讀教室

The arts of Sleeping, Walking, Sitting, and Standing

from The Arts of Living

Li Yü (1610/11-1680)

There are many ways of enjoying life that are hard to hold down to any one theory. There are the joys of sleeping, of sitting, of walking, and of standing up. There is the pleasure in eating, washing up, hairdressing, and even in such lowly activities as going about naked and barefooted, or going to the toilet. In its proper place, each can be enjoyable. If one can enter into the spirit of fun and take things in his stride anywhere any time, one can enjoy some things over which others may weep. On the other hand, if one is a crude person and awkward in meeting life or taking care of one’s health, he can be the saddest person amidst sing and dance. I speak here only of the joys of daily living and of the ways in which advantage may be taken of the commonest occupations.

1. The Art of Sleeping

There a yogi who traveled about, teaching the secrets of conservation of force and of prolonging life, and he wanted me to be his pupil. I asked him what he could do to attain longevity and where such blessings were to be found. I thought it would be fine if his methods agreed with my way of thinking, and if not, I could at least befriend him.

This man told me that the secret of longevity lay in controlled breathing, and peace of mind was to be sought through séance. I said to him, “Your ways are hard and forced, and only people like you can practice it. I am lazy and like motion. I seek joy in everything. I am afraid it is not for me.”

“What is your way then?” he asked. “I should like to hear it, and we can compare notes.”

And this is what I said to him:

In the natural scheme of things, it is meant for man to spend half his time in activity and half at rest. In the day, he sits, moves, or stands, and at night, he rest by night and continues this day after day, you can get ready and wait for his funeral to pass by. I try to keep my health by dividing half my time in rest and half my time in activity. If something troubles me and prevents me from sleep, there’s the danger signal! I should count my remaining years on my fingers!

In other words, the secret of good health lies in a good and restful sleep. One who sleeps well restores his energy, revitalizes his inner system, and tones up his muscles. If you do not believe me, compare a sick man with a healthy person. A man who is permitted to rest will get sick; his eyes become sunken, and all kinds of symptoms appear. A sick man becomes worse without sleep. But after a good sleep, he wakes up full of eagerness for life again. Is not sleep the infallible miracle drug, not just a cure for one illness but for a hundred, a cure that saves a thousand lives? To seek health by controlled breathing and the hard exercises of sitting in meditation would only involve great concentration and effort to keep awake instead! Would I throw away the best medicine in the world for an untested formula?

The man left abruptly, considering me not worth his time. And, indeed, I am not worth his teaching: I merely presented what I myself had achieved, sincerely for the sake of discussion, to see clearly which way is better.

An ancient poem goes, “After a long, sound sleep in bamboo-shaded quiet, I feel so far removed from the day’s turmoil. If the hermit if Huashan comes to visit me, I shall not ask for the secret of becoming an immortal, but of sleeping well.” A modern saying goes, “First rest your mind, then rest your eyes.”

There is a proper time and a proper place for sleep, and there are certain sleeping habits which should be avoided. To be specific, one should rest between 9 P.M. and 8 A.M to go to bed before nine is too early; it is a bad sign to be craving for sleep kike a sick person. To sleep after eight in the morning is bad for health, like all oversleeping. Where would be the time left for other pleasures?

I know a friend who never gets up before noon, and anyone visiting him before noon is kept waiting. One day I sat miserably in his parlor waiting, and with ink and brush ready, I playfully parodied an ancient poem and wrote as follows

I am busy sleeping,

Throughout the whole morn.

If I live to seventy,

Five and thirty are gone.

Although it was done in fun, it is close to the truth. One should only sleep at night as a rule. The pleasure of an afternoon nap is understandable, but it should be reserved only summer when the day is long and the night is short. It is natural that one tires easily in the heat, and it is as good for man to sleep when tired as to drink when thirsty. This is common sense. The best time is after lunch. One should wait a while until the food is partly digested and then leisurely stroll toward the couch. Do not tell yourself that you are determined to get a nap. In that way, the mind is tense and the sleep will not be sound. Occupy yourself with something first and before it is finished, you are overcome with a sense of fatigue and the sandman calls. The never-never land cannot be chased down. I love that line in a poem which says, “Dozing off, the book slips out of my hand.” Thus sleep comes without his artifice or knowledge. This is the secret of the art of sleeping.

Next, one must consider the place, which should be cool and quiet. If it is not the eyes rest but not the ears. If it is too hot, the soul rests but not the body, and body and soul are at loggerheads. This goes against the principle of good health.

Lastly, we will consider the sleeper himself. Some people are busy, and others have plenty of time. Logically, the man of leisure needs little sleep; it is the busy man who needs it most of all. But often the busy man cannot sleep well. He rest his eyes in sleep but not his mind. In fact, he gets no rest from sleep at all. The worst of it is to think of something during the half-awake hours of the morning and suddenly remember something he hasn’t done or someone hasn’t seen. It is very, very important! He must not sleep another wink or something will be spoiled! That very thought drives away all sleep. He becomes tense and gets up more keyed up than before. Such is the rest of the busy man. The man of leisure rests his mind before his eyes are shut, and his mind wakes up refreshed before his eyes are open, happy to slumber and happier to wake up. Such is the sleep of the man of leisure.

Yet in this world how many such idle men are there? All men cannot lead a life nothing to do. Therefore a method must be found. It is best to dispose of the urgent business of the day in the morning, and delegate to others those things that are not finished. Then one knows that everything is in order and under control. He can afford to seek the pillow and go for that slumber which is described as the “dark, sweet village.” He will then sleep as well as the man of leisure.

Another thing: to enjoy sleep requires a peaceful conscience. Such a man will not be “frightened when there is a knock on the door at midnight,” as the saying goes. He will not mistake the peckings of chickens in the barnyard for policemen’s footsteps!

1. The Art of Walking

The rich man will go out only in a horse and carriage. It may be called a comfort and a luxury, but it can hardly be said that it fulfills the intention of the Creator in giving man a pair of legs. He who does not use his legs is by that very fact deprived of the use of his legs. On the other hand, a man who uses his legs is giving exercise to his entire body. That is why an ancient poor scholar boasted that “a leisurely stroll is as good as a drive.” Now to drive or to go on foot are both methods of transportation or locomotion. A man who is used to driving or riding on horseback can learn to enjoy the pleasures of a walk. Perhaps he comes upon a beautiful view or beautiful flowers on the way, or stops to talk with a peasant in his palm hat or meets a recluse philosopher-turned-woodcutter in the deep mountains. Sometimes one might enjoy a drive, and sometimes a walk. Surely this is better than the obstinacy of that proud scholar of ancient days!

What the poor man can be truly proud of is not the fact that he uses his legs, but that he does not depend on others for going anywhere. If he is not in a hurry, he can go slowly, and if he is, he breaks into a run. He does not have to wait for someone else, and he is not dependent on the carriage, unlike the rich man who is helpless when the driver is not there. The poor man has fulfilled the intentions of the Creator in giving him legs to walk with. It makes me happy just to think of this.

1. The Art of Sitting

No one knew the art of living better than Confucius. I know this from the statement that he “did not sleep like a corpse and did not sit like a statue.” If the Master had been completely absorbed in keeping decorum, intent on appearing like a gentleman at all hours and being seen as a sage at all times, then he would have had to lie down like a corpse and sit like a statue. His four limbs and his internal system would never have been able to relax. How could such a stiff wooden statue expect to live a life? Because Confucius did not do this, the statement describes the ease of the Master in his private life, which makes him worthy of worship as father of all cultured gentlemen. We should follow Confucius’ example when at home. Do not sit erect and look severe as if you were chained or glued to the chair. Hug your knee and sing, or sit chin in hand, without honoring it with the phrase of “losing oneself in thought.” On the other hand, if a person sits stiffly for a long time, head high and chest out, this is a premonition that he is heading for the grave. He is sitting for his memorial portrait!

1. The Art of Standing

Stand straight, but do not do it for long. Otherwise, all leg muscles will become stiff and circulation will be blocked up. Lean on something on an old pine or a quaint rock, or on a balcony or on a bamboo cane. It makes one look like one is in a painting. But do not lean on a lady! The foundation is not solid and the roof may come down!

Translated by Lin Yutang