the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第17章
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to mankind。 She is too impersonal for any personification； for she is
Nature。
That poet whose name carries with it a certain presumption of
infallibility has told us that 〃the proper study of mankind is man；〃 and if
material advancement in consequence be any criterion of the fitness of a
particular mental pursuit； events have assuredly justified the saying。
Indeed； the Levant has helped antithetically to preach the same lesson； in
showing us by its own fatal example that the improper study of mankind is
woman； and that they who but follow the fair will inevitably degenerate。
The Far Oriental knows nothing of either study； and cares less。 The
delight of self…exploration； or the possibly even greater delight of losing
one's self in trying to fathom femininity； is a sensation equally foreign to
his temperament。 Neither the remarkable persistence of one's own
characteristics； not infrequently matter of deep regret to their possessor；
nor the charmingly unaccountable variability of the fairer sex； at times
quite as annoying； is a phenomenon sufficient to stir his curiosity。
Accepting； as he does； the existing state of things more as a material fact
than as a phase in a gradual process of development； he regards humanity
as but a small part of the great natural world； instead of considering it the
crowning glory of the whole。 He recognizes man merely as a fraction of
the universe；one might almost say as a vulgar fraction of it； considering
the low regard in which he is held；and accords him his proportionate
share of attention； and no more。
In his thought； nature is not accessory to man。 Worthy M。 Perichon；
of prosaic； not to say philistinic fame； had； as we remember； his travels
immortalized in a painting where a colossal Perichon in front almost
completely eclipsed a tiny Mont Blanc behind。 A Far Oriental thinks
poetry； which may possibly account for the fact that in his mind…pictures
the relative importance of man and mountain stands reversed。 〃The
matchless Fuji；〃 first of motifs in his art； admits no pilgrim as its peer。
Nor is it to woman that turn his thoughts。 Mother Earth is fairer； in
his eyes； than are any of her daughters。 To her is given the heart that
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should be theirs。 The Far Eastern love of Nature amounts almost to a
passion。 To the study of her ever varying moods her Japanese admirer
brings an impersonal adoration that combines oddly the aestheticism of a
poet with the asceticism of a recluse。 Not that he worships in secret；
however。 His passion is too genuine either to find disguise or seek
display。 With us； unfortunately； the love of Nature is apt to be considered
a mental extravagance peculiar to poets； excusable in exact ratio to the
ability to give it expression。 For an ordinary mortal to feel a fondness for
Mother Earth is a kind of folly； to be carefully concealed from his fellows。
A sort of shamefacedness prevents him from avowing it； as a boy at
boarding…school hides his homesickness； or a lad his love。 He shrinks
from appearing less pachydermatous than the rest。 Or else he flies to the
other extreme； and affects the odd； pretends； poses； parades； and at last
succeeds half in duping himself； half in deceiving other people。 But with
Far Orientals the case is different。 Their love has all the unostentatious
assurance of what has received the sanction of public opinion。 Nor is it
still at that doubtful； hesitating stage when； by the instrumentality of a
third； its soul…harmony can suddenly be changed from the jubilant major
key into the despairing minor。 No trace of sadness tinges his delight。 He
has long since passed this melancholy phase of erotic misery； if so be that
the course of his true love did not always run smooth； and is now well on
in matrimonial bliss。 The very look of the land is enough to betray the
fact。 In Japan the landscape has an air of domesticity about it； patent
even to the most casual observer。 Wherever the Japanese has come in
contact with the country he has made her unmistakably his own。 He has
touched her to caress； not injure； and it seems as if Nature accepted his
fondness as a matter of course； and yielded him a wifely submission in
return。 His garden is more human； even； than his house。 Not only is
everything exquisitely in keeping with man； but natural features are
actually changed； plastic to the imprint of their lord and master's mind。
Bushes； shrubs； trees； forget to follow their original intent； and grow as he
wills them to； now expanding in wanton luxuriance； now contracting into
dwarf designs of their former selves； all to obey his caprice and please his
eye。 Even stubborn rocks lose their wildness； and come to seem a part of
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the almost sentient life around them。 If the description of such
dutifulness seems fanciful； the thing itself surpasses all supposition。
Hedges and shrubbery； clipped into the most fantastic shapes； accept the
suggestion of the pruning…knife as if man's wishes were their own whims。
Manikin maples； Tom Thumb trees； a foot high and thirty years old； with
all the gnarls and knots and knuckles of their fellows of the forest； grow in
his parterres； their native vitality not a whit diminished。 And they are not
regarded as monstrosities but only as the most natural of artificialities； for
they are a part of a horticultural whole。 To walk into a Japanese garden
is like wandering of a sudden into one of those strange worlds we see
reflected in the polished surface of a concave mirror； where all but the
observer himself is transformed into a fantastic miniature of the reality。
In that quaint fairyland diminutive rivers flow gracefully under tiny trees；
past mole…hill mountains； till they fall at last into lilliputian lakes； almost
smothered for the flowers that grow upon their banks； while in the extreme
distance of a couple of rods the cone of a Fuji ten feet high looks
approvingly down upon a scene which would be nationally incomplete
without it。
But besides the delights of domesticity which the Japanese enjoys
daily in Nature's company； he has his acces de tendresse； too。 When he
feels thus specially stirred； he invites a chosen few of his friends； equally
infatuated； and together they repair to some spot noted for its scenery。 It
may be a waterfall； or some dreamy pond overhung by trees； or the distant
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 app
