The Chinese literati often chose a poetic name for their study rooms. I chose one for mine, too. It is called “You-Bu-Wei-Jhai.” This is quite a long name, but much shorter, not even half of the length, than another well-known study room called “Yang Guan Qian Qi Bai Er Shi Qi He.” The inspiration came from Kang You-wei, a reformist in 1898. If there is “You Wei (capable of accomplishing things),” then there must be an opposite meaning: You Bu Wei (there are some things you choose not to do). Essentially, everything shares the same meaning with its opposite. Therefore, from this point of view, Kang You-wei and I basically hold the same ideals despite our different positions. In addition, Mencius also said, “Only when you begin to choose not to do certain things can you do something.” Naming my study room “You-Bu-Wei-Jhai” has another benefit: it connotes Chinese literary elegance. The meaning of the name infers “I am not able,” “I choose to do nothing,” and “I am one who can do nothing.” Therefore, the name of my study room will undoubtedly be on par with other elegant study room names such as “Yang Yu Zhai,” “Gu Yu Lu,” “Cang Zhuo Shan Fang (this may also be a store name on the fourth floor of a department store in China),” etc.
My friends often ask me why I decided on this name. And, what are the big things I intend not to do? This would be a difficult question for anyone, not just me. I really don’t know how many things I intend not to do. Besides, I hadn’t thought about this at all until someone brought up these questions to me for the first time. Now everything is popping up in my mind as I sit here in front of the typewriter. I originally felt that what I do should be to beg for God’s mercy. However, that I choose not to do certain things is indeed my merit and this will help me go to heaven. Here they are:
I don’t ask famous people to write congratulatory words to show off my connections.
I can never memorize the founding father’s will. During the three-minute silence when the will is being read, I can’t help having a lot of things in mind. I have never abandoned my wife. And I am not qualified to be an education leader. I have not been and will never be a government official who wears western clothes while presenting local products respectfully to the ruler, depreciating our own culture while flattering foreign ones. I will never go to a sports event by car to promote sports.
I don’t take those who have done the above-mentioned things seriously. I abhor those who abuse their power. I have never thought about leaning on powerful connections. I never changed my stance upon a change in the situation. Whether physically, spiritually or politically, I don’t even know how to judge the situation.
I have never written a line of words to flatter or please rich and influential people. Nor will I ever write an article to praise them.
I have never said any word to flatter others: I haven’t even ever considered it.
I never say today the moon is square and, one week later, say it is round, because I have very good memory. I never molest young women, so I don’t regard them as “disasters.” I don’t agree with long-legged general Chang Chong-chang who claims that young women should be banned from entering parks in order to “protect their virtue.”
I have never been paid for doing no work.
I always like revolutions, but I dislike revolutionaries.
I never feel self-congratulatory. I can’t help feeling ashamed when looking at my face in the mirror.
I have never beaten or scolded my servants. Instead, I ask them to see me as a good man. My servants never expect me to earn big money. They know how I make a living.
I would never like my servants to blackmail me as if they were entitled to. I don’t want to give them impression that they have the right to blackmail me because they thought I blackmailed other people and I should be punished.
I have never sent any article about me to a newspaper. Nor have I asked my secretary to do so.
I have never printed handsome enlarged photos, given them to my sons, and asked them to hang them in the living room.
I have never pretended to like those who don’t like me. I have never shrunk away from troubles nor tried to deceive people.
I extremely dislike low-class politicians. I will not join any group that has something to do with me in which I will argue with them. I always stay away from them because I hate their attitudes.
When discussing the politics of my country, I have never shown any indifferent attitudes, thought it to be none of my business, or changed my stance depending on the situations. I never pretend to be knowledgeable, criticize other people’s shortcomings, or boast about myself.
I never pat people on their shoulders and act as a generous man. Nor have I ever joined any Rotary Club election. I like the Rotary Club as much as I like the Young Men’s Christian Association.
I have never helped a city girl or a county girl.
I think I am no less of a person than anyone else. If God loves me, just half as much as my mother loves me, then he will surely not send me to hell. However, if I can’t go to heaven, then the world is surely coming to its end.
The Chinese literati often chose a poetic name for their study rooms. I chose one for mine, too. It is called “You-Bu-Wei-Jhai.” This is quite a long name, but much shorter, not even half of the length, than another well-known study room called “Yang Guan Qian Qi Bai Er Shi Qi He.” The inspiration came from Kang You-wei, a reformist in 1898. If there is “You Wei (capable of accomplishing things),” then there must be an opposite meaning: You Bu Wei (there are some things you choose not to do). Essentially, everything shares the same meaning with its opposite. Therefore, from this point of view, Kang You-wei and I basically hold the same ideals despite our different positions. In addition, Mencius also said, “Only when you begin to choose not to do certain things can you do something.” Naming my study room “You-Bu-Wei-Jhai” has another benefit: it connotes Chinese literary elegance. The meaning of the name infers “I am not able,” “I choose to do nothing,” and “I am one who can do nothing.” Therefore, the name of my study room will undoubtedly be on par with other elegant study room names such as “Yang Yu Zhai,” “Gu Yu Lu,” “Cang Zhuo Shan Fang (this may also be a store name on the fourth floor of a department store in China),” etc.
My friends often ask me why I decided on this name. And, what are the big things I intend not to do? This would be a difficult question for anyone, not just me. I really don’t know how many things I intend not to do. Besides, I hadn’t thought about this at all until someone brought up these questions to me for the first time. Now everything is popping up in my mind as I sit here in front of the typewriter. I originally felt that what I do should be to beg for God’s mercy. However, that I choose not to do certain things is indeed my merit and this will help me go to heaven. Here they are:
I don’t ask famous people to write congratulatory words to show off my connections.
I can never memorize the founding father’s will. During the three-minute silence when the will is being read, I can’t help having a lot of things in mind. I have never abandoned my wife. And I am not qualified to be an education leader. I have not been and will never be a government official who wears western clothes while presenting local products respectfully to the ruler, depreciating our own culture while flattering foreign ones. I will never go to a sports event by car to promote sports.
I don’t take those who have done the above-mentioned things seriously. I abhor those who abuse their power. I have never thought about leaning on powerful connections. I never changed my stance upon a change in the situation. Whether physically, spiritually or politically, I don’t even know how to judge the situation.
I have never written a line of words to flatter or please rich and influential people. Nor will I ever write an article to praise them.
I have never said any word to flatter others: I haven’t even ever considered it.
I never say today the moon is square and, one week later, say it is round, because I have very good memory. I never molest young women, so I don’t regard them as “disasters.” I don’t agree with long-legged general Chang Chong-chang who claims that young women should be banned from entering parks in order to “protect their virtue.”
I have never been paid for doing no work.
I always like revolutions, but I dislike revolutionaries.
I never feel self-congratulatory. I can’t help feeling ashamed when looking at my face in the mirror.
I have never beaten or scolded my servants. Instead, I ask them to see me as a good man. My servants never expect me to earn big money. They know how I make a living.
I would never like my servants to blackmail me as if they were entitled to. I don’t want to give them impression that they have the right to blackmail me because they thought I blackmailed other people and I should be punished.
I have never sent any article about me to a newspaper. Nor have I asked my secretary to do so.
I have never printed handsome enlarged photos, given them to my sons, and asked them to hang them in the living room.
I have never pretended to like those who don’t like me. I have never shrunk away from troubles nor tried to deceive people.
I extremely dislike low-class politicians. I will not join any group that has something to do with me in which I will argue with them. I always stay away from them because I hate their attitudes.
When discussing the politics of my country, I have never shown any indifferent attitudes, thought it to be none of my business, or changed my stance depending on the situations. I never pretend to be knowledgeable, criticize other people’s shortcomings, or boast about myself.
I never pat people on their shoulders and act as a generous man. Nor have I ever joined any Rotary Club election. I like the Rotary Club as much as I like the Young Men’s Christian Association.
I have never helped a city girl or a county girl.
I think I am no less of a person than anyone else. If God loves me, just half as much as my mother loves me, then he will surely not send me to hell. However, if I can’t go to heaven, then the world is surely coming to its end.
