1. Many centuries ago in ancient
China lived a young man named
Chuang. Although only a lower level government
official, he believed he
was ready to marry. He had received a traditional
education, including
close study of the Book of Songs. The object
of his affection was
Chiang. In the spring of the year he began his
courtship, presenting
himself courteously to his beloved.
2. Chiang was the lovely daughter
of a well-to-do family. Trained
in literature, music, art, and dance, she had already
known many
admirers. When Chuang expressed his interest,
she told him gently but
firmly that she was not for him. In fact, she
had already turned away a
number of suitors, whom she saw as little men, not
the great one she was
destined to wait for. She sent him away in the
summer.
3. After months of unhappiness,
Chuang found he could not accept
Chiang's decision. He pressed his suit again
in the fall. Pointing out
that if Chiang did not receive him as a lover, she
might grow old
without a husband. It was every woman's role
to become a wife and
mother, he argued. He was rising in his profession.
He knew how to act
in polite society. Why not take him?
4. All through the winter, Chiang
continued to resist. In many
meetings with the young man she explained that he
did not understand her
family, its ancient traditions. She had to do
as her ancestors desired,
something he could never know. Things had been
done in a certain way
for as long as anyone could remember. She forbad
him to entrance to her
home.
5. Spring came again, and Chuang
began to act crazy. He tried to
break into Chiang's family estate. He could
not live without her, he
said. And she should not be ruled by her family's
outmoded ideas. Come
away with me, he pleaded. Do not think of your
father and mother, your
brothers, the people. She said no again.
6. By summer Chuang had accepted
his lot. Others of his people had
suffered disappointment but, within themselves, found
the strength to
endure. He lived alone now and tended a modest
garden. He put away the
fruits of many harvests and knew that he was serving
others. While his
own life would end, Chou culture would stand for many
generations to come.