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SUN Dawu 孙大午: Philosopher (3)
"Confucius said that true knowledge consists in knowing that we know what we do know, and that we do not know what we do not know. False knowledge consists in thinking that we know what we do not know and that we do not know what we do know."
On Life, Chapter XII, Leo Tolstoy
知道别人的优点，知道别人的缺点。知道别人优点中的缺点，知道别人缺点中的优点。才是知道别人。先知道别人，然后教育别人，
Sun spent ten years in the military where he became a leader of men and master of machinery. Then, ten years were spent in the Department of Agriculture where he became an agricultural and banking expert. Then, when reaching middle age, the business was launched on only 10,000 yuan or the equivalent of $2000 Canadian. It is now a multi-million dollar vertically integrated enterprise.
If one can judge character by appearance then it may be concluded that Sun is supremely serene. One has the overall impression of a dignified country gentleman without pretence. A sense of calmness and quietude pervades his face. His eyelids appear half-open or half-closed as if they were simultaneously open to truth and closed to untruth. His sweater is a familiar favorite which is worn thread-bare at the elbows. It covers a slightly portly belly which suggests a contentedness with self and affable disposition towards others. Finally, one senses that his physical motions are economical in nature so that his energy can be channeled into mental and spiritual endeavors.
I recall my first visit to the Dawu Group as I sit on a bench at the Confucian temple built during the Yuan Dynasty (1302 A.D.) in the nation's capital. Its most precious relics are eight stone drums of the Zhou Dynasty (827-782 B.C) inscribed with four-letter poems. In the main hall there is a shrine for holding memorial ceremonies to ancestors of Confucius. It is rather sad to see the temple in a gross state of neglect and disrepair.
In contrast, the Dawu Group is alive with growth and prospects of continued prosperity. A statue of a rearing white stallion greeted me at the entrance. Next, I am dazzled by a mosaic rooster as I read the lines of a couplet "As the rooster announces the arrival of the dawn, a chick strikes open the shell of a chaotic universe". Finally, I see real animals---thousands of roosters, hens and chicks. Do you think a chick is cuddly? You'll find 60,000 cuddlesome chicks per day on this farm.
Sun's enterprise is both a manufacturing and farming operation. Sun Dawu is the Chairman of the company. It has six branches: namely, Dawu Forge Co. Ltd., Dawu Hatchery Co. Ltd., Dawu Provision Co. Ltd., Dawu Electronic and Electric Co. Ltd., Dawu Grape Development Co. Ltd., and Dawu Middle School ( Senior, Junior and Primary).
In classical Chinese tradition, the "Dawu" meant the final dance. This dance symbolized the sixth or last of a series of dynasties. The dance dealt with a realistic subject. According to Confucius who saw it performed, the Dawu was a dance of perfect beauty.
The processing and manufacturing side of the business is impressive. There were several factories processing wheat and corn into animal feed. There was a production line filled with hatchery machines which were destined for the national and international markets.
However, Sun also wanted to see other farmers successful, too. He advised them on how to enter the business and duplicate his success. And he was successful. He established the 344th largest private enterprise in China. Sun is 365. Do I mean the number of solar days or the 365th wealtiest person in the People's Republic of China according to Forbes?
The middle school's buildings rise up in their own quarter. There are many more buildings than I had imagined. As I walked from older buildings to newer ones, I saw the construction lessons learned and applied.
The cafeterias were fascinating. There were ten different types of kitchens to suit the various ethnic tastes of a diverse student population. In other words, more than lip service was paid to the rights of minorities. The older students were privileged to sit at table and chair. However, the younger students stood while they ate at a large circular table. There were 1000 young students in the giant hall which also doubled as a cinema.
What was a typical study day for the studious? Wake up at 5:45 a.m. for a ten minute exercise (one of several exercise periods between classes). Then, there is an hour of class before breakfast. There are eight more hours of class punctuated by rest and meal times. Next, one and a half hours of supervised homework in the classroom. One half hour is allowed to prepare for bed. Sleep time was at 10 p.m. The teaching program runs seven days a week. This is one of the most impressive learning schedules implemented with quality education that I have ever seen whether one compares it to Chinese or international schools. This type of program and school is a strategic necessity for the countryside and country.
The garden was a haven or heaven for anyone who wished to visit---peasant, farmer, student or teacher. It began with a fountained goldfish pond whose sole amphibian resident was a bullfrog. Vines and willows were recently planted to relieve the eye and ear.
Then one proceeded along a winding track which was fronted and flanked by canals whose banks were overgrown with a degree of luxuriant foliage which had reached that harmonious state between growth and decay. One might say that the beech was popular and the poplar was beached. The waters reflecting the verdure were still and tranquil.
An ornamental Chinese pavilion graced the landscape. It was dedicated to Sun's wife. The shrine had an aura of a life of love.
At the end of the path were two swimming pools. The waters were unquiet as students splashed, plunged and jumped. They forgot temporarily their aspirations to be child ren (person/people) and again became children.
In harmony with the environment there is a Confucian museum. It is home to a bronze casting of Confucius who was one of the greatest philosophers; as well as other luminaries from the distant past. It is a place of peace.
An enchanting song wafted by the wind we heard. It was the school anthem written by Sun. Its lyrics are as follows:
Tomorrow's Sun Will Rise From Here
Oh, salute the national flag
in the early morning dawn!
Know to study and forge ahead
as this is the way to awareness.
There is a path of hard work
to climb the mountain of books.
The vast seas of knowledge are
better crossed with sound boat.
Seek knowledge, pursue truth
and understand reality's nature.
We have our vigour and
we've our willpower to win.
For your self-respect and
the honour of Dawu School,
Overcome all difficulties through
clear thought and decisive action.
Oh Dawu School!
The brilliance of yesterday continues today.
The sun of Dawu's dawn will come from here.
The sun of tomorrow will rise from here.
II
Oh, salute the school flag
in the auroral rural dawn!
Accept challenge and recognize opportunity
as here lays a solid foundation.
All comers go forthrightly
to all corners of the country.
Today's success or failure is decided on strength:
Tomorrow's win or defeat
is determined by eternal values.
Seek goodness, justice
and realistic truth.
For your self respect and
the honour of Dawu School,
Overcome all difficulties through
clear thought and decisive action.
Oh Dawu Students!
The brilliance of yesterday continues today.
The sun of Dawu's dawn will come from here.
The sun of tomorrow will rise from here.
The school anthem as written by the Master SUN Dawu 柾寄怜
(copyright 2003)
It helps me to recollect the essence of Sun's philosophy through sit still meditation in a Chinese pavilion at the Temple of the Earth. Basically, he wished to transform his agricultural enterprise into a cultural concern as he, too, underwent the metamorphosis from farmer to philosopher. The process had begun with the establishment of a middle school several years ago. It promulgated virtues similar to those supported by the 4-H program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help young people become productive citizens; namely improve the head, heart, hands and health.
He conceived of the idea of extending his school into a college which would provide vocational training for young people by empowering them to get jobs in the service sector. The area of specialization was tourism and hotel management. A cooperative program would be established in conjunction with various national hotels. Its foundation was a partnership with a Canadian college which would provide professionals with knowledge, resources and skills in these specialized sectors. The program would be broadened through linkage with three universities in Beijing, a university in Sydney, Australia, a college in Japan, four middle schools in other provinces and a four star hotel.
These international cooperative endeavours would ensure a broad cultural exchange in a new field called cultour or culture and tourism. It would initially bring Canadian teachers on a rotating basis to the global village college. Canadian students enrolled in the training program could also receive credit for their overseas hands-on-training at the college's existing hotel and other Chinese hotels. Finally, Chinese teachers might be afforded the chance to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) to Chinese and other foreign students in a newly opened program at the Canadian college.
The Canadian delegation consisting of the Dean of the College and Director of Trades and Industrial Training visited China in early February. We met them at the Beijing Toronto Hotel. It was our plan to take them to the Dawu Group on the next day. However, Sun was so enthused about their arrival that he came to Beijing and booked an hotel room next door in order to meet them earlier and personally escort them to his private school. There are few private, middle schools in China.
The students, teachers and staff met all the expectations of the Canadian officials. The Canadians were duly impressed by the character and nature of our students. Our students were poor; nevertheless they were highly motivated and dedicated to hard work and perseverance. We met orphans, too, whom Sun had taken under his care.
Initially, Sun was going to allow the new college to gain access to one-half of his building. Then, he decided to dedicate the entire building to the institute. Finally, he privately told me of his dream to build an entirely new college on another site. And this man's dreams become reality!
We concluded the day by signing a contract with the Canadian college to start a new program in hotel management. In addition, we agreed to set up a nanny training course to qualify young people for a job in the fastest growing sector in the economy as supervisors of the children of wealthy Chinese families. In a reciprocal visit to Canada, Sun and I were to discuss our desire to build a dormitory/hotel on the Canadian campus; as well as establish a department of oriental medicine.
孙大午 孙大午
SUN Dawu 孙大午: Philosopher 4
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On Interpreting the Three Agricultures
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