World Kindness Day and Chinese Poem

Today, November 13, is officially the World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement to highlight and encourage good deeds in every community. It also serves as a reminder to all that simple acts of kindness have power and that together, we can all work to create a kinder world.?One can celebrate by pledging to do at least one intentional act of kindness on this day to benefit someone else.?Together we can make a global difference one act at a time.

On this World Kindness Day, I thought I would also share a Chinese poem which was twittered by Elon Musk last week in original Chinese characters. Obviously whatever he does tends to generate a lot of buzz but this one was all over the social media in China.

煮豆燃豆萁，豆在釜中泣，本是同根生，相煎何太急。(Beanstalks are ignited to boil beans, In the pot the beans weep. [We are] born of the same root, Why in such a rush to fry me!)

This is a fairly well known poem in China written almost two thousand years ago by Cao Zhi (192－232), the third son of then great warlord Cao Cao who dominated northern China towards the end of Han Dynasty. After Cao Cao's death in the year of 220, the elder son, Cao Pi, became the heir. Cao Pi would remove all his brothers, Cao Zhi included, from the capital to ensure they would not be a threat to his power. The poem is set against this historical background. There are different versions of the events but the popular version of the story described that Cao Pi challenged his younger brother to produce a poem within the timeframe of walking seven steps or otherwise be executed. Cai Zhi responded with this poem which saved his life.

I have no idea what was going through Elon Musk’s mind when he twittered the poem, but it is a good reminder about the necessity of kindness on this World Kindness Day. We have been through a lot over this past two years and many are either feeling burned out or overwhelmed. We all could use some kindness. With all the global issues the world has to deal with, we all need to realize that we are in this together. As a way to celebrate this World Kindness Day, I would ask you, in addition to do something kind to another person, to write “be kind” in the commend section, either in English or any other languages. Thank you and be kind.

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