Master Yun Long Zi: The Everlasting Youth of the Chinese Language (Speech at the 7th International Primary Students Mandarin Recital Contest)

(Master Yun Long Zi’s, Honourary President of Chinese Teachers Literary Recital Society, speech at the 7th International Primary Students Mandarin Recital Contest)

I often ask Chinese compatriots, “What do we Chinese do better? How is China better than others?” They will reply, “China is big and we have a huge population!”

It is true that China is a huge country with a large population. But the large land area should be credited to Qin Shihuang, without whom, China would be in pieces instead of what it is today. But Qin Shihuang’s greatest legacy is not unifying China through violence means, but to standardise the writing system.  

An empire will not last forever, like how no one can live eternally. But with a standardised writing system, there is a standardised communication tool and a shared history, which can record the shared memory of millions and billions of people over a few thousand years. As long as there is a Chinese in this world, the writing system will live on. 

Are we just enjoying the heritage that Qin Shihuang left behind for a few thousand years, or are we going to build on his legacy and contribute to society?

The Chinese Teachers Literary Recital Society launched the International Primary Students Mandarin Recital Contest in 2002 and this is the seventh instalment. The aim of the competition is to encourage students to perform the sound and rhythm of words on stage through recitation, as well as to express the storyline and emotions of words through recitation on stage. 

The Chinese writing system is a system that requires a lot of hard work to learn well, that’s why only people who study really hard will be able to have a good grasp of it. However, sound and emotion in language transcend nationalities and national boundaries. 

We are very fortunate that Qin Shihuang allowed the Chinese writing system to overcome time and live forever. Today’s Recital Contest is trying to overcome time and allowing you to feel the enthusiasm, liveliness and greatness in the Chinese language. The Recital Contest strives to turn the everlasting Chinese writing system into the Chinese language of everlasting youth.

Thank you for your support, let’s continue to work hard!

-- Master Yun Long Zi, 2014

(Translated)

Master Yun Long Zi: The Simple Greatness [Speech at the 8th National Storytelling Competition (“Leaders of Greatness”)]

What is a great person? How do you become a great person? Do you have to be extremely smart, intelligent, wealthy and capable?

Speaking of this, I was reminded of this year’s China CCTV Chinese New Year programme Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan). There was a segment where Song Zuying and Celine Dion sang a song together, they are the top sopranos of China and America respectively. The song was Jasmine. 

Why was I reminded of this song Jasmine–even six-year-olds can sing it–when I think of great men?

Whenever we speak of great men, we will talk about their childhood experiences. Does this mean that talent makes a person great? In other words, are great men born with the personality to become great? Well, if that’s the case, what’s the point of sharing stories of great men to educate others? Why don’t we allow everyone to rely on their inner talent to become a great person naturally?

That’s clearly not the case. You will have to overcome challenges to become great and these challenges or tests, are often as simple as the song Jasmine. The test of being a great person does not only take place when you are a child, it occurs even when you’re an adult, until the day you pass away. 

There was a president named Washington. When he was a child, he chopped down the cherry tree that his father loved. He faced a simple test: to own up or to escape. To take responsibility or to run away? To admit or to lie? Washington bravely made the right choice. Not only did he make the right choice at that time, he made the right choices all his life until death.

A great country was born because of him.

He is a great president. He is. 

Another American president was born more than 200 years after Washington’s birth. His name is Clinton. People cannot escape from doing wrong and the same goes for Clinton. He made a wrong decision and had an improper relationship with his secretary. When he was questioned by his citizens and faced impeachment, he had to go through the same test as Washington. The simple question: To own up or to escape. To take responsibility or to run away? To admit or to lie? This is a simple yet difficult choice.

Unfortunately, Clinton did not make the right choice. Hence, Clinton can be considered a capable president, a money-making president, a smart president. However, he will not be considered a great president. He is not. 

Our neighbour, Malaysia, will be holding a general election tomorrow. Malaysia gained independence two years before Singapore did. Both countries were previously British colonies, and shared many similarities in their systems and constitution. However, 40 to 50 years after independence, Singapore is now a first world country with the highest per capita income in the world, enjoying unparalleled security, prosperity and progress. Whilst Malaysia is far from becoming a first world country. It’s not a safe country and its citizens are panicking before the general election. It is not because Malaysia has not seen a capable leader, a money-making leader or a smart leader, but because their leaders did not make the right choices, like what our leaders did, when faced with simple yet critical challenges. 

Our world yesterday, needed great people.

Our world today, needs great people.

Our world tomorrow, needs great people even more.

We need to work hard to be great.

Today, we will be hearing stories of many great men. I hope these simple yet great stories can remain in our hearts forever, like the song Jasmine. 

Let the story of the great man, tell the story of the great man, and decide who’s the winner today.

But the simple yet important tests that make you great will never end.

I hope you will always remember the stories of great men when facing those trials. Just like how we won't forget the song Jasmine.

I hope you will always have the courage to make the right choice. Whether you are a great person, will determine how our world will be tomorrow. 

-- Master Yun Long Zi, 2013

(Translated)

这是“进场”最佳时机：云大师的风水画

云大师的第一场画展举办至今已有三年。云大师画的收藏家越来越多，遍布世界。

见：云大师首场画展开幕致辞（2017年4月26日）

最了不起的是，一些收藏家甚至请回了他们的第二幅或第三幅风水画。

我们晓得风水画不仅是家中的摆设，它还能结合旺财宝物为你改善家中的风水，取得富贵祥和。风水画会不断为居家传送“人和”——云大师冥想的祝福和正能量。

见：阻断期，云大师都在干嘛？

这应该就是收藏家越来越开心、富贵，并能把握更多良机的原因。（风水画，救了他的工作，救了他的家庭）

就好像他们的宇宙开启了。

如果你一直都想请购云大师的话，现在就是“进场”的时候了。 即刻就拥有你的第一幅风水画，让你的宇宙发光。

加油啊，一些人已经拥有他们的第二和第三幅画了！

——简应隆，执行董事

（译）