Lahirlah di Suzhou, Makanlah di Guangzhou, dan Matilah di Hangzhou

Jonggol, 15 April 2021
Johan Japardi

English Version
Born in Suzhou, Eat in Guangzhou, and Die in Hangzhou, or
2 Zhous and 3 Zhous: Beauty (which is Pitifully) Adulterated

There is a Chinese saying that goes "上有天堂 , 下有苏杭, shang you tiantang, xia you suhang"  - above there is  paradise, below there is suhang ( Suzhou and Hangzhou, I called this 2 Zhous). This saying was made to describe the comparable beauty of these two cities which was regarded as representing heavenly beauty on earth.

Marco Polo, the first Western visitor to Hangzhou, was marvelled with the beauty of this city. At the end of 13th century, he described Hangzhou as "Heavenly City, which is the most beautiful and magnificent in the world." Whether this is still relevant or not now is dependent upon many judging factors.

Among other things, Hangzhou is well-knowned because of the West Lake (Xihu), while Suzhou because of the nearby Great Lake (Taihu). There is the third "Zhou," i.e. Guangzhou, famous of its food and cooks, that a friend of mine said, "Be born in Suzhou, Eat in Guangzhou, and Die in Hangzhou." 

More than 5 years ago, I found the meaning behind this statement based upon my unpleasing personal experiences while being in Hangzhou. In several occasions I saw people yelling in public, and my aggravation peaked, and my enjoyment of this beautiful city was totally ruined, when I witnessed  a father yelled at, and slapped his teenage daughter in the face.

This experience, either I liked it or not, made me promise myself not to ever visit Hangzhou again. Furthermore, I have visited all my places of interest there ((tombs of General Yue Fei and his son along with iron statues of 4 traitors, Yue Fei Temple, West Lake (which according to a kungfu fiction novel Xiaoao Jianghu, was the place where Ren Woshing was imprisoned), Lightning and Wind Pagoda (Leifengta, no longer original) where the legendary white snake monster baishe once imprisoned, the school where Sampek Hengtai (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingdai) used to study, etc.))
After pondering more profoundly, I agreed with my friend. Be born in Suzhou, eat in Guangzhou, and enjoy the beauty of Hangzhou from immortal realm, disturbance-free from rude people.

Jonggol, Jonggol, 15 April 2021

Johan Japardi