Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[wenzili]

Water buffalo or oxen have always been considered as our friends ever since ancient China, when prehistoric residents had successfully tamed the wild buffalo 7000 years ago. Although, they have never been honored as holy God, like in India, they are still lucky enough to be considered as our backbone for its powerful support to farming work and their diligent nature.
As early as in Song dynasty (960 A.C.), Chinese government had issued a crud law to behead the gangsters who dared to kill or simply eat the working buffalo�s meat. Therefore, in ancient China, ordering or eating beef dishes in public was a synonym of rebellion. This scene was vividly reflected in a famous Chinese novel <Water Margin>.
Nowadays the crud law had already been deserted for centuries; there are still a lot of people disliking the idea of beef eating.
I hate eating beef too, but not for fearing the law, but for the sake of respect my mother�s religion.
My mother was a dedicated Buddhist. She was always telling me the stories about the Buddha�s representative of water buffalo. She instructed me never eat or intent to eat beef, never present on a buffalo slaughtering site. �In the case unavoidable,� she said, � you must put your arms cross on your back to show your helplessness and innocence, since Buddha may consider your arms had already been tired by the slaughter.� mother explained carefully. To prove her right, mother told me some stories about buffalo�s birth and dead. �It is so divine,� mum said, �immediately after a buffalo�s birth, the baby buffalo is bending its front knees and constantly nodding* to every direction to thank for Buddha�s life giving. The same in the case of being slaughtered, the buffalo bends its knees again with sob and tears to every presenter in turn for their mercy and help. �
They all had been proved by my witness, when I visited my grandma�s village and I never eat buffalo�s meat ever since.

* Bending knees and nodding with head�s touching to ground is one of the most formal courtesies in the past.
** This story is for a foeign friend's enquiry to my piece of < Adventures in Grandma's Villiage>
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[ClarissaMach]

Wenzili, I got curious about the Chinese novel you've mentioned above ("Water Margin") and I searched for it at google (www.google.com), but all I could find were articles about a Japanese (?) TV Show. Could you please tell me if is there any webpage in which I could find the novel you've talked of?

Your post was very interesting, by the way.

Thanks in advance,

Clarissa Alves Machado.

[wenzili]

Dear friend, thank you for your comment! Rearding the Chinese Classic Novel <Outlaw of the marsh( or water maring)>, I've not found a free download yet and still askin for help in a Chines-English forum. Once I get it, I'll inform you in first time.
BR
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Practice made every effort perfect

[ClarissaMach]

Thank you very much!







Clarissa Alves Machado.

[wenzili]

Dear Mr.Clarissa Alves Machado,
I am sorry to say the thread I'd post in a Chinese forum has been viewed by 87, but no any reply yet. Therefore, I have to give up with my regret.
BR
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Practice made every effort perfect

[ClarissaMach]

Don't worry, Wenzili. I've been looking for the history on the internet, but till this moment, all I could find were simplified (shorter) versions. But I'll keep looking for it!

Thanks for your efforts!
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Stormy Weather.