FONG WAN - Library

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cause of the great care of the father, now bloom with great luxur-
iance, early like the plum flower.
According to Chinese mythology, a good horse sometimes travels
1000 miles a day and accomplishes wonderful work. This symbolizes
a man of unusual ability. The wagon is spoken of as loaded with salt,
because salt is a preservative which gives great benefit to the world.
In Stanza I, the cow and the dog are mentioned. Cows and dogs
symbolize men of lower rank. No matter how poor a man may be and
no matter how important his own business or dignified his position, this
man always shows friendship and lends a helping hand.
In Stanza II, geese are mentioned. The geese always fly together
in a certain formation, calling to each other in the autumnal sky. This
represents the three brothers. Chu and Han are the names of the two
great kingdoms into which China was divided after the fall of the
dynasty of Hsin Hwang Ti. These two kingdoms were deadly enemies.
Therefore, the combination of Chu and Han represents the entire
Chinese nation.
In Stanza IV, the male and female Mandarin Ducks signify a mar-
ried couple, because the male and female ducks love each other and
never separate. "The Heron" is the title of a famous Chinese song. In
this song, the person always disregarded the opinions and criticisms
of the public and held himself aloof and independent of others.
The Chinese word "Kui" is the name of a tree which is different
from the Occidental cinnamon tree, although this is the nearest trans-
lation in English.
"Kui" symbolizes a person pure and noble, and far above the aver-
age person. It is often associated with the purity and calm of the
moon.
In Stanza VI, the water rail is a bird that lives in the cultivated
fields and signals others. It is often compared to a rich and distin-
guished farmer. The lonely monkey represents a poor, friendless man.
The crane, isolated and aloof, represents a man of education and genius
who is isolated from the common people. Therefore, in old age, this
man associates with people of all ranks, never forgetting those who
have once been his friends, no matter what their station in later life.
The second poem:
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