Chapter 5 Diao Tianxia II

(1) One layer of mountains and rivers, one layer of people, There are capable people in the mountains. ——Yunnan Folk Proverb One year after the bubonic plague disappeared in Nilang Town, Gao Yingkai became more and more troubled day by day, his eyes became more melancholy every day, was his surname Gao or Gong?Can you sing Guan Suo opera?The memory of his dead wife and other issues are tormenting Gao Yingkai.In particular, Gao Shimei became more and more stubborn. She didn't say a word to her father all day long, and just lowered her head to carve his mask.At that time, Gao Yingkai hadn't sung Guan Suo opera for more than a year. He asked his son why he carved so many masks.Gao Shimei said she didn't know.He's lost in all kinds of masks, and he'd go mad if he didn't sculpt.Therefore, the walls, pillars, cabinets, doors, stairs of his house...wherever things can be hung, are covered with masks carved by Gao Shimei, and the number is astonishing.In particular, Gao Shimei's room was already overcrowded, and there were probably two or three floors of masks and masks.Because of these masks, the space of the entire room has shrunk, and the light has also dimmed a lot.When nothing happened, Gao Shimei stood between those masks and remained motionless for a long time, as if his soul was sucked away by the masks, and he became a shell or a wooden man.Sometimes, Gao Shimei looked at a certain mask and chatted with it excitedly, perhaps a flame jumped in his eyes, illuminating every detail of the mask.His hands danced, his feet danced, with an energy my father couldn't suppress.But most of the time it was silence after quarreling with her father. Gao Shimei sat alone on the stone steps, her body and eyes were so heavy that it seemed to be filled with lead water.Or close your eyes and listen to your breath.Or one walks among the masks, like a ghost.He can see himself in the mask, and he can forget himself.He knows what to do and what not to do.He thought he had been a sane man all along.

Gao Yingkai decided to continue singing Guan Suo opera.He said to everyone, "My name is Gong Ziliang, not Gao Yingkai. I'm an opera singer, not a carpenter." Gao Shimei felt that her father was going too far, so she said, "Abba, is it true that no one in the Gao family disciplines you?" gone?" "I want to sing Guan Suo, so you and I can only have the surname Gong." Father said. "Abba, you want to pass on Guan Suo opera from generation to generation, am I right?" Gao Shimei asked. "Yes, so you must promise me to learn opera from me, and I will allow you to carve masks in the future..."

Gao Shimei interrupted her father, "Father, my surname is not Gong, I want to be Gao, and I will not learn opera from you." "Are you my son?" "have no idea." When Gao Yingkai heard this, the anger accumulated over the year rushed towards his son like a tidal wave. "What do you know except carved masks? You're an idiot, you're a coward, you know that? You live as if you're dead, and I'm keeping you for nothing." "Father, if you look down on me, you can raise me for nothing. Well, you are from Yangquan Town, and your surname is Gong. I am from Nilang Town, and my surname is Gao. Let's go our separate ways, let's go!" okay?"

"Get out of here! Come on, this is not your home, and it's not your turn to drive me away. You scoundrel, get out! Never come back." It was a morning in April, and Gao Shimei walked out of the house without hesitation.He walked with firmness and concentration, as if counting his steps away from home.Of course, Gao Shimei also heard her father's shout behind her, which was soaked with the lingering sound of terrible loneliness and helplessness. Now, the farther away from Nilang Town, the faster Gao Shimei walked.He doesn't feel lonely or tired. He looks at the road in front of him with an almost transparent beauty.Although he has no goal, he believes that there must be a better place ahead than his hometown.He even regretted why he had only left Nilang Town now. If he had come out one day earlier, he would have gone a long way by now.Gao Shimei kept walking forward, walking forward.There is no pedestrian on the road, but he will not get lost.He thought, as long as he keeps walking, the opportunity to reach somewhere will come.

From the other side of the mountain came the sound of tinkling gongs and drums and beeping suona.Gao Shimei could hear the sincerity and enthusiasm contained in it. In this wild valley, it revealed some secret feelings to stones, land, trees, wild flowers, and streams.He heard the sound and left unconsciously.Soon I saw a group of people, the people in front calmly held colorful flags, followed by a group of people in long gowns and jackets, blue shoes and white socks.These people played flute, suona, big drum and big gong.In the middle is an "official sedan chair".Behind is a group of people on horseback and several empty carriages.All the people and all the horses seem to be walking leisurely with the faint suona sound, but their footsteps are closely following the rhythm of gongs and drums, moving forward smoothly and powerfully.Gao Shimei followed closely behind for no reason, and he rested where he was resting.When others eat, he eats with him.No one cast him out, no one despised him.Many people still looked at him and smiled, closing the distance between them and Gao Shimei with their smiling faces.

Carving the World II (2) After climbing several mountains, the group of people came to a place with beautiful mountains and rivers, where there is a Zhenjue Temple.This was their destination, they stopped here, and everyone enjoyed the long journey.There was laughter inside and outside the temple.But the good times didn't last long. Suddenly, a group of people broke in aggressively, breaking the harmonious atmosphere here in an instant. From the yelling and cursing of those people, Gao Shimei realized that she had arrived in Shiping County, and the team she was following was from Xizong County, and the person sitting in the official sedan chair was the county magistrate Mu Yingtian.The purpose of the county magistrate Mu coming to Zhenjue Temple was to use his official sedan chair to take the eminent monk Yuantai here back to Xizong County in person, so as to restore the incense of Yuanming Temple.Obviously, the people of Shiping County refused to agree, and came to stop after hearing the news.The county magistrate Mu said: "Let's discuss carefully, don't quarrel, don't fight, so as not to hurt our friendship and face. Listen to me, listen to me, Monk Yuantai is from our Xizong County, Xizong My country father yearns for him to go back, year after year, it is very bitter! Do you know? The Yuanming Temple, which used to be famous in southern Yunnan, is now in dilapidated condition. Our monk Yuantai is really needed there, you guys Let him return to his hometown and revive the Brahma Temple. Shiping and Xizong are a family, and they should take care of each other, right? I promise, I will send him back when the incense in Yuanming Temple flourishes." Shi When the people of Ping County heard what Magistrate Mu said, many people stopped shouting and cursing, silently nodded in agreement, and then agreed to Magistrate Mu to take Monk Yuantai back to Yuanming Temple.

Monk Yuantai never sat in a sedan chair, but at this time he couldn't help himself, and was forced to be pushed into the sedan chair by Mu County Magistrate.There is an episode here, which happened before Monk Yuantai got on the sedan chair. When the Xizong people helped him move things, he saw that the big things had been moved. Finally, Monk Yuantai walked into Zhenjue Temple again very worried, and asked people to take away the only things left. A huanghuali wood table for the Eight Immortals was loaded onto the carriage, and he himself picked up two small vases from the Qianlong period with both hands and left.At this time, Gao Shimei boldly stepped forward to dissuade: "Master Yuantai, I think the Eight Immortals Table and the small vase should be left to Zhenjue Temple. As a famous monk in Shiping, you moved all the things here. You don't have enough guts, which damages your image in people's minds."

Monk Yuantai groaned softly, "Amitabha, good! Good! I was only concerned with moving things, why didn't I think of this? Amitabha, thank you little benefactor for your reminder!" Monk Yuantai saw that Gao Shimei was elegant and handsome, and when he spoke, he was not in a hurry or stunned, and he stated the truth in a pleasant and passionate manner.Monk Yuantai may have a faint feeling that Gao Shimei is a good young man, and he should be his favorite and trustworthy person.Therefore, Monk Yuantai looked at Gao Shimei again.At that time, Gao Shimei stood quietly, waiting for Monk Yuantai's response with his extremely clear eyes.In that state, Monk Yuantai immediately saw the calm and harmonious radiance emanating from Gao Shimei.Monk Yuantai immediately sent the vase back to Zhenjue Temple and asked someone to remove the precious Eight Immortals table and put it on the ground.Monk Yuantai said: "These two things are the relics left by my master. I like them very much. But this little benefactor is right. His words are like a breeze, which wakes up my mind. I really miss the truth. Temple, I miss the folks and elders here, the good men and women here, and my good friend Yuan Jiagu, so it is also my wish to keep these two things.”

Gao Shimei took a closer look at the table of the Eight Immortals, it was generous and steady, with concise lines, and there was agility in the thickness.Especially the warm and jade-like color and flowing texture, like exuding charming heat, made him have a desire to blend with it.He and another young man carefully lifted the table and slowly sent it into the temple.Monk Yuantai followed them with a vase in his hands.At that time, although Gao Shimei's hands felt heavy, and even felt a sense of weight, a pleasant breeze passed through his heart.When Monk Yuantai and Gao Shimei walked out of the temple gate empty-handed, for some reason, their footsteps were somewhat nostalgic.

On the way, Monk Yuantai was sitting in the sedan chair, and Mu Yingtian followed closely on horseback.After walking through a rugged mountain road, Mu Yingtian asked Gao Shimei to get on the horse and ride with him.Gao Shimei didn't dare to back away again and again.Mu Yingtian said: "Young people are awesome and respectable. I want to make friends with you, don't you want to?" Gao Shimei replied: "I am a person without virtue and talent. Riding with the master?" Mu Yingtian said: "Stop nagging, let's talk after getting on the horse!" Gao Shimei had no choice but to jump on the horse and sit in front of Mu Yingtian.While taking care of Gao Shimei, Mu Yingtian asked him his name?Where are they from?He answered them all.When Mu Yingtian learned that Gao Shimei was the one who carved the mask of Guansuo Opera in Nilang Town, Mu Yingtian expressed deep respect, praised Gao Shimei as a talented person in Nilang Town, and asked him if he would like to come to his yamen On errand?Gao Shimei nodded.

Diao Tianxia II (3) Back in Xizong County, when we parted, Mu Yingtian said to Monk Yuantai: "I like this young man, I want to take him to the county government office to help me." Monk Yuantai said: "Should be! Now, it is rare to have such a young man who is knowledgeable about books and reason. Seeing that he is straightforward, intelligent, gentle and handsome, who would not like him?" Finally, Monk Yuantai whispered to Gao Shimei: "If you come to the county If the office is not satisfactory, then go back to Yuanming Temple to find the old monk." Gao Shimei entered the Xizong county government office. In the eyes of ordinary people, she can be described as a youthful success and a high-spirited spirit.But he wasn't used to the atmosphere in the yamen. From the first day, he felt the bone-chilling cold, everyone's faces were gloomy, and their words were unpredictable.A few days later, Gao Shimei and those petty officials who follow the wind, act according to the wind, act against others, are snobbish and shameless, corrupt and pervert the law, are at odds with each other and are incompatible with each other.Gao Shimei didn't want to talk to those people, let alone look at them more.At night, nightmares come one after another, and after waking up, I dare not fall asleep again.During the day, Gao Shimei avoids people when she sees them, and often stands in those dark corners or behind a certain door.Some people also saw that Gao Shimei's eyes were always full of hostility towards others.Mu Yingtian was very disappointed with Gao Shimei's performance, so he taught Gao Shimei a lesson.From then on, Gao Shimei never said a word to him again, and Gao Shimei became a mute.One night, while Mu Yingtian was not in the yamen, Gao Shimei left without saying goodbye, fled to Yuanming Temple, and stood beside Monk Yuantai crying loudly.Monk Yuantai said lovingly to Gao Shimei: "Don't cry, don't cry, just come back, Yamen is not a place for you to go, this is your home. Come, come, I will take you as a disciple. Now I will teach you how to hold Name Buddha'. Are you willing?" Gao Shimei knelt down on the ground and thanked repeatedly, "Master Yuantai, teach me to read!" "You should remember that 'chanting Buddha by name' is a simple way for ordinary believers to save themselves, that is, when chanting 'Nama Amitabha Buddha', it should come from the heart, come out from the mouth, enter the heart, unite the heart and mouth, and never forget it. " "What does 'Nama Amitabha' mean?" Takashimi asked. "'Nama' is a Sanskrit sound, meaning 'respect' and 'refuge'. 'Amitabha' is the leader of the Western Paradise. Of course, from the literal meaning, it means immeasurable light and immeasurable life. Amitabha once issued Grand wish, he said, if all living beings in the lands of the ten directions want to enter and live in his land, as long as they sincerely recite his name, then when they are dying, Bodhisattvas will come to guide them and make them enter his western world. Paradise of Ultimate Bliss. Remember, when you walk, stand, sit and lie down every day, you must tie this name tightly to your heart, never forget it, and purify your mind to recite it, so that the six roots are pure, and the abnormal thoughts are completely eliminated. Degree, Li Shiji people." Gao Shimei replied: "The disciple remembers it." From then on, Gao Shimei burned incense and worshiped Buddha every day, and recited Buddhist scriptures.If you don’t understand something, you can humbly ask other monks and nuns for advice.When Master Yuantai lectured, he had a Buddha in his heart, he listened quietly and comprehended, and was extremely devout.Master Yuantai was very happy to see Gao Shimei praying to Buddha so hard, and he liked him even more. Monk Yuantai rebuilt and expanded Yuanming Temple according to the style of the Buddhist hall in Mount Emei.But everything is in vain.Especially after the construction of Buddhist temples, there must be no Buddha statues.For this reason, Gao Shimei was more anxious than anyone else, and repeatedly asked Master Yuantai what to do?what can we do about it?Monk Yuantai has his own ideas.He thought of a confidant he made when he was traveling in Mount Emei, named Li Guangxiu.Back then, he and Li Guangxiu ate together and slept in the same bed. The two often got up in the middle of the night to exchange their own whimsical ideas.At that time, although Li Guangxiu was already a strange person engaged in Buddha statue sculpture, he had no reputation in Sichuan.Later, Monk Yuantai traveled back to Kunming, and it happened that Qiongzhu Temple wanted to build Buddha statues.Monk Yuantai strongly recommended Li Guangxiu, and personally went to Sichuan, climbed Mount Emei, brought Li Guangxiu and his disciples to Qiongzhu Temple, and carved five hundred arhats, which are rare in the world.From then on, Li Guangxiu became famous and became a famous sculptor. Now, on the one hand, Monk Yuantai wrote to Li Guangxiu, asking him to come to Yuanming Temple to sculpt Buddha statues.On the one hand, he brought Gao Shimei to Qiongzhu Temple in Kunming, allowing him to appreciate the superb and mysterious clay sculpture art of the Five Hundred Arhats.Unexpectedly, as soon as Gao Shimei walked into Qiongzhu Temple, her eyes would shed tears.Monk Yuantai asked him why he was crying?He said that he saw his father, carpenters, blacksmiths, scholars, farmers, beggars, fishermen, Duan Gong, Lafayette in Nilang Town... Gao Shimei kept looking down, and they were all familiar people.He looked at each Buddha statue in a trance, as if today was a very important day, and Master Yuantai specially arranged for Gao Shimei to meet so many relatives and friends.Unbelievable, Gao Shimei heard the sound of them pacing, whispering, scooping water, knocking on the door... Gao Shimei felt that the lower abdomen of one of the Buddha statues was a little cold, and the left hand of one of the Buddha statues was shaking , the blood around a Buddha statue seems to be concentrated in the muscles of the crotch, and the eyes of a Buddha statue seem to have seen ghosts coming out of the ground.Gao Shimei counted those Buddha statues over and over again, one, two, three, four, five, six... When she counted to the eighteenth, the Buddha statue really looked like herself.This is the secret Master Yuantai told him, that is, according to his own age, count the Buddha statues accordingly, and when he counts to his own age, that Buddha statue will be himself.Gao Shimei carefully looked at the beautiful Buddha statue, and imagined that her secrets were all moved here by Master Li Guangxiu. The cold eyes, the furry mustache, the blood on the back of the hand, and the long fingers were vivid and clearly visible.He licked his lips and rubbed his eyes, he really wanted to take away the secret of Master Li Guangxiu's sculpture.He thought, this is not only a world of gods, but a feast between gods and humans.He longed to drink water with them, pee together, carnival together, and die together.Gao Shimei's soul has been absorbed by them, as quickly as the vortex in the river.When leaving Qiongzhu Temple, Gao Shimei discovered that there was not a big Buddha whose eyes radiated the light of the sun and the moon, or contained the whole world in his body, and his body filled between heaven and earth, showing extraordinary magical power.Gao Shimei felt very disturbed, where is God?However, in a sense, Gao Shimei understood that she had seen God at an indefinite time today.A kind of magical power has gradually penetrated Gao Shimei's body. Carving the World II (4) Sure enough, Li Guangxiu came, on a midsummer evening.At that time, the two childish greetings and the affectionate and piercing eyes of Monk Yuantai and Li Guangxiu perfectly blended together.Li Guangxiu said: "As soon as I saw your letter, every word felt warm, so I couldn't wait to come." Monk Yuantai said: "In my dream, you have been to Yuanming Temple many times. Now, you are revisiting the old place, don't you have a flavor in your heart?" "On the way, I thought many times of the days when I was with you in Mount Emei. You said you were going to build the largest temple in southern Yunnan. Isn't your dream come true now?" Li Guangxiu said. "I don't have the temple treasure yet, wait for you to bring it to me." Monk Yuantai continued, "Now that you're here, I don't have to worry about it." "My good brother, do you understand? You are the real treasure of the temple!" "We will all be reduced to ashes and float into the kingdom of heaven. But you have preserved the memory of God and respect for God for all living beings. Your hand will bring soul and brilliance to Yuanming Temple. Really, your arrival means Seeing that we have the treasure of the temple. How excited you make me, how excited!" On the second day, Monk Yuantai asked Li Guangxiu to rest for a few more days before starting work, but Li Guangxiu, as if he was about to compete with someone, ordered the two apprentices Lin Yousheng and Fei Liang he brought to make some necessary preparations for the third day. Work started today.At that time, it was midsummer under the scorching sun, and the three masters and apprentices put on large, cool and light white silk underwear, like three elegant white angels, which made Yuanming Temple feel like a spring morning. .They played with the mud in their hands skillfully, jumping up and down from time to time, but their bodies were not stained with a little mud. Gao Shimei was stunned. When the mud got into their hands, it was like being possessed by a demon. With the sound of beeping, it kept changing its shape.I saw the mud splashing to both sides, and they seemed to be standing in a perpetually proper position, observing the mud and using the mud.Their actions contained a bit of fanaticism, but did not contain the slightest blindness.Therefore, their clothes are always as white as ever. When Gao Shimei went to help, she got herself covered in mud, and even had muddy water in her nostrils and ears.He recalled the scene when he carved the mask of Guan Suo Opera, and he wanted to show his master in Sichuan.However, mud is different from wood. Once the mud is in his hands, it becomes a strange thing. It is either as stiff as death, or sticks to his fingers tightly.Unconvinced, Gao Shimei made up her mind to overcome the mud and water in front of her eyes, and let them become things in her heart, images, and gods.But Gao Shimei's actions were very rude, which made Li Guangxiu, master and apprentice three feel scared. Monk Yuantai saw the secret in Gao Shimei's heart and asked him, "Do you want to learn clay sculpture?" Gao Shimei had an inexplicable feeling at the first moment when she heard Master Yuantai's question, and she was stunned for a while before she said: "Master Yuantai, I may not be able to learn clay sculpture. I thought clay sculpture was easier than wood carving. But now it seems that there is a mysterious connection between them, and there are also mysterious differences, which I can't explain at the moment." It happened that the reconstruction of the Daxiong Palace needed to carve six lattice doors, and the monk Yuantai entrusted Gao Shimei with the job.Faced with this matter, Gao Shimei vaguely felt that the moment to change her destiny had come.It was something he dreamed of doing, a real joy.So, under the auspices of Monk Yuantai, Gao Shimei happily worshiped two masters, one was Yang Yishan, a local carpenter who participated in the reconstruction of Yuanming Temple, and the other was Li Guangxiu.Yang Yishan is the most famous carpenter in Xizong County.It is said that before rebuilding the Yuanming Temple, he not only knew how much wood was needed, but also how many bricks and tiles were needed.Sure enough, after Yuanming Temple was built, there was not a single tree or brick left.After apprenticeship, Yang Yishan said to Gao Shimei: "When doing woodwork, your heart should be as straight as an ink line, and your eyes should be as flat as a plane." Li Guangxiu said to Gao Shimei: "I have a share in the fairy fate. Buddha. You are me, and I am you. When we have the expression of God, God will have our expression; when we can sing like the brook, the brook will be able to sing like us. Everything Everything is about whether it is compatible or not? Is it perfect?" Gao Shimei firmly remembered the words of the two masters.He combined clay sculpture and wood carving to figure out, compare, and learn. He kept going in and out of the rooms of the two masters, and the two masters often focused on his hands and wooden boards, giving him different ideas. His guidance often makes him understand and become enlightened.However, Gao Shimei's carving was not smooth. He carved the characters on the lattice door into masks of various sizes.If others are not satisfied, he is even more dissatisfied.Gao Shimei has already scrapped four or five pieces of wood, and if this continues, he can no longer explain. Carving the World II (5) At this time, a mute came to Yuanming Temple.According to Master Li Guangxiu, the dumb man is his big apprentice, who is over 60 years old.Master Li Guangxiu also said that in recent years, the dumb man has suffered from a strange disease, his feet are swollen, his hair has lost his hair, and he may not live for too long.Therefore, before going to Yunnan, Li Guangxiu and his disciples unanimously decided to leave the mute in Sichuan.But now the mute came by himself. At this time, master Li Guangxiu had already finished the clay tire of the standing statue of Wei Tuo and was carving the head.Seeing this, the mute immediately showed a very dissatisfied expression.He waved his hand, shook his head, and told Master Li Guangxiu in sign language that the mud tire was not finished and needed to be reworked.Before Master Li Guangxiu agreed, the dumb man climbed onto the wooden frame and pushed down the mud tire.Master Li Guangxiu knew the mute's personality and talent very well, so instead of blaming him, he expressed his appreciation and offered to let the mute do it again.The dumb man was not modest either, and just took over the master's work. Master Li Guangxiu said to Gao Shimei: "Look at the dumb, so brave, not only dare to come from Sichuan alone, but also dare to push down my mud tire, that is my good apprentice. Shimei, you have to be as bold and firm as him , no matter what difficulties you encounter, don’t shrink back, but hold on.” That same afternoon, Monk Yuantai called Gao Shimei to his room, took out something and handed it to him, saying, "You can see for yourself." It was a string of rosary beads, each of which was like a cute little cherry, carved out of some kind of wood, exuding a faint fragrance.Gao Shimei took a closer look and found that each bead was carved with a few small arhats.Some are walking, some are sitting, some are holding scriptures in their hands, some are leaning on Zen sticks, some are sitting in Buddhist altars and meditating, and some are practicing martial arts on the ground with bare feet and pushing forward.Gao Shimei counted while watching. There are 180 rosary beads and 500 arhats.A string of small rosary beads immediately brought Gao Shimei into another world.Gao Shimei suddenly thought of the Five Hundred Arhats at Qiongzhu Temple in Kunming.Oh!I thought those arhats could only be carved with mud, not wood.But on the rosary beads in front of me, each arhat is only as big as a grain of rice, but they are carved with wonderful and pious expressions, some wearing cassocks, some wearing embroidered brocade clothes, and mountains, fields, pines and cypresses, strange stones, birds, etc. Beast and so on.Gao Shimei looked at them one by one, and found futons, bamboo hats, tea sets, vases and bowls, as well as unusually vivid lions and apes, etc. Gao Shimei suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing on her cheeks like a silk curtain superior. When Gao Shimei returned the rosary to Master Yuantai, she didn't say a word.He really has nothing to say, or really doesn't want to.At that time, the scenes of "Three Knots in Taoyuan", "Going to the Meeting Single-handedly", "Watering the Seven Armies", "Guan Gong Killing Yan Liang" and other scenes appeared in Gao Shimei's imagination. With the feeling of the environment, he found the content he wanted to sculpt, rich pictures and layers appeared in his brain, and he had his own perspective.Gao Shimei also heard all the hustle and bustle in the silence.In front of his eyes, everything can be transformed into real objects with his carving knife, into plump and charming images. From that moment on, Gao Shimei completely walked into her own wooden world, without retreating, and never even had the idea and desire to look back.He found everything he needed from the wood. He kept company with the wood all the time, talked with the wood, and established a harmonious and sensitive relationship with the wood that only he could understand and feel.Even when he was chanting and sleeping, the wood never left his emotion, memory, gaze, language and body for a moment, and everything about him seemed to have turned into wood, images, scenes, etc. that moved him. In terms of stories and details, he wants to maximize Wood's personality and quality, which is his most conscious mission and goal.His life and vitality seemed interrupted by this, and everything was concentrated in his hands and wood.His senses of sight, smell, hearing, and taste also turned into a miraculous but material air, which penetrated deep into the wood on his carving knife.Therefore, whenever his carving knife comes into contact with wood, it is a birth, innovation, test and precise expression. Every movement of his does not seem to be carving or engraving anything, but trying to change the original nature of wood. It can even be said that it changes the nature of wood, making wood no longer wood, but a thing that is both strange and fresh, warm and rich, spiritual and refined. Two years later, Li Guangxiu and his three disciples carved more than a dozen Buddha statues in Yuanming Temple. The standing statues are each 1 Zhang 8 feet (more than 6 meters) high, and the sitting statues are also 1 Zhang away.These Buddha statues are indeed the pinnacle works of Li Guangxiu. Compared with the five hundred arhats in Qiongzhu Temple, their artistic level and artistic value are far behind.Now, Li Guangxiu and the others are about to leave Yuanming Temple.Before parting, Li Guangxiu expressed surprise at the semi-finished product in Gao Shimei's hands. With his magical eyes, he could already see the final appearance of this set of wooden lattice doors.He said to Monk Yuantai: "Who can treat several lattice doors as paranoidly as Gao Shimei? To be honest, I admire him very much, because he has the flexibility of a monkey, the patience of a beaver and the diligence of an ant. After a few years, This set of delicate and perfect lattice doors he carved will become the treasure of Yuanming Temple." Carving the World II (6) Two years have passed, and Gao Shimei has finally completed a long and distant life with wood.When people saw that the six hollowed-out embossed lattice doors independently completed by Gao Shimei reached four or five floors, their bodies and minds were pleasantly surprised and excited, and their eyes felt the unique heat of Gao Shimei's lattice doors in an instant With strength and strength, the entire Yuanming Temple was also illuminated by the light of Gao Shimei's woodcarving art, and the dark hall became golden.Because of the amazed gazes and enthusiastic admiration in Yuanming Temple, all old, lost, exhausted, and melancholy things have consciously withdrawn from this religious temple.Really, that's the way it is.People, officials, businessmen, and students of Xizong County came to watch the news one after another. They not only praised Li Guangxiu's clay statue of Buddha, but also praised Gao Shimei's wooden lattice door.Li Guangxiu's clay Buddha statues and Gao Shimei's wooden lattice gates have really become the treasures of the temple. In those days, Gao Shimei met a pilgrim, a scholar named Zhang, who was full of praise for Gao Shimei's wooden lattice door.It is said that Gao Shimei's wood carving skills have reached the level of "the tip of the knife has eyes, and the fingers are psychic".Later, Gao Shimei became good friends with this scholar surnamed Zhang. Gao Shimei worshiped him as a teacher and asked him to come to Yuanming Temple to teach Gao Shimei how to read, read and write poems.He once told Gao Shimei about the history of the "Three Religions".Gao Shimei's memory of this is still fresh. He said that Confucianism became our state religion in the Han Dynasty, and its status was once prominent.But after the Han Dynasty, the introduction of Buddhism and the establishment of Taoism challenged Confucianism.In the following hundreds of years, the situation of the three religions has been maintained.The emperor of the Tang Dynasty was the smartest, advocating that the three religions are all for my use.When the imperial court encounters major events, it will summon people from the three religions to debate in front of the palace.Therefore, the three religions are opposed to each other, but also integrate and absorb each other.During the Southern Dynasties, an emperor asked to hang the portrait of Confucius in the temple of Buddhism.But in the Later Zhou Dynasty, there was an emperor who hated Buddhism and ordered the burning of Buddhist temples all over the world. Only one Buddhist temple was spared because of the portrait of Confucius. Because of Mr. Zhang, Gao Shimei was very obsessed with it and recited it every day.Once, Mr. Zhang gave Gao Shimei a copy of "Twenty-Four Filial Piety Pictures" when explaining the sentence "Filial piety is the foundation of human beings", and asked Gao Shimei to carve them out in order to educate the four Border people.There is a story in the book about a man named Huang Xiang in the Eastern Han Dynasty. After he lost his mother at the age of 9, he respected his father every day.In hot summer, he would use a cattail fan to fan the quilt, reed mat, and pillows until the quilt became cool before asking his father to go to bed; in winter, he would use his body to warm the quilt before letting his father fall asleep.Gao Shimei was moved by this simple story for a long time.Gao Shimei thought of her father, who hadn't seen him for five years, how is he?how is he doingIt's winter night now, Gao Shimei wrapped the quilt tightly around her body, still feeling cold.Where is the father?A person lying on a small bed by the wall must have been frozen to death? Soon, Gao Shimei learned about her father's recent situation.Since he ran away from home, Gao Yingkai has become a big dungong, who specializes in exorcising demons and catching demons for the people of Nilang Town. As a result, many patients no longer believe in human medicine and turn to Gao Yingkai for help.It is said that Gao Yingkai's current master is a Taoist priest who pretends to be a ghost.Gao Shimei thought that it was very dangerous for her father to be with such a person, and something would happen sooner or later.Gao Shimei was worried.But he didn't want to return to Nilang Town, and he didn't want to directly dissuade his father. Unexpectedly, Gao Yingkai also knew the whereabouts of his son, and it is said that he was also worried about Gao Shimei's situation, and he hoped that Gao Shimei would return home as soon as possible.However, Gao Shimei has no plans to go home. It seems that on a lonely night a few days later, Gao Shimei was reading a book under a dim oil lamp.At this time, my father suddenly pushed open the door of Gao Shimei's room.He said, Shi Mei, I'll take you home.Therefore, Gao Shimi had the opportunity to meet her father.In five or six years, his father was still not old. He was wearing new black clothes, which made Gao Shimei feel a little weird from head to toe, but he couldn't tell.Father continued: "I'm here to take you home. Shimai!" It's been a long time since I've heard anyone call him Shi Mai, but now hearing his father call him that, Gao Shimei's heart warms and she wants to cry.After a moment of silence, Gao Shimei said firmly: "I don't want to go home." Gao Yingkai seemed secretly taken aback, the flesh on his face visibly twitched a few times. "Let's go! Shi Mai, let's go home! I won't ask you to learn opera anymore, I will teach you Taoism." After a pause, Gao Yingkai said again: "You can carve masks if you want." Gao Shimei said: "I don't want to learn anything. I am reciting Buddha's name. Father, you can go back!" Carving the World II (7) "Shi Mai, Dad is now a Taoist disciple, but I don't understand, how can there be something called Buddha in the world that can be compared with Taoism? Go home, I will take you to meet a Taoist priest, and we, father and son, will be together Learn from him!" As soon as Gao Shimei heard her father mention Taoist priests, she became angry.Loudly said: "Bullshit Taoist priest, I heard people say that you followed Duan Gong to dance to false gods, and that so-called Taoist priest led you into ruin. Dad, how did you become like this? You should avoid dealing with such people in the future. " Maybe it was the wind blowing outside, maybe Gao Shimei spoke too loudly and too violently, the oil lamp suddenly went out.The room was dark.Gao Shimei has no intention of lighting it up again, let it be dark if it is black!He didn't want to see his father trembling with anger. They stopped talking.After a long, long time, Gao Shimei closed her eyes, in a daze, not knowing what to say to her father?After a long, long time, Gao Shimei vaguely heard her father's voice: "Shi Mai, let me tell you, our Dao existed hundreds of millions of years ago... Dao produced heaven, Tao produced earth, Tao produced man and all things... Now there is heaven, earth, man, and everything All things, because of the Tao... People have known and respected it hundreds of millions of years ago... But you don't know it now, it seems that you should really go back, let us enlighten you..." Now it was Gao Shimei's turn to lose her temper, but Gao Shimei was no longer as impulsive as before, he tried his best to restrain himself, and deliberately said slowly: "Father, I also tell you that my Buddha has experienced countless calamities, and people call him the World Honored One.我佛庇护芸芸众生，恩泽广披大地。谁听说有什么道能与佛抗衡？我且给你讲讲佛祖释迦世尊的故事吧！释迦世尊是国王之子，当初他抛弃了王位，到雪山之中苦苦修行，才结出今日之正果。天上人间，我佛独尊。所以那些歪门邪道，都必须降伏在我佛脚下。时至今日，这个事实，世人皆知。而你们那个太上老君，是谁的儿子？他在何处修行？他搞的那一套有什么好处？怎能与我佛相提并论呢？” 未等儿子说完，高应楷急得要死，他抢过话题，断断续续地说：“太上老君是上天所生……是我们的始祖……他诞生在周朝……他骑一头白鹿，驾着紫气。谁人不知？谁人不晓？三岛之事……十洲之景……三十六洞之神仙……二十四化之灵异，这一切，三岁小孩也明明白白，清清楚楚……可是，石麦，你为什么不知道呢？” “因为我心中有佛。” 高石美回答得非常干脆有力。 “太可怕了。你知道吗？你们那位所谓的佛祖，当初抛弃自己的父亲，爬出城去，磨破了膝盖，去跟其它宗教作对，那有什么意思？也值得你们引以为荣？从这点看来，你们的佛只不过是群魔当中的一个强盗而已，还自吹是什么世尊，你看看谁会尊敬你们的佛？没有你们的佛，天、地、人照样存在，万事万物照样生长。” “放屁！没有佛，像你们这样的人早就下地狱了。” 话音未落，高石美就感到父亲伸出黑黑的手掌，往他的脸上打来。他一转头，父亲的黑掌狠狠地打在了他的后脑勺上。正当高石美晕头转向的时候，他似乎又看到一个道士，突然挥舞着大刀，向他的脑门砍来。他立即两手抱头，从床上蹦跳起来。他一摸额头，只有一手虚汗，没有出现臆想中的热血。眼前的油灯仍散发着红光，那本《孝经》已掉在地上。房间里只有高石美一个人。父亲在哪里？道士在哪里？高石美把《孝经》捡起来，庆幸那只是一个恶梦。 但是，从那天以后，高石美的内心就失去了平静，失去了欢乐。他隐隐约约感到父亲最近要出事了。他相信自己的预感。果然，不久之后的一天，来了一位女香客。她知道高石美是高应楷的儿子，就对高石美说：“昨天，有个赶马人来找你阿爸为他'开财'。你阿爸是不是疯了？竟然用一把锋利的雕刀，将赶马人的额头划开，把血取出来撒在路上，以求财源滚滚。哪想到？赶马人突然看到你阿爸的手在发抖，而自己头上的血在不断涌出。赶马人对你阿爸的做法表示怀疑，两人因此争吵起来，那个赶马人打了你阿爸几拳，把你阿爸打得鼻青脸肿。” 雕天下二(8) 高石美本来打算把父亲的事向圆泰师傅讲讲，以求得他的帮助。但又怕给圆泰师傅增加烦恼，特别担心他以此为由，让自己回家伺候父亲，而且永远不得再返回圆明寺。因此，高石美只好把父亲的事压在心头，不轻易向别人提起。为了不走漏风声，高石美还暗中嘱咐那些香客，让他们不要在圆泰师傅面前提起父亲的话题。但是，高石美每天却想入非非，对父亲的命运充满了荒唐的猜想，他急于向每一个有可能知道父亲近况的香客，打听情况。几乎他问过的香客都回答说，你父亲很好。高石美渐渐平静了，吃得香，睡得足，长时间不再打听父亲的情况。 一天早晨，高石美正在双手合十，闭目诵经的时候，那个教他习字念书的张先生用手轻轻推他一下，小声说：“石美，不好啦，你父亲出事了。” 高石美立即起身与张先生来到寺外。张先生说：“那个道士太坏了……出人命案了……他害了你父亲……你父亲被衙门抓进去了。” 高石美看张先生喘着粗气，就像憋了好长时间一样。而且在说什么人命案、父亲被衙门抓进去等字句时，好像嘴唇在颤抖。他太敏感了，他听得清清楚楚，这一切正是他原来想象中的事情，现在已全部变成了现实。高石美似乎能接受这一切，又似乎差点儿被这一切击倒。高石美竭力控制住自己的情绪，对张先生说：“不怕，慢慢说，别紧张！” “前几天，一个富人模样的人找到你父亲，说他家有个五岁的小女孩，头上生癞子，什么郎中都去看过了，但癞子不仅一个不少，反而增多了。无奈之中，找到你父亲，问你父亲有什么办法？你父亲以前没见过如此可怕的病人，就去问他的师傅。那个道士说，小女孩是蛤蟆精附身，要把她放在甑子里蒸。于是，你父亲就请道士来帮忙，道士把小女孩蒸了一段时间后，小女孩在甑子里尖叫，道士说那是蛤蟆精疼得快死了。当甑子里散发出肉味时，你父亲说那是蛤蟆精被蒸熟了。后来，你父亲打开甑子一看，小女孩已死了。那家人不但把你父亲打得死去活来，还到衙门告状。衙门就差人把你父亲抓进去，打入大牢。” 高石美嘴里出现一股腥味，他急得把自己的舌头咬破了。他不知如何是好，沉吟半天，只好去找圆泰师傅。圆泰和尚听了他的讲述之后，对他说：“你不要慌乱，去找沐应天吧，此事会得到妥善处理的。”说着，圆泰师傅进房写了一封信交给他，说：“你亲手把它交给沐县令。” 高石美与圆泰师傅挥泪而别。当他已走出很远很远的路时，回头一看，似乎圆泰师傅还站在圆明寺前的路口上，为他祈祷。 高石美急匆匆来到西宗县衙。沐应天看了圆泰师傅的信后，对他说：“看在圆泰师傅的面上，我刀下留人，但需交纳一百两银子的人命钱。”高石美说：“我身无分文，交不出来。”沐应天摇摇头，接着又笑了笑，拍拍高石美的肩膀，小声对他说：“石美兄弟，你看这样行不行？我给你一年期限，到时候你交不出银子，就别怪你沐大哥不客气，我就只好把你父亲推出去斩首示众。” 高石美点点头，退出了阴森森的衙门。 高石美回到了尼郎镇。看到所有的街道，都是空空荡荡的，行人极少，店铺闭门。一幢幢老房子，都呈现出颓败不堪的样子，瓦棱里、墙头上，全是一片一片的荒草，在晚风中毫无精神地摇晃。几年不见了，街坊邻居依然如故，脸色铁青，眼睛灰白，不死不活的，没有一点儿生气。他们也许都知道高石美在圆明寺当了几年和尚，现在回来了。再加上高应楷出事，所以人人都斜着眼睛看高石美，想从高石美身上窥视出他们所不知的秘密？高石美也斜着眼睛看他们，从内心深处蔑视他们。但他们不明白，也无法看出来。 现在，高石美来到了他家的大门口，一把大锁和一根铁链横穿在门上，把他拒之门外。他没有钥匙，也没有砸开锁链的工具。他在门外站了好一会儿，最后决定翻墙入室。 雕天下二(9) 屋内还保留着高石美离家出走时的老样子，吃饭的碗是原来的老碗，睡觉的床是原来的破床……高石美无心再辨认那些东西。对他稍有吸引力的是那些形形色色、千奇百怪的面具。他在“关羽”的面具前站住，这是父亲唱关索戏时用过的。父亲需要他继承的就是这一角色。是啊，高石美现在才明白，“关羽”这一角色多么了不起啊，他一生光明磊落，在人们心中如日月经天，无法抹去。而且“三教”皈依的唯有此人，儒称他为圣，释称他为佛，道称他为天尊，多么令人崇敬和向往啊！当然，父亲也是个正派的人，有本事的人。那些正派的有本事的人都这么说。与他扮演“关羽”这一角色多么般配，可以说，父亲从没给关公脸上摸黑。但是，现在父亲已沦为罪人，正在大牢里受苦受难。高石美深深吸了一口气，对着“关羽”猛地一吹，上面的灰尘随之而起，弄得他鼻子眼睛极不舒服。 高石美躺在父亲的床上，望着时间从他额头上流过。是啊，时间像流水一样，他听到它哗啦啦地流过，冲洗着整个世界，滋润着稻谷、花朵和小草。唯独不冲洗他的身体，不滋润他的心灵。两天时间一晃而过，他的一百两银子在哪里呢？他感到全身充满了污垢，心中干燥得冒火。 家里没有粮食，没有柴草，也没有一滴水。高石美没吃没喝地躺了两天。How to do it?我就这样等着父亲死在刀下，死在大牢里？我就这样躺在床上饿死？不行，总有一个好办法在什么地方，等我去把它捡起来？是啊，天无绝人之路，在高石美迷迷糊糊的时候，他突然想起尼郎镇的老人常说的一句话“穷走夷方，急走厂”。 “走夷方”就是赶马到越南、老挝、泰国、缅甸的边境上做生意，这显然行不通，他到哪里去找本钱呢？ “走厂”则是到个旧锡矿去闯荡，去冒险，那里是穷人最容易发迹的地方。因而流传着这样一些话，“昨天穷得叮当响，今天发财当老板”、“早上无米煮，晚上买马骑”。于是，高石美决定到个旧去。