Chapter 31 plant your own tree

More than 40 years ago, I lived with my parents in the courtyard of the government dormitory. The courtyard was a typical courtyard. Outside the door and window of the wing room where my house lived, there was a tall silk tree.One Sunday, a strange-looking old man came suddenly, wandered around the acacia tree, stroked the bark, picked up the flowers that fell on the ground, held them between his fingers, and sniffed them non-stop. Then he stood under the tree in a daze.At that time, I was wearing a red scarf and playing in the yard. I thought he was very suspicious, so I went over and asked him who he was looking for?He said that he was looking for this tree, which was planted by his father himself with him.I immediately ran back to the house and reported to my father that there was an old man outside, and it would be a bad idea to counterattack!Dad went to the window and looked out. I urged Dad to go out and hit him. At this time, the old man left with a bunch of flowers.dad

He told me that he recognized the old man from the Counselor's Office of the State Council. He was not familiar with him, but he was definitely not a bad person. This courtyard was his former residence. It's normal, don't interfere with him. The style and appearance of the ancient capital of Beijing, until 50 years ago, can still be summed up by "half city wall, half city tree".People are still talking about Hutong courtyard culture, but most of them only focus on the architectural form of Beijing Hutong courtyards. It seems that the tree culture of Hutong courtyards is not enough.The shade trees in the alleys are public trees, which will not be discussed here.In the past, the trees in the courtyard belonged to the homeowners. Those private trees were often selected by the first-generation homeowners, and at least one of them was planted by them.The most common tree species in the courtyard are pagoda tree, elm, poplar, willow, pine, cypress, jujube, jujube, pear, apricot, peach, walnut, persimmon, Chinese toon, clove, crabapple and so on.Trees in courtyards are not only used for shade and ornamental purposes, nor are their flowers, leaves, and fruits eaten, they often form a special relationship with their owners, either with commemorative significance, or to express some kind of prayer, or to suit the owner. Personality, reflecting a certain cultural style deliberately pursued.Recently, I have continued to study Cao Xueqinhe, paying special attention to the tree culture of the Cao family and the aesthetic characteristics of using trees as metaphors for people and creating poetry.Cao Xueqin’s great-grandfather, Cao Xi, took office in Nanjing and planted a neem tree in the garden with his own hands. Later, his grandfather Cao Yin cherished the tree very much, and even drew pictures to collect titles, which were collected into four or five jumbo volumes. Almost all the famous writers at that time Xiang and his affairs.Neem tree is not a precious tree species, its flowers are not gorgeous, and its fruit tastes extremely bitter. Cao Xi planted it and Cao Yin chanted it. Their intention is to teach future generations not to forget their bitter life experience as a wrapped slave of the Manchus.The neem tree is not mentioned in the book, indicating that it is not the family history of the Cao family. However, through the book, Nanny Lai sighed to her children and grandchildren repeatedly, "How do you know how the word 'minion' is written?" and other details, The rise and fall of the Cao family is strongly projected between the lines.The Grand View Garden in the village, the Yihong Courtyard where Jia Baoyu lived had two Jiaotang plants, the Xiaoxiang Pavilion where Lin Daiyu lived was full of green bamboos with dense phoenix tails, the back porch of Qiushuangzhai where Tanchun lived was full of sycamores, and the house where Miaoyu lived The red plum blossoms in the white snow in Cui'an in winter, including the Hengwu courtyard where Xue Baochai lives, does not plant trees but only plants various herbs, all of which are related to the character and destiny of the characters.Chinese traditional culture has left us a rich heritage in various ways, and the tree heritage is also extremely rich. For example, Ji Xiaolan in the Qing Dynasty left us poems and anecdotes that are enough for today's TV dramas to joke about. A wisteria that blooms like a waterfall every spring has been left behind, which not only has ornamental value, but also exudes an elegant style to influence future generations.

The protection of the courtyard culture should also include the protection of the courtyard tree culture.In the TV series, we can see the scene where Beijing’s courtyard houses have been reduced to overcrowded mixed houses. One of the details is that Zhang Damin had to wrap a big tree in the small house he built. The semantics are very rich.If we don’t work hard to protect the trees in Beijing’s hutong courtyards, then when we climb to the top of Jingshan Mountain and look at the whole city, we will no longer have the landscape of “half-city trees”, even if we can see many newly uprooted “forests of buildings”, I'm afraid I won't feel comfortable either.

Now, planting one's own tree in the place where one lives is basically something that is aspirational but difficult for Beijingers—not only Beijingers, but people in all developing economic zones are in the same situation. Something happened.As far as urban residents are concerned, it is a new model of social development to pay taxes, and the relevant departments use the tax money to create green spaces shared by the public and plant trees and flowers that belong to everyone.But I think that let a person establish a more intimate relationship with at least one tree. This Beijing Hutong courtyard house—not just Beijing Hutong courtyard house—is actually planting private trees in all the places where our nation has lived for generations. cultural traditions of later generations.Trees live longer than people. The predecessors planted trees, and the descendants took advantage of the shade. Plant a tree of your own, entrust your aspirations and thoughts, and leave it to the next generation or even many generations, so that they can have serious thoughts and leisurely poetry under the shade. This tradition cannot throw away.According to the newspaper, some cities have set up different forest farms in the suburbs, some are used for newlyweds to plant trees to commemorate, or to plant trees to commemorate when a child is born or the child starts to go to school; Nirvana in the tree, and those who think about it look at the tree for love, these are all good workarounds.

Participating in public welfare afforestation activities should naturally be active.If there is a garden that you can control, you should plant a tree that you like with enthusiasm.In recent years, I have a study in the outer suburbs, and there is a space outside the window to plant trees. My wife helped me plant an acacia tree. This is not only a connection with my childhood, but also means that our 31-year love should continue.This tree is also known as lantana flower. My writing is still in the state of riding a horse, so I will shake the lantana again and move on.Beijing citizens also call it the velvet flower. I prefer the civilian atmosphere in that nickname, and I encourage myself to dedicate my words more wholeheartedly to ordinary people.But my wife checked the book and found out the evidence that the special breath of this tree during the flowering period can control anger and relieve anger. She criticized me for being short-tempered recently, and hoped that I could adjust my mentality and emotions by this tree. ?Planting one's own tree is actually purifying one's own heart!