Allen Alinea
Professor Kong
Chinese Literature Translation I
30 April 2008
Oppression: Seizing the Frustration

Throughout China’s long and ever-changing history, it was the people who had to go through the times of warring states and foreign invasion. From the Zhou Dynasty to the renaissance of the philosophical ideas of Confucius to the twentieth century occupation by the Empire of Japan, China has a long history of social oppression. Despite the destruction of many ancient writings, Chinese literature had flourished during these times. History has shown the abuse of power results in the oppression of the people. In ancient China, the aristocracy conveyed frequent, social changes. These social changes consequently lead to invariable Wars between states. It was evident that there was an unfair line drawn between the wealthy and the poor during the wars. The poor were forced to fight the wars during these times, while the rich accumulated a substantial amount of wealth. Besides domestic oppression, the people of China experienced invasion from foreign countries like Portugal, Great Britain, Russia, France, the United States, and Japan. In the late 1800s, China experienced an uprising, known as the Boxer Rebellion, due to the oppression caused by their foreign invaders. Through literature, excluding the propaganda, one can understand the social desires and thoughts of an entire nation. The “Foolish Old Man Who Removed Mountains” and “the Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring” are two perfect literary examples to examine and analyze the social desires of the Chinese people. The “Foolish Old Man Who Removed Mountains” tells the story of an old man living behind two mountains. The mountains blocked his way to the south causing him to choose a path around the obstruction. Unhappy with the two mountains, the old man decided to level them in order to create a smooth pathway. The major task induced many, even the old man’s wife, to ridicule him. With the help of his son and grandson, the old man started to work on the removal of the mountains. A wise man criticized the old man saying he was a fool to think he can complete this mountainous task. The old man replied, “…Though I will die, I have a son who will live on after me. My son has borne me a grandson, and my grandson will also have a son, his sons will have sons…until there are sons and grandsons without end. Yet the mountains are not going to get any bigger. Why worry that we won’t level them?” At the end of the story, the gods rewarded the old man because of his will and determination. In the story, the two mountains are symbolized by feudalism and imperialism. With feudalism and imperialism blocking the straight path, China’s idealistic society represents the old man’s pathway to home. Feudalism and imperialism had to be removed in order to achieve this idealistic society. Another story that reflects the desire for an ideal society is seen in the “Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring”. The story tells of a fisherman who lost track of the distance he traveled and wandered into a forest that contained only peach blossoms. The fisherman marveled at the beauty of these peach blossoms. At the end of the forest, there was a spring that led to a mountain. Once the fisherman arrived at the mountain, he left his boat and entered into a small, narrow opening. The narrow opening had led the fisherman to a scenic land with bountiful fields and stunning bodies of water. The people of the land greeted the fisherman with peerless hospitality. Afterwards, the fisherman found out that their ancestors had fled during the Qin upheavals. The community was isolated from the people outside. The fisherman was surprised that the people of the community did not know neither the time period nor the current ruler of the state. After staying for several days, the fisherman decided to leave. Upon the fisherman’s departure, the people of the community told the fisherman that there was no point in telling people about them. Once the fisherman arrived back home, he went to the governor and reported his accounts. Immediately the governor sent people to follow the fisherman’s path. Every one who tried to search for the community has either turned out to be lost or died. The “Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring” created a utopian society that was cut off from the state. While the forest portrays China, the fisherman represents the oppressed people. Each variety of trees symbolizes different societies. The peach blossom tree was the ideal society the people longed for. The fisherman marveled at the peach blossoms. Hence, the oppressed people would do the same once there was a change in society. The utopian community conveyed to the fisherman that there was “no point in telling the people outside” about them. The story ended with the telling of the failed attempts in finding the community the fisherman had discovered. No government can ever intervene with man’s intuitive thoughts of an idealistic society. This was represented in the failed attempts in search of the community. All it takes is one idea for one to realize their goal. In the “Old Man Who Removed Mountains”, the old man’s cunning idea in removing the mountains had benefited not only himself, but future generations. In China, it took one era of the past to build the foundation for their economic growth of today. It was the “Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring” that described the oppressed ones’ craving for a change in society. Both stories reflected China’s history of an oppressed people. Through literature, it is simple to see the desire for change. One idea can transform into a lifetime of peace.