by Kahn, Denise
“Ah, it is a long process,” the stone merchant said. “First the stone must be mined, pounded, washed and mixed together in large urns. It is stirred and turned until all the paste stays floating on the top. Then it is passed through a fine sieve and strained through two layers of silk. The water is removed and the paste solidifies in wooden boxes layered with cotton so that no water is left at all.”
“That is a lot of hard work,” Lotus Blossom said.
“Yes, but it is worth it. It makes the most beautiful porcelain.”
“So, tell me of your treasures, my friend,” See-Fu said to the merchant.
“Ah, yes, I have come from the north-western province where I met a Mongolian merchant. He in turn had just returned from a long journey. He sold many stones that I have never seen before. I bought them for a good price and I will sell you whatever you wish at a very fair price as well.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” See-Fu reached over into one the baskets and pulled out a rough rock. “What is this?”
“This Mongolian told me that many of these are from the same family. I think he called them ‘quartz’. Here is one that is pink, and also a clear one,” he answered, turning around in his cart and picking up several more stones. “I also have a smoky colored one, a milky one, a yellow one, and a purple one.”
“Lotus Blossom, take these stones from this good man.”
“All of them?”
“Oh, yes,” he answered. He turned to the merchant and said: “Now, I need something blue.
“Ah, I have something special from far away mountains. Here,” he said, putting the stones in See-Fu’s hand. “This one is called turquoise and this other one is lapis lazuli, a darker shade of blue.”
See-Fu touched them. “Is there one that is blue like the sky of the night?”
“Yes, the lapis. Just like the blue before it gets very dark, with streaks of golden sunset.”
“Perfect. Yes, these too. Give them to my daughter.” The merchant did as he was asked. “Now, I need some gold, silver, and jadeite. Also something orange and something red.”
“Father! We can’t afford all this,” Lotus blossom exclaimed. Her father was acting like an addicted gambler, she thought.
“Never you mind. I actually know what I am doing.”
“Just what are you up to, See-Fu?” The stone merchant asked.
See-Fu whispered in the merchant’s ear: “I’m preparing something for my daughter’s dowry. It is time for her to marry.”
“Ah, I understand. Very good, very good. In that case, I will give you an even better price.”
“You are a good man!” See-Fu said.
Lotus Blossom stared at the two men, not daring to even speak. She trusted her father and hoped that he really did know what he was doing. She took all the stones that See-Fu had chosen, brought them into the house and put them on an empty table in her father’s pottery room.
See-Fu was still in the cart. “What is that smell from the sea? You are not carrying fish.”
“No, but you are right. I have some black coral from the ocean. It comes from the waters near a big island, somewhere south of us. They say it is very far.”
“I’ll take some of that too.” The two men settled their accounts and the merchant helped See-Fu off the cart.
“I wish you and your daughter all the best, See-Fu. May she be as happy as she is beautiful,” the merchant said, waving. He was delighted with the day’s sales. He had made a handsome profit.
As Lotus Blossom prepared lunch See-Fu carefully picked up each stone. They cost him almost all the money he had saved from when his daughter was born, in preparation for her dowry. Instead of money he now had minerals and his great faith in Quan Yin. See-Fu felt the stones one by one; the rough gold and silver nuggets, the one pockmarked with small rubies, the black coral from Australia, jade from Japan, carnelian from Ceylon, turquoise and lapis lazuli from the mountains of Afghanistan, and the different quartzes from the Urals: citrine, amethyst, clear, rose colored, milky and smoky. He had all the colors to match the petals in his little pots. That was how he would know the colors of the stones. He became acquainted with each piece. He closed his hand over them, one at a time, and realized that each one slightly vibrated and each one had its own rhythm. Some had slow pulses, others a little faster. He marveled at the beautiful secrets nature always lovingly divulged, delighted that these rhythms and vibrations would show him the colors of the stones. He no longer needed the petals. He didn’t mind the extra work that it had involved for he and Lotus Blossom had spent wonderful times together accumulating them.
See-Fu immediately started his project. He took each stone and carefully hammered away until only the crystal remained. This took him days. Then one by one he placed each gem in a mortar and systematically crushed them until they became very fine powder. This backbreaking process took him months. Each time he finished he carefully put the powder in a small pot, similar to the ones that held the now dried flower petals. He lined the powders in the same way he lined up the colors. They stood in pairs; the petals in back, powders in front, and from light to dark. With each blow and turn of the pestle he saw his daughter’s happy face.
See-Fu sat in front of the white porcelain vase. This process had been the easy part, having made many such vases with the pai-tun bricks. The challenge lay ahead. He washed his new creation with a large goat-hair brush until it was perfectly clean. He passed his fingers delicately over every inch. It was perfectly smooth, standing seven hands tall with a simple yet elegant design similar to an urn.
See-Fu stretched out his arms and found both edges of the table. The vase was centered and now ready to be painted. In one corner towards the back, the little sculpture of Quan Yin seemed to stare at him. In the other back corner, an incense stick burned and the sweet smell enveloped him. His brushes, made by hand from horse, goat, and wolf’s hair, lay on one side of the vase. On another little table, by his side, were his small pots where the paints were ready and perfectly smooth. The colors were vibrant, each from a crystal or a precious stone, a gift from deep within Mother Earth. They waited, as if they had their own souls, for the paintbrushes to discover them. They, too, were on See-Fu’s quest.
The village was dark and quiet, the majority of the inhabitants asleep. See-Fu sat motionless in front of his forum, his tools in precise formation, as only his mind could understand. He was meditating, analyzing how he should start. He just didn’t know how to proceed with his task—the one that would enable his daughter to become a happy bride. He just sat there, waiting, waiting. Nothing came to him.
From the back of See-Fu’s house a soft melody rang out. It came from Lotus Blossom’s room. Her long delicate fingers plucked her qin. Her performance was ethereal See-Fu thought, a combination of earth’s gentleness and mysteries of the night. Every once in a while Lotus Blossom accompanied the harmonics with a song, an ancient love poem. See-Fu felt his entire body mellow as his daughter’s voice reminded him of birds and the melody painted the portrait of nature’s beauty where they had collected his ingredients. He smiled triumphantly and delicately touched the statue of his Goddess. He now knew. He remembered Quan Yin’s guidance: “When the music is played, your heart will be your eyes.”
See-Fu said a grateful prayer. Quan Yin answered him: “The love of your soul will be displayed in your creation.”
See-Fu focused his mind over each little pot. Even though he knew exactly where everything was he double-checked by passing his hand over each of the paints and felt each one’s distinct vibration. He took one of the goat-hair brushes and gently dipped the tip into one of the paints. He delicately held the vase with one hand and with the other he lifted the paintbrush, very much like a maestro waiting for his musicians. Then he applied the first brush stroke onto the white porcelain. Suddenly the baton with the goat-hair nib seemed to take on a life of its own, as if guided, and at the same time as if leading a great orchestra. See-Fu could hardly keep up, the pace was furious.
As meticulously as he had prepared and arranged his paints, now he didn’t even have time to think as to where they were even placed. His hand dipped the different brushes into one paint, then the other and then another and another. He worked so fast that some of the paint stayed crusted on the vase, instead of being smooth and precise. This crusted paint would eventually turn into a novelty, and this enamel would become See-Fu’s trademark. He could feel his heart beating just like when he was a boy running through the woods, trying to get back home before the dark of night. He felt himself perspiring, and breathing hard. He tried to think of his next brush stroke, but it was futile. His hand worked faster than his brain, and he just let it happen. He was not one to interfere with divine intervention.
The preparations had been painstakingly slow and difficult, but the painting of the vase was of lighting speed and finished by morning. See-Fu knew exactly when it was over, for the fury of the pace suddenly stopped, as did the music that played throughout the night (even though Lotus Blossom had long fallen asleep). He combed his hands over and above the vase leaving only a millimeter or air between his skin and the wet paint. His heart expanded with joy and pride. He lifted his head and saw Quan Yin smiling at him and then passed out at the foot of the table, his mustache making its own design on his face.
When See-Fu woke up it was dusk. He had slept through the day and he almost jumped when he remembered the previous night’s furious events. He went to the vase and touched it with trembling hands. How did it turn out? Was it is a mess or was it superb? How could a blind man paint without seeing? And then he reprimanded himself and apologized to Quan Yin. He knew she had been with him all along. He ran his fingers over the finished vase and studied the design. From his touch he knew exactly what it looked like, and from the vibration of the minerals he understood what color the paint was. He lovingly, and with great delight, let his hands discover every millimeter of the vase. Fifteen months of work, an eternity of love, and one night went into his creation. He put his cheek on the vase and felt the tingling. He smiled. Yes, it was a success and he was indeed proud of his work. He mouthed a silent prayer to his Goddess.
Quan Yin appeared from deep within the vase extending her hands toward him. “See-Fu, this is more than a work of art, this is a work of love from the very depths of your soul. I congratulate you. This vase will be around for a very long time. It will always, always be surrounded by love and music for it is embedded in its creation. Wherever this vase will stand, those around it will be blessed. It is time to start its life. It is time to see the Emperor.”
See-Fu held his hands together in prayer close to his chest and bowed reverently. Quan Yin melted back into the vase.
♫
CHAPTER 3
See-Fu stood before the temple of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. He took a deep breath, knowing full well how much this audience would dictate the rest of his beloved daughter’s life. He walked up the steps of the palace, gently tapping the stone with his cane. He cradled the vase in its velvet sack very close to his heart, as if it were a baby. One of the Emperor’s guards escorted him to the main audience room, which was lavishly furnished with silk screens, cushions of all colors, and altars burning incense. He was guided to the middle of the gleaming polished wooden floor in front of a gilded throne. He thanked the guard and sat down, cross-legged. He carefully stood the vase next to him and waited. He was alone in the large room, his shallow breathing the only faint sound.See-Fu heard the shuffle of feet in the background. He knew it was the Emperor, followed by his entourage. He quickly knelt and bowed his head to the floor as the government representatives took their respective places behind their leader seated on a golden throne with great ceremony. The Emperor wore a robe made of pure gold silk and embroidered with exquisite colored designs. His head was covered with a round hat, very much like a crown, and his long thin mustache dangled down to his chest. His delegates hovered around him like bees. One of them whispered in his ear. The Emperor looked down at See-Fu.
“So, it is See-Fu, the blind potter. What is it you wish?” The Emperor said, his voice booming throughout the large hall.
“Oh, great Emperor, I come bearing a gift for you.”
“Ah, that is nice. And I presume you want something in return.” See-Fu was still on his knees, his head hovering just above the floor. “Look up, See-Fu… I mean, rise, rise.” See-Fu sat back onto his feet, his back very straight. He crossed his hands in prayer in front of his chest.
“Whatever the outcome, my Emperor, I wish to present you with this gift, for you are a great man and we have come to respect and love you, indeed adore you. May you live many springs filled with health, wealth, happiness and wisdom.”
“Thank you, See-Fu, that means a great deal to me. But now, show me what you have in the sack.”
See-Fu slowly and lovingly opened the sack. He removed the vase and then quickly held it over his head. The light coming in from the windows hit the vase. The effect was blinding. Everyone in the room gasped. Never had they seen anything so brilliant and divinely designed. They looked at it closely. The vase seemed wet, as if the paint hadn’t dried, or perhaps it was alive. On it, painted in brilliant green from the emeralds, were the fields of China with its people and myths, seemingly ready to jump out and speak. The Emperor was depicted, as well as the city and its inhabitants. In the background the countryside was filled with flowers, magnificent birds, and animals that seemed to sway, fly and run. Other people, in the fields and in the city, were talking, working, laughing and enjoying life in general. Above it all, in the dramatic blue of the lapis lazuli sky, an enormous majestic ruby-red and gold dragon enveloped the entire top part of the vase and seemed to come out of it. The Emperor and his officials were hypnotized and duly impressed. The piece was magnificent and unique.
“I am known as a powerful Emperor, See-Fu,” the leader said, “but you have made history with your creation. Long after we are both gone from this world people will remember me, perhaps somewhat for what my peaceful government has offered, such as education, industry, trade and maritime commerce; but more importantly for the long-lasting art, wisdom, and writings of my people. I congratulate you, See-Fu. The vase is exquisite and it shines like nothing I have ever seen. But how did you ever paint this? You are blind!”
With love and music, my Lord.”
The Emperor stared at him. “I don’t understand. Explain this to me.”
“It was quite simple really. I could see in my heart what I wanted to create and I thought of my daughter that I love so dearly. When I heard her play her qin my fingers became my eyes.” See-Fu could feel Quan Yin close by as he repeated some of her words.
“See-Fu, I commend you and I thank you for such a unique gift. Tell me, what it is you want and I will grant you your wish.”
“You honor me as a God would, my Emperor, I thank you. My wish is not so much for myself, but for my daughter, Lotus Blossom.”
“Ah, yes, I have heard of her beauty and also of her talent as a musician. Tell me, what is it you wish for her?”
“She is young, and very much in love. My wish is that she may partake in the union of marriage with this wonderful man. My love for her is how this creation came about. I firmly believe that with love everything can be achieved.”
“Not only are you a brilliant artist, but quite the diplomat. I should have you in my court.” He looked at his delegates and grunted. “No, that would only be a waste of your talent. In any case, you are already an Ambassador to my court.”
“How do you mean, my Emperor?”
“With your talent, See-Fu, with your creations. As I said, you represent the best my people have to offer.”
“I am but your humble servant.”
“But now, tell me, who is it Lotus Blossom wants to marry?”
See-Fu paused for a moment, feeling the rise of his body’s temperature, unsure of the Emperor’s reaction. “It is Zhou… your nephew.” There, he had said it.
The delegates
gasped. Zhou was a noble, part of the Royal family, and a warrior. How could the Emperor grant such a wish? It was impossible. It was just not done.
“My nephew?” The Emperor raised an eyebrow, perturbed and sensing his entourage’s reaction. “What you ask, as you know, is… difficult.”
“I know this, my Emperor, I know. But you cannot fault a father for trying to make his daughter happy. She is a wonderful person, deserving of a happy life. I would go to any length to be worthy of being a good father to her.”
“And that you are, See-Fu, that you are. And I do not fault you for this. On the contrary, you are a brave man. But you must know that I cannot allow a marriage such as this. You are not of a royal family.”
See-Fu was losing hope. The Emperor stood from his throne and walked around the large gold chair. He stopped and looked at the father begging for his daughter’s happiness. See-Fu raised his head a little.
“They are in love? Zhou and Lotus Blossom?” The Emperor said, almost whispering. See-Fu nodded. “They wish to marry?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The delegates stared at the Emperor. He was pacing. They were worried. He was up to something.
“Zhou has responsibilities. He is one of my military attachés. He does need a wife, but she must be of royal bearing.” He continued to pace.
See-Fu said a quick prayer to Quan Yin. Something had to happen, it was now or never.
“Bring me Zhou!” The Emperor shouted, making everyone present jump. One of the guards ran out of the hall. The Emperor sat back on his throne. The delegates whispered among themselves. Just what was the Emperor up to?
A little while later the guard ran up to the Emperor, knelt in front of him reverently and whispered something. The Emperor nodded. The guard quickly rushed to the door. He returned with a handsome young man in full military regalia who immediately bowed in front of the Emperor. Zhou saw See-Fu and felt his mouth go dry. Why was he here, kneeling in front of his uncle, the Emperor?