Think different

Ippo Keido (retelling) and Kazuko G. Stone (illustrations)
The Butterfly's Dream
Tuttle, 2003

Ippo Keido uses the story of Chuang-tzu's (Zhuangzi 莊子) dream to enfold a series of other stories about vision. We see by turns the vast viewpoint of the giant fish-bird and the circumscribed world of the frog sitting in the depths of the well. Although I've heard it many times, I can't help but laugh at the tale of the monkey trainer, who satisfies his simian charges by reversing the daily regimen of 3 chestnuts in the morning and 4 chestnuts in the evening. Keido rounds out the stories with the "wooden" rooster whose power is hidden behind stealthy discipline; the useless tree, which thrives because it is too crooked, too heavy, and too hard for commercial use; and Hui-tzu's giant gourds, which outgrow conventional purposes. The lesson is to think differently. Kazuko Stone's illustrations are occasionally awkward, as when an emperor hovers at odd corners near the rooster-training exercises or when the so-called useless tree looks not at all crooked. But, the color and charm will be engaging for readers young and old, just as these Daoist tales continue to offer relevant, trenchant lessons.

A sage for our time, too

Russell Freedman (author) and Frédéric Clement (illustrator)
Confucius: The Golden Rule
Scholastic, 2002

Combining hagiography, biography, history, and political commentary, Freedman reanimates the life and teachings of the fifth-century BCE sage Confucius, or Kongzi 孔子. Freedman's writing is eminently accessible, but at times, I wished he would exercise more discretion. Some casual claims about, say, the feel of the town marketplace, are improbable window dressing; and myths and legends receive the same treatment as historical persons and events. Further, I wished for more careful, bilingual editing, as the character for li 禮 (meaning ritual) is mistakenly written li 利 (meaning profit). Clement's illustrations have a strange, otherworldly and nostalgic feel, with bits of fruit and flowers scattered almost artfully across torn and fading images. Such aspects of writing and illustrations prove frustrating for the reader keen on minimizing the ingredients of Orientalism. Still, Freedman's thoughtful engagement with some of the ideas rang alarmingly true. I apprciated his discussion on the rectification of names, meaning, for example, calling only those who act with wisdom and benevolence  kings. Now, just as in the past, Freedman rightly points out, we have so-called leaders who clearly are not leading.

On the inside covers, Freedman includes sayings from Confucius' Analects, aphorisms to live by. Here is one of which, in my capacity as reviewer and writer, I am especially mindful: I am fortunate indeed. Whenever I make a mistake, there is always someone to notice it.