秋菊傲霜
The autumn chrysanthemum braves the frost
In what seems like a flash, spring and summer have folded themselves into the first day of autumn. Autumn is the gatekeeper of winter and with its arrival we see the world become a bit more darker and colder. In the old days, the winters in Japan were very harsh and so when autumn came people knew they had to start preparing themselves in order to survive. In Japan, the beauty of the chrysanthemum or kiku (菊) represents longevity, rejuvenation and nobility. The kiku is also admired because it begins to bloom just as other flowers are starting to succumb to the cold and frost of autumn and so its bloom is a pleasant reminder to be resilient. There is a saying from an old Chinese poem that I read which typified this idea of being hardy in the face of adversity: “The autumn chrysanthemum braves the frost.” This metaphor reminds us that one’s true beauty comes out when they stand bravely in the face of adversity. As the season changes, the kiku knows that the autumn cold is also coming but it still stands tall and blooms despite the fact that it too will succumb at some point to the cold. This idea of carrying out one’s duty despite imminent death is very samurai like. Does a martial art make one resilient or does it reveal what is already one’s nature? I am not sure. What I do know is that studying a martial art can change a person’s life because it teaches them how to understand themselves better which in turn makes them better human beings. When we know who we are, no amount of cold can affect us. The autumn chrysanthemum braves the frost to show us how to live our lives with a sense of grace, dignity and resilience.
Today’s goal: Today is the first day of autumn, which means winter is coming. Don’t waste your time, be resilient, but enjoy your day.