C30 Mandatory Education and Traditional Culture

The old man was holding a stack of yellow handwritten papers. He placed it on the table in front of Tao Huizhen. He slowly sat down opposite Tao Huizhen and said with a smile: "Take a look, Teacher Tao. These were the crystallisation of Dai Village's traditional culture. It's different from the Dai culture you see now. "

Tao Huizhen carefully opened the handwritten papers. The papers that had gone through the passage of time were somewhat heavy, and there were many small words written on them. It looked like it had been there for many years. The few pages outside seemed to have been recently copied. Tao Huizhen flipped through a few pages. She tried to express her opinion, but what made it difficult for her was. . . She didn't know a single word. This entire stack of papers was filled with Dai words.

"I'm sorry, I can't understand. " Tao Huizhen closed the paper. She looked up at the village elder.

The old man nodded, and a nostalgic look flashed across his eyes. "You don't need to feel that it's inappropriate if you don't understand it. I wrote all of this down in the Dai language, one stroke at a time. There aren't many people in Da Tea Village who can recognize these words. You, a girl from the city, can read them. I don't want you to understand it, I want you to feel it. These were the cultural memories of Dai Village. It seems like more and more days will be sealed in the future. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I suddenly want you to come over and take a look. I do these things. When I do these things, I spend the rest of my life doing them. "

"Perhaps no one around me is interested in these things, no one is willing to discuss culture with my old man. . . The traditional culture of Dai Village. Of course, Teacher Tao, the same goes for you. However, you and I are both people who transmit culture. I pass on the culture of Dai Village, and you pass on the culture of compulsory education. " The village elder said in a low voice, "I just want to talk to you about Tian'er. We all have different views on culture. You see, you might not be able to understand that Dai culture is gradually fading away from your field of vision. But what do you think? After countless years, the compulsory education culture you pass on. . . It will no longer be accepted. The lonely soul of culture floats around. At that time, you were the only one still fighting. You preached about your culture to others, your thoughts that have been passed down for countless years. It was already the same for others. Others simply turn a blind eye to it. "

"Me, living too long. Thinking about it, time is indeed a sad thing" The village elder sighed.

Tao Huizhen swallowed a mouthful of saliva and felt a little stuffy in her chest. She understood what the village elder was saying. One type of culture impacting another type of culture. There will always be countless possibilities. What the village elder did was to protect the traditional culture. What Tao Huizhen was doing was universal compulsory education. But after a few years, the things that Tao Huizhen popularized. . . Would it also become a traditional culture that needed to be protected?

"Grandpa, the person who contributes to the heritage culture. . . It is worthy of respect. In the end, someone has to do it. Last year, the country recorded the first batch of non-material cultural heritage names. What you are doing. . . It's also something the country supports. Actually, the traditional cultural country is also doing its best to protect. . . Otherwise, it wouldn't be called an intangible cultural heritage. The country supports it, but it needs people like you more. Inheritances that don't seek repayment from generation to generation. In addition, compulsory education and traditional culture don't contradict each other. Only by learning other cultures will you understand how to protect traditional culture, right?"

The old man suddenly fell silent. What a good compulsory education and traditional culture does not contradict each other. But of course, he hoped that there would be more people like him who could join in.

He stared at the young girl in front of him, her thoughts were very high. Her great youth was now showering in this Dai village surrounded by mountains and rivers. This was not difficult to say, but it was not easy to do. Many people came to Dai village to volunteer with hot blood, and in the end, they returned with disappointment.

Tao Huizhen persisted here for more than a year. The old man had heard a lot of gossip. He always thought that this child would not be able to persevere. He did not want to think about it anymore. Countless people came and left. He did not have the energy to greet them one by one. Usually, he would look at the distant green mountains in front of his house. The fog was hazy. His eyes were still fine, but when he looked back, he saw. . . He inadvertently saw the school dormitory of Da Tea Village Primary School. He suddenly realized that the girl was still teaching there.

To be able to persist, it was already better than any words. The fact that the village elder wanted to meet Tao Huizhen had nothing to do with the things that happened to her.

The old man knocked on his back with a bamboo pole. It was very stiff. He began his long narration. Tao Huizhen listened quietly. The clock on the wall was ticking.

He talked about how all the Dai people had to enter the era of Buddhism in the monastery to learn from the Dai people. He also talked about people coming to other places and people coming to Dai. Until one day. . . The monastery became quiet. The monks also lost their enthusiasm. The village elder was still young at that time. He didn't know how a culture came out so quickly and suddenly. When he finally reacted, The overall situation had been decided.

The village elder expressed that even if he reacted prematurely, it would be of no help. Once traditional culture showed signs of fading, then it would be impossible to return to its prime. Only a few people would be able to retain it completely.

He did that one thing - Transmission. He passed on the traditional culture of the Dai clan as a family's incense. He insisted on using the Dai language and learning the Dai culture. He insisted on the last plot of land. After so many years, he made the old man understand one more thing. He no longer tried to persuade others. He just wanted to do what he could. That was enough.

The stack of handwritten papers in front of him was the evidence of the old man's lifelong persistence. He said that he would let his descendants continue. If someone was willing to learn and understand Dai culture, He was still very happy. Currently, the grandson and great-grandson of the old man. They all supported his decision. When he mentioned how far this arduous road could go, the old man laughed heartily. He never thought that. . . It was meaningless even if he thought about it.

Tao Hui carefully leaned against the bamboo chair. Her heart was somewhat moved. When the old man smiled, she couldn't help but laugh. The little goose egg's face was filled with emotions. Her eyes were unusually bright. This afternoon, for some reason, she was quite happy. The kind that came from inside out.

She bent down and used her slender arms to press against the armrest of the bamboo chair: "Grandpa, do you want to try publishing a book? she asked. It was a double language book. It described the culture of Dai Village in Dai Language and translated in Han Language. This is very meaningful for spreading the true Dai culture in your eyes. "

" I'm afraid it's already too late. "

"Why?"

"The old man's energy is no longer as vigorous as you young people. There are still some things that need to be done by young people. Teacher Tao, thank you very much for coming to my house today and chatting with me for so long. "

" That's nothing much, grandpa. You can tell me about the culture of Dai Village, a direction that has been going for hundreds of years, and your journey in your heart. I'm also very happy and very happy. " Tao Huizhen felt that she had gained a lot while she was listening to Elder Zhai. This was a rare life experience.

She stood up. The village elder also slowly stood up. He sent Tao Huizhen off with a gentle gaze. The short meeting meant the end.

Tao Huizhen glanced at the stack of handwritten papers before she left. Her mood was as heavy as the heavy handwritten paper. She looked back. She noticed the spine in the room and the dim sky outside of the window. Her tongue tasted a bitter taste in her mouth. She bowed and bid farewell to the old man.

"There are some rumors, don't mind them"

The moment Tao Huizhen raised her head, she heard the old man say this. She didn't think at all. She understood what the village elder meant. The village elder was referring to the rumors. Sometimes, she felt that she was a person who went against her will. At least, there was still a gap between her and "unusual. " There were some things. . . She could let go even if she wanted to. This was the same experience as when she went to a public service performance before she came to Dai Village. It had a lot to do with it.

The words of her parents, Wen Xiu, friends, and the people around her had also given her a lot of motivation.

Tao Huizhen's eyes flashed with gratitude as she nodded heavily. She left the village elder's home.