Read the wonderful story that inspired “BE NICE ME” and then get a T-shirt, mug or tote bag to spread the word about Friendshipology. Let’s go shopping. <https://www.bonfire.com/store/friendshipology/>
Author: Billy
Friendship Can Not Exist Without Trust
My dear nephew-in-law, Michael Sterling , surprised me with a gift last week . He had a shirt made at BONFIRE after he read my article about BE NICE ME posted on https://friendshipology.net . I proudly wore it and shared a photo of myself in that shirt with many friends – especially my Andover prep school classmates since Norman Allenby ( PA ’51 ) was the one who told me that years ago a five year old friend of his son, uttered these three words upon arrival for a play-date.
Mike came for dinner yesterday, and we continued our conversation about FRIENDSHIPOLOGY. He emphasized that Friendship can not exist without Trust 信. I agree with him heartily, since my parents named me 李名信 Lee Ming Sing (Lee is our Family name; middle name Ming means To Remember; third word Sing or Xing means Trust.) It has been etched in my mind that I must always be trustworthy.
Indeed, I have constantly been reminded that my Great-Great Grandfather李也亭 Li Ye Ting is considered a historical figure in Shanghai and XiaoGang, Ningbo, my ancestral home. He was known for his business acumen but most importantly for his Accountability, Reliability, Good Intentions, and Total Trustworthiness.
However, Be Nice and Be Trustworthy are reasonably straight forward. To Induce Deep Friendship sometimes requires Empathy and Forgiveness.
I remember a situation a few years ago. A few friends and I made an agreement with another acquaintance to promote a Good Cause. There were mutual financial commitments. Abruptly, this acquaintance could not and did not deliver as he promised. My friends mostly thought that we were cheated. Legal actions were suggested. I was torn and upset, but fortunately decided to give the acquaintance a pass. I did not think that he intentionally deceived us and the Good Cause Project he led must be appreciated and not be smeared. I had lost a bit financially, but gained a good friend who has recovered and is still promoting his Good Cause Project.
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CAUSES OF DISTRUST IN RELATIONSHIPS
From Google Search – GoodTherapy
Trust issues often come from early life experiences and interactions. These experiences often take place in childhood. Some people do not get enough care and acceptance as children. Others are abused, violated, or mistreated.
TRUST ISSUES? COMMON SIGNS
Signs a person may be excessively mistrustful include:
- Lack of intimacy or friendships
- Mistrust that interferes with a relationship
- Dramatic and stormy relationships
- Suspicion or anxiety about friends and family
- Terror during physical intimacy
- Belief that others are deceptive or malevolent without evidence
Social rejection in one’s teens may shape their ability to trust. Some teens are bullied or treated as outcasts by peers. This can influence later relationships. Being betrayed or belittled by others impacts self-esteem. Self-esteem also plays a large role in a person’s capacity to trust. People with low self-esteem may be less likely to trust others. Those with higher self-esteem may be more self-assured.
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WHAT BUILDS TRUST ? – Billy Googled 
Building trust doesn’t happen overnight . When it comes to building trust, try to keep a long-term approach. Be honest, honor your commitments, admit when you’re wrong, and you’ll be well on your way to being seen as a trustworthy person.
Core elements needed to start the process to build trust:
Authenticity. Being authentic is about being real and truly yourself. …
Objectivity. Openness , Without prejudice, Fairness
Consistency. Reliability, Even Tempered
Vulnerability. Modesty, Empathy & Compassion
Communicativeness. Intelligence, Clarity & Inspiration
Ways that you can build trust within a team:
Provide opportunities to build Relationships and Trust among team members.
Offer networking opportunities for team members to share their capabilities.
Speak the truth, respectfully.
Highlight successes from Team work.
Encourage transparency. Give Credit when Credit is deserved.
Admit when you don’t know something.
Be honest and supportive. Helping others grow generates Trust.
Be quiet sometimes. Not overly and publicly critical.
Be consistent.
Model the behavior you seek.
Keep roles and responsibilities clear.
Build in accountability & sense of reliability.
Extend empathy to others.
Make feedback part of the culture.
Empower your team to be self-organized
GOOD FRIENDSHIP – from < https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/words-that-describe-a-good-friendship.html >
Words That Describe a Good Friendship
Have you ever thought of what friendship really means? It is really hard to put into words. Friendships are mutually beneficial, meaning each of you get something out of the relationship. Friends are there when you need them, whether to comfort, support, congratulate, or just listen. Browse this list of words that describe a good friendship, or a true friendship.
| amiable | amicable | beautiful |
| deep | eternal | heartfelt |
| intimate | lasting | lifelong |
| loving | mutual | reciprocal |
| selfless | sincere | steadfast |
| strong | true | unbounded |
| uncomplicated | unequalled | wonderful |
Words to Describe Qualities of a Good Friend
When you think of how to describe your good friend, what words immediately come to mind? Explore adjectives to describe a friend for great ideas on how to talk about your BFF.
| affable | affectionate | attentive |
| available | believable | brave |
| caring | cheerful | considerate |
| cordial | discerning | easygoing |
| empathetic | faithful | forgiving |
| funny | generous | gentle |
| giving | good listener | honest |
| humorous | kind | loving |
| loyal | nice | optimistic |
| punctual | reliable | responsible |
| sensitive | sincere | sociable |
| sweet | sympathetic | tactful |
| thoughtful | trustworthy | truthful |
| warm | warm-hearted | winning |
Great Sayings About Friends
If you are composing a speech or writing a paper and need some sayings or quotes about friendship, consider these famous quotes.
- “The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” – Vincent van Gogh
- “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust
- “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” – Samuel Coleridge
- “The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen…A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.” – Rachel Naomi Remen
- “Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” – Mark Twain
- “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wise Words on Friendship From Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie wrote one of the first ever self-help books called How to Win Friends and Influence People in 1937. In the book, he explains how to handle people, make them like you, and how to influence them. He stresses the importance of:
- not criticizing or complaining, but giving honest opinions
- the need to smile, remembering their name, and being sincerely interested in people with whom you want to make friends
- being a good listener, getting them to talk about themselves, and then continuing the conversation about things that interest them
These things make the other person feel important and that can be the beginning of a friendship.
Carnegie’s Tips on Making Friends
Dale Carnegie had many words that describe a good friendship and advice on making friends. He also shows the importance of a positive attitude, and that can help you make friends. Here is a sampling of his wisdom.
- The royal road to a man’s heart is to talk to him about the things he treasures most.
- When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.
- Do things for others and you’ll find your self-consciousness evaporating like morning dew.
- You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.
- When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.
Words for Friends
Talking about a good friend or friendship should be fun and inspiring. Now that you’ve got some great words to describe your best friendships, learn words to show your appreciation for those important people.
Michele Meleen – Staff Editor, Your Dictionary.Com
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FRIENDSHIP APPRECIATION
from < https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/words-that-describe-a-good-friendship.html > -Staff Editor Michele Meleen
Examples of Words of Appreciation
Who doesn’t like to hear a “Thank you” or “I appreciate you” every now and then? Whether you’re thanking someone for a gift or favor or just for being a good friend, words of appreciation are always appreciated! Sometimes, however, it’s hard to know what to say. Luckily, we’ve got your back. From short and sweet messages to longer phrases of appreciation, here’s how to express gratitude anytime, anywhere.
Common Words of Appreciation
You don’t have to give a big speech or write a long thank you letter to let someone know you appreciate them. Sometimes short is sweet.
· Thanks.
· Thank you.
· I am indebted to you.
· Dinner was delicious.
· I appreciate you.
· You are an inspiration.
· I am grateful to/for you.
· You are a blessing.
· You are a true friend.
· You’re so great.
· This is great.
· You light up my life.
· My sincere thanks.
· You’re the best.
· You make me happy.
· You’ve been very helpful.
Common Appreciation Sayings
If you’d like to say more than three or four words of appreciation, these phrases help make your sentiments feel more powerful.
- I don’t know what I’d do without you, and I hope I never have to find out!
- I only hope I’m able to someday give back to you what you’ve given to me.
- “Thank you” doesn’t feel like enough, but it truly sums up how I feel. I’m so thankful for what you’ve done.
- Your thoughtfulness has not gone unnoticed. It will stay with me forever.
- The world is lucky to have someone like you, who is always there for others.
- Beyond the word “thanks,” I hope you’ll feel my gratitude and appreciation for a very long time.
- You deserve recognition for the kindness you’ve shown me.
- My heart and soul are forever indebted to you. Thanks for being awesome.
- I wish you could feel the gratitude I’m feeling right now.
- I appreciate your thoughts and actions. It’s not every day I get to experience such kindness.
Words of Appreciation for Gifts
People always appreciate it when you take the time to thank them for a gift, especially if they didn’t get to see you open it.
·
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
· You are one of the most generous people I know.
· Are there no limits to your generosity?
· You are so thoughtful and generous in your gift giving.
· Thank you for the delightful gift.
· You must have read my mind because your gift is exactly what I wanted.
· You picked the perfect gift for me.
· Thanks for being so thoughtful.
· Your gift means a lot to me.
· If you could see my face right now, you’d see a look of gratitude.
· Thank you for showering me with gifts for the baby.
· You made my birthday a special day.
· I am grateful for you and your generosity.
· Thanks for thinking of me; you made my day.
Words of Appreciation for Help & Support
For someone who has been there for you or encouraged you during a difficult time, a message of gratitude is a great way to thank them.
· How can we ever thank you enough for all you’ve done? We’re forever grateful.
· You helped me right when I needed help most.
· If anyone deserves thanks, it’s you.
· I really appreciate your support in this endeavor.
· You have been extremely supportive through this difficult time. I could not have gotten through it without you.
· We must thank you for your support at this time.
· I want to thank you for all the support and concern.
· That was very kind of you. How can I ever repay you?
· Your support has made me a stronger person and I will forever be grateful.
· Thank you for always being there for me.
· Taking the time to help me was a very nice thing for you to do. Thanks so much.
· Thank you for thinking of me and taking the time to be kind.
· You are the most beautiful and wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I’m so lucky!
Words of Appreciation in the Workplace
To help keep things positive in the workplace, a few words of thanks or support can make employees feel appreciated and valued.
·
You are a great employee and a positive force around the office.
· I want to acknowledge everyone’s extra effort.
· You did an excellent job on that report.
· I want to thank you publicly for your hard work and dedication.
· Your attitude and work level suit us here, so keep up the good work!
· Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with me.
· You have been a valuable member of our team.
· Thank you for giving me the chance to fulfill my potential here.
· Your commitment to this project is second to none.
· I appreciate you supporting me at the meeting.
· You have a winner’s attitude.
· Thank you for sharing your vision.
· Your commitment to excellence has inspired others.
· We appreciate your innovative thinking.
· Your attention to detail puts you at the top.
· Thank you for taking the initiative and getting it done.
Show Your Appreciation
Showing appreciation through words in cards, texts, social media posts, or face-to-face conversations can turn someone’s day around. Find the right way to say thanks to everyone in your life.
- Words to Thank a Teacher
- Words to Thank Volunteers: Messages to Show Appreciation
- How to Say Thank You in Many Languages
- Examples of Words for Thank You Notes
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WE LIVE IN A CUP OF CHAOS
by jgl – 12 July 2022
The Universe is totally orderly. It’s ruled by the laws of physics…many of which we know,
even though many of the details remain a mystery. One of these basic laws is entropy…in nature all systems break down. That is the natural order of things. It’s a plodding, predictable process. The explosion of a supernova may look chaotic, but it isn’t. However, a human sitting quietly on a chair is a seething cauldron of contradictory, living, biochemical activity in contrast to the comparatively sedate, inanimate supernova.
Life is chaos. Life is the only disorderly system in the universe. It actively fights against entropy. Take our immune system, for instance. Life tries to repair itself. Life also actively tries to replicate itself with thousands of genes per species genome. Volcanoes, tectonic plates, solar flares, and galaxies do not try to either repair or replicate themselves. They simply disintegrate without complaint.
Living organisms comprise an infinitesimally tiny percentage of the mass of the Universe and contain perhaps even a smaller percentage of the energy of the universe. If the mass and energy of living organisms on Earth were spread out uniformly even in just our tiny solar system, they would be undetectable…unlike those distant, cold asteroids in the Kuiper Belt. Thus, we have no idea how common life may be in the universe. All we do know is that there doesn’t seem to be any lurking around us anywhere within many light years .
These observations help us understand why our lives, towns, countries, and cultures are so desperately chaotic. The most chaotic substance in our solar system is packed into a space that’s 36 billion times smaller than our solar system and 330,000 times smaller even than our Sun.
Let us not wonder why our lives and cultures are such a living mess. Let’s just all be very glad that they aren’t worse. Better yet, encourage the only three elements in our natures that can turn down the chaos…Empathy, Reason, and Humanism. All other human mental processes add substantially to the chaos. Do not do unto your neighbors that which you would want done unto yourself. Rather, do unto your neighbors that which they would want done unto themselves. This caveat does not apply, of course, if your neighbor is a masochist or psychopath or is otherwise mentally befuddled. Then you must apply Empathy, Reason, and Humanism to determine what is best for that person. If you’re not sure… don’t do anything. As Hippocrates said: “The first principle is to do no harm”.
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BILLY’S NOTES :
I deeply appreciate this “Cup of Wisdom” from my dear friend “jgl”. We basically think alike. While I promote “BE NICE ME. NO HURT EACH OTHER”. (See recent post: “TWO PLUS YEARS OF FRIENDSHIPOLOGY – WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?”), he quotes Hippocrates’ “THE FIRST PRINCIPLE IS TO DO NO HARM.” CHEERS !
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My Best Friends
By Gordon Hammond – May 2022
I recently wrote about my Uncle Joe. He was my best friend when I was 10 years old. My next best friend was my roommate at Philips Andover Academy, Billy Ming-Sing Lee. He had recently arrived from China. He needed help with the English language and some other local puzzles. The school closed for the holidays. My family in Hampton, NH invited Billy for Christmas. He enjoyed the visit and playing with my sisters. I showed him how to play hockey and he showed me some soccer tricks. He now lives in California as a retired architect. We use e-mail to keep in touch frequently. I just now sent this article to him for his website: <https://friendshipology.net>.
My next best friend was Leon Henley, a cotton farmer from North Texas, also known as ‘Tex.’ He was in my squad in the 180th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. We were together from training in Louisiana to Korea. If we didn’t like an order, one of us volunteered to cover the job. Tex had a family and he was drafted into the Army. He hated military life, but I was a volunteer so I couldn’t gripe. Many years after Korean War, marriage, and work at the Laboratory, Polly and I and the kids took a long auto vacation trip around the U.S. On the return to home, we passed Tex’s ranch in Childress, Texas. My son Bruce wanted to drive the tractor. Tex said OK. Bruce drove through Mrs. Henley’s flower garden. We took everybody out for pizza that night.
Golf had been my exercise until my lumbar discs disintegrated. Now I work out at the YMCA. When Dede and I moved to Florida, I joined a senior golf association that played weekly tournaments around Central Florida. I was frequently paired with Henry Heufner, a snowbird from Cleveland, Ohio. We became good friends and Dede did with Marion, his wife. Henry was a wealthy, retired business man, with an airplane, a yacht, and a condo in Pinellas County. In the Summer time, we liked to meet and play golf in North Carolina. Our favorite area was Pinehurst and Southern Pines. A favorite golf course was the Pit. This was the course that had an island green and I fell in the lake, raking the sand trap walking backwards. Henry laughed so hard all he could do was fish my hat out of the lake with his putter. When we got to the 18th green, I bent over to get my ball out of the hole and my soaked shorts fell down and I mooned the people who watched from the club house. Alzheimer got Henry at an early age.
At an Episcopal golf outing, we met in the club house for dinner. The men around a table introduced themselves. I said I was an astronomer. Another man said he writes for the Tampa Bay Times. He asked me if I would do an interview with him. Later he called and I said OK. The Times sent a photographer, and I chatted with Dr. Prof. Edward Cifelli. The interview centered on our golf games and we played Scotland Yards several times. Now we go to breakfast every 2nd Friday, we celebrate each birthday, and our wives are good friends. He is my best friend. And I must include Dede as my best friend, also. She takes notes of my phone calls and she takes care of all our meals at home, and she lets me pay the bills. I love her.
BILLY’s COMMENTS :
Gordon. indeed, is one of my best friends as well. He was the one who helped me without my asking. He helped me adapt myself to the new environment when I came to the U.S, to study at Phillips Academy Andover. He was like a BIG BROTHER to me – very caring with a unique sense of Humor. Thanks, Gordon, for your friendship and for supporting my Friendshipology Initiative !
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HUMOROUS STORIES SET THE STAGE AND ATMOSPHERE FOR SHARING EARNEST AND OPEN PRIVATE THOUGHTS A VALUABLE LESSON FOR FRIENDSHIPOLOGY
By Billy Lee – May 2022
Monday May 16, I attended The CCIS 67th Annual Meeting at Stanford University’s Bechtel International Center. The main attraction was A Panel of 4 Speakers from 4 Countries – Stanford’s foreign students from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Georgia.
I arrived early and sat next to a fellow wearing a tag with a clearly printed one word, ED. We chatted briefly. I learned that he is a CCIS Volunteer who has been teaching English to Stanford International Graduate Students – 15 students once a week. I also shared with him my volunteering at CCIS’ English in Action program where I had a Japanese Partner from Kyoto, etc.. It was quite a surprise to me to discover later that he was an invited speaker to speak just before the main Panel.
After his talk, I all of a sudden realized how important it was in Setting the Stage. According to ED, he simply told funny stories to enliven the meeting. Photos below from Lydia Moret show the atmosphere we have at most CSIS meetings. Indeed, the usual CCIS Spirit is one of Goodwill, Caring. Engaging, and Sharing of Joy and Hope.
ED, whose full name is Edward Loizeaux, has special skills to teach the rest of us who believe in Promoting International and Cross-cultural Friendship. Ed is a retired management consultant specializing in the evaluation and implementation of company-wide computer systems, such as MRP, for mid-sized manufacturing firms worldwide. His clients ranged from Brazil to Singapore to Philadelphia to San Francisco and all points in-between. His travels to numerous foreign countries inspired his current volunteer activities at Stanford University teaching English to international graduate students.
I have serious hearing difficulty and cannot catch much of what people say to me, but I try hard to catch a few key words when possible, and make special efforts to watch what is going on and how things are delivered and received. Unfortunately, of ED’s 3 Funny Stories, I caught the essence of only two, but they are so uniquely international and effective for the occasion. I like to share them with you even though I wish you could have heard this directly from ED himself. One was about an Asian Scientist being introduced by a jovial American colleague: “A Jolly good friend and a Bachelor”. Pounding on a table near by, Ed showed the Asian Scientist very upset and said “ Dear Friends, I am a PhD !
The second one was about the Finns from Finland. They are normally “Introverts” and tend to talk to another person with their faces turned downwards and eyes focusing on their own shoes. When asked if the Finns ever become “Extroverts”? The answer is “ Ofcourse ! When his or her eyes focus on the other guy’s shoes. “
ED has his own charming way of engaging his audience. Note how he bent forward to engage Giorgi Abaiadze from Georgia as he also captured full attention from the entire audience.
So impressed by Mr. Ed Loizeaux, I asked for his email address and wrote to him to invite him to lunch and perhaps also to write something for my Friendshipology website : <https://friendshipology.net>. He graciously rejected because he had to take care of his wife who is not well. Instead, he offered some ideas for Friendshipology to pounder. Please see below :
MAKING FRIENDS
— how to do it —
1. Do you really want a new true friend? Or, do you prefer a fast and efficient transaction? Making a new friend will take some time. Time is the most valuable thing most of us have and should be spent carefully. Knowing what you want is the first step.
2. Perhaps the easiest way to make a new true friend is to find a common interest. Use that interest, whatever it may be, to begin a conversation. Use this discussion to test the likelihood of mutual interest.
3. Listen very carefully and thoughtfully. Place yourself in his (or her) shoes and reply from that perspective. Your ideas will eventually work their way into the relationship. There is no need to be first.
4. Do not offer an opinion unless one is requested. No friend likes being told what they should believe. Listen and be accepting of new ideas even though they may seem strange. Giving advice can come later.
5. Extend an invitation for a future friendly conversation. If it is accepted, you will have planted the seed for a meaningful new friendship. It will need water and fertilizer, but it will grow with time.
6. Keeping in touch over time and distance is usually necessary to sustain a new friendship. Try hard to prevent long periods without contact. The best friendships are often those which have lasted a very long time.
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Meaning of Yi (義) by John KC Liu– May 2022
A while ago Billy asked me to write about Yi (義) and Yi Chi (義氣). I said I would try, and this assignment has been on my mind. Apologies for taking a long time to respond. Let me put down what comes to mind even though a lot of its deeper meanings are above my level.
Let me start with an everyday example of a voluntary act of reaching out to another person. In this case, a passerby saw that I was looking for something and she stopped to ask me what I was looking for. I had accidentally dropped my glasses and she must have thought that I was helpless without my glasses. Without any hesitation, she started looking around trying to cover all possible locations where I might have dropped them. After about fifteen minutes she was not successful and said sorry to me and went on her way. But just a minute or two later she came back and said that there was one more possible place she had not checked and she was going to look again. Well, this time she came back with a big smile holding my glasses. Before I could say ‘thank you’ and ask her name, she just waved and disappeared into the crowd. The whole episode happened in a natural and matter-of-fact way, without any fuzz or anxiety. The way she handled the situation had a sense of simplicity and beauty.
I would consider this as a kind of impersonal but universal act of Yi. It’s impersonal since we are strangers to each other, but it’s universal because it happens everyday, everywhere, all the time. Each of us are in touch with thousands of such examples of selfless giving and mutual help. In the U.S. during the sixties when I was in college, there was a popular saying “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty”. In ancient China, Confucius teachings assigned the concept Yi to this fundamental human impulse towards others as duty to do the right thing. Not to do the wrong thing, or not to harm others, is part of this human impulse. Of course another important Confucian concept of Ren (仁), meaning kindness and benevolence, is closely related to Yi. So Ren and Yi are one of the basic building blocks of humans as social beings.
On another level, among colleagues, family, and friends, the practice of Yi takes on additional meanings beyond just doing a kind deed. There is a sense of honor, loyalty and commitment that comes with belonging. By being a member of a family, a group, an association, or even a political party, one has the duty and the responsibility to serve the needs of that group, most often unconditionally. In Chinese we refer to a volunteer as Yi Gong (義工), an YI worker. Here I think the term YI Chi (義氣) is most often applied. An example in the work place is when a colleague is overworked and is facing a deadline. You decide to help finish the task at hand, foregoing, perhaps a family dinner. Chi is inner energy, so Yi Chi is the act of honoring a commitment to an organization or to those that you have an affiliation with.
Likewise with an old friend, in this case when I recently asked Billy to support a project of mine, Billy committed his support without any hesitation. An important part of this Yi Chi is mutual trust. Trust requires cultivation, but interestingly it needs not necessarily be physically close; trust may grow across space and time. For example last year I got in touch with my grade school classmates after more than sixty years. It was quite a reunion and after they heard about my project, my desk mate in fifth grade just volunteered to help me promote it. Another facet of the practice of Yi Chi is that it is not tied to the notion of fair exchange. One does not practice Yi expecting something in return, nor does one calculate the costs and benefits of the act. The act itself has its own intrinsic value independent of return and rewards.
At an even larger scale of the community and the nation, Yi is often practiced by pledging to work together on selected social causes. An example is our Building and Planning Research Foundation at the National Taiwan University. When we started, we had committed ourselves to applying our professional planning and design skills to solving social problems such as public housing for the needy, rural community development, and infrastructure planning for native communities. Many of our team members have pledged their professional lives to working for social justice. Such social commitment have earned us trust from the communities we serve, and likewise we have developed trust in them to do the best they can to better themselves. The operating human value at work here is the mutual practice of Yi between the professional and the local community. Of course, examples abound and each of us can think of many examples at this scale.
At an even larger scale, addressing the whole of a culture in a particular place and time, we also find forms of associations based on Yi, such as political parties formed to promote specific social goals, and various civic and philanthropic associations engaged in achieving certain social values. An historical example in ancient China is the well known story called “ Oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden” (桃园三结义) which appears at the beginning of the novel Romance of Three Kingdoms (三国演). Here the term Yi , referring to duty, loyalty, honor, allegiance , is at the center of the story in forming political and military alliances to achieve perceived social goals. In more recent history, the republican revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat Sen was very much a voluntary movement based on shared ideals of a just and modern society. Here Yi takes on a more direct and radical commitment of both soul and body. My grandfather was a member of the revolutionary league the Tong Meng Hui (同盟会), though he was not one of the famous 72 martyrs who gave their lives to the revolution. During WWII, in the fight against Japanese aggression of China, many Taiwanese volunteers joined the fight on Mainland China. General Li You-bang (李友邦) led a Taiwan voluntary army (台湾義勇军) to fight along side with the Chinese army against the Japanese. So at the national level, the practice of Yi is an essential motivating force to seek a better world.
At these different scales, Yi plays a critical role in connecting a person to others, a person to a community, and a person to a larger cause. For me, among these and many other ways of practicing Yi, there is a very important element of “empathy” that seems to be always present. Empathy, I think, is a capacity to step outside oneself and to see the world from another’s point of view. Likewise, it is also a communicative tool to motivate different peoples to see each other and to respect the culture and values of others. At the very base of being humans, we have the obligation, the Yi, to respect and love each other. Here, I think Mo-tsu (墨子) a century after Confucius and one of the key ancient sages, gave Yi a adjunctive meaning in his “universal love, practice no harm” (兼爱无攻) dictum, which I think is very much in need during these turbulent times of 2022.
OLD FRIENDS: Lucille Lee, Shirley Liu, John Liu and Billy Lee
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