Aunt Su Mala doesn't take a bath all year round, why does Kangxi still love her?
Sumaraja is an extraordinary woman. She came from a family of tenant farmers in the Mongolian steppes, but eventually became an advisor to both emperors. She witnessed and participated in many important moments in the history of the Qing Dynasty, protecting and helping these young sons during hurricanes. At the same time, he stubbornly clings to a tradition that modern people cannot understand - not bathing for the rest of his life.
This is due to their unique national traditions and beliefs. However, we must not underestimate the historical and cultural context of these traditions, let alone allow these superficial phenomena to obscure the essence of understanding a person. Sumalaga's life shows not only the continuation of traditional customs, but also the inner qualities of wisdom and tolerance. This is perhaps the dilemma that every era must face – how to strike a balance between form and substance.
i.The legend of the steppe maiden.
One day in 1636, a light snow fell on the Horqin steppe. Surde, a tenant from Korchinbel Province, came to Baylor Province and asked his daughter Suma to marry him as a bridesmaid. It was a turning point, and he hoped to bring a turn to his humble life.
Ten-year-old Sumur followed the eunuch into the inner courtyard and stood anxiously in front of his future mistress, Belle's second daughter, Bumu Butai. Bumu Butai's eyebrows were curved, delicate and dexterous, and Su Mur couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw such a beautiful and noble girl for the first time.
Bumi Butai smiled and admired the slender girl in front of him. She asked Shuma to stay and serve, and Shuma was relieved that she finally had something to rely on.
Two years later, word spread throughout the steppe that Huang Taiji had chosen Bumu Butai as his wife. This time, Bumu Butai's destination is an opportunity for Huang Taiji to choose a good wife. Now, Bumu Butai has the identity of the imperial concubine, and Su Mu Shilang can follow the imperial concubine into the palace.
In 1648, Huang Taiji died suddenly, and Fu Lin, who was only six years old, ascended the throne as Emperor Shunzhi. The actual power fell into the hands of the Deputy Chancellor, Dorgon. In order to strengthen his position, Dolgon brutally murdered the sons of Huang Taiji and placed the goddess Zhuang under house arrest.
ii.Women's ** Billboard.
At that time, Su Mo was the personal attendant of the pious Concubine Zhuang, and Dolgon did not allow him to visit Concubine Zhuang. But Su Mo risked his life and sent messages many times, begging Dolgon to release the Empress Dowager Zhuang and reunite Emperor Shunzhi's mother and son.
Dolgon was brutal by nature, prone to recklessness and usurpation. But he was impressed by his wife's courage and sincerity, and in 1652, he finally agreed to let Shunji meet his mother.
At that time, Su Mo'er was renamed Su Malagu. She was brilliant, learned Manchu and Chinese when she entered the palace, and participated in the design of the new Manchurian crown. Although she is a country woman, she has also realized her ambitions in the palace.
In the early years of Shunzhi, the war inside and outside the palace was fierce. The emperor was young, and the Empress Dowager Cixi was placed under house arrest. In the whirlpool of these fates, there is always a female ruler who tries to maintain the wavering imperial power.
In 1661, the Kangxi Emperor ascended the throne. The remnants of the Ming dynasty were also seeking to restore their glory. And although Su Malagu is still an unsafe **, she has become a confidant and a firm favorite of the two dynasties.
3. The patron saint of the measles bed.
In the winter of 1666, a sudden measles outbreak broke out in Shenyang. The five-year-old Kangxi Emperor soon fell ill, and his condition recurred, leaving the doctors helpless.
Kangxi was covered with herpes, lying on the bed with a high fever and delirium. The eunuchs and concubines avoided him. Only one middle-aged woman stayed by his side all day. She patiently cooled him down with cold water, gently encouraged him to sleep, and took the most bitter Chinese medicine for him every day.
This woman is Sumaraju. She took care of Kangxi as if he were her own child, and although the situation was dangerous at the time, she did not feel abandoned at all. As time passed, Kangxi gradually ** under her careful care.
Measles claimed the lives of thousands of people in Shenyang, but the Son of Heaven survived. Among them, only Su Malagu dared to take the risk to protect the sickbed. While reciting the mantra of great compassion, he defended the imperial power with his actions. Perhaps because he has had this statue since he was a child, Kangxi has special respect and piety for this ** when he grows up.
iv.A traveler between Buddhism and imperial power.
A year later, Xiaozhuang died. Su Malagu lost her friend for many years and was disheartened. Emperor Kangxi understood the mood of this old prostitute, and specially instructed her to raise her four-year-old son Yinzhen. This gave her new purpose and motivation in her later years.
Sumalaga poured her maternal love and loyalty into Yin. Now, the entire royal family relies on her wisdom and connections to deal with any crisis that may arise.
In the thirty years of Kangxi, the 90-year-old Su Malagu is no longer so active and competitive. He spent more time in the ashrams in the palace and in the temples outside the city.
He spent his days chanting sutras and listening to the Sanskrit sounds that echoed in his mind. His fragile and short life will eventually dissipate like dust. But the Dharma lives on, and this eternal truth and compassion will guide all beings through the sea of suffering. Perhaps, this is the home he found after the storm of the secular world.
The figure of the young emperor bowing and praying loomed. He needed the blessings of the Dharma and the help of the earth. If it comes, it will be safe. In this way, a generation of female officials has been entangled between Buddhism and the royal law all their lives. Perhaps it is this kind of opportunity and sense of responsibility that has enriched her ups and downs in life.
v.A lifetime of inaction, obsessed.
However, one of the living traditions of Sumarag – he almost never bathed – is incomprehensible to present and future generations. In Mongolia, the average person can only take a bath three times in their lifetime. Bathing is considered a luxury and a desecration of holy water. Since Sumalaga grew up in poverty, he did not get into the habit of bathing often.
Even after entering the court, she maintained a modest lifestyle. The emperor and the widowed empress gave her jelly, gold, silver, and porcelain, but she did not dare to use them again for fear of contaminating these valuables.
For him, bathing meant disrespecting the traditions of his people. As a result, even at the age of 100, Sumalaga rarely bathes. He adheres to this belief as a sign of respect for the water in his hometown. People today don't realize how ridiculous this is. But in his heart, it was a sacred tradition, a belief that could not be questioned.
vi.Can we understand Sumalaga?
Coincidentally, a contracted translator recently caused"Three baths"The rhetoric caused an uproar in China. However, when we are blaming others, have we ever thought about how long a nation with a long history and cultural traditions is? Are we guilty too"Treat others as you please"Mistakes?
This way of life, which is incomprehensible to outsiders, highlights Sumalaji's adherence to his national traditions and his devotion to his homeland. Although he successfully assimilated into Manchurian culture, he also retained traces of Mongolian tradition. This is a rich historical record that deserves to be understood and appreciated with an open mind.
By modern standards, we cannot expect a 17th-century woman to completely abandon the traditions of her homeland. On the contrary, the uniqueness of Sumalaja as a historical figure lies precisely in the fact that she vividly embodies the interaction and conflict of two cultures.
Behind these traditions, which at first glance seem absurd, there is also a strong adherence to the inner beliefs of women. This perseverance also created her wise and introverted character, and eventually won the trust and love of the two emperors.
This particular way of life in Sumalaga emphasizes his personality, which in turn is closely linked to his national traditions. In fact, many of these traditions have a deep cultural heritage that should not be underestimated.
At the same time, diversity is needed. Wise men know how to distinguish form from substance, to take the essence and remove the dross. Sumalaga's life is as much a reflection of his adherence to tradition as his wisdom and tolerance.
It's a delicate balance between preserving tradition and being enlightened and progressive. We face the same challenge of finding common ground between very different understandings of the world. It's an eternal topic, but I believe that using history as a mirror is the shortest way to find the answer.