On the 22nd day of the second month in the year of Wuzi (1888) Goh Sin Kho hosted a banquet at Teck Guan Garden to commemorate an imperial favor. Previously, due to border alerts, Goh Sin Kho in Fujian, deeply committed to serving the country, generously donated a large sum to aid the Fujian army. The Fujian Governor Yang Shi, appreciating Goh Sin Kho's loyalty, petitioned the imperial court, which bestowed a plaque to honor his patriotism. The plaque read "Profound Loyalty to the Nation." Governor Yang Shi particularly esteemed Goh Sin Kho's character and specially wrote a commendation, stating, "Truly a remarkable talent from the Southern Seas, worthy of distinguished honors from the Northern Palace." Goh Sin Kho, deeply moved by this imperial grace, was filled with gratitude.
Gentlemen, impressed by Goh Sin Kho's honorable recognition, came in droves to offer congratulations. Thus, Goh Sin Kho specially hosted this gathering in his garden to entertain guests and commemorate the imperial favor. The invited guests that day included Left Zixing, the Provincial Administrative Commissioner; Qiu Zhongbo, the Observer; Wu Danru and Kui Fu, two Prefects; Huang Jiting, the Judge; Left Shunan, the Magistrate; Mo Hanqing, the First Rank Scholar; Chen Bida, the Military Officer; as well as Uncle Bin and Third Brother. As I was familiar with etiquette, I was specially sent to welcome them by carriage.
On that day, although the guests followed the host's instructions to dress casually, they all wore long robes, not deviating from the national dress code. The host greeted them at the gate with a deep bow, respectfully ushering the guests in. Soon after, soft music began to play, and the host, fully dressed, came out to lead the guests to their seats, arranged in two tables facing east and west. The performances that day were Beijing operas. After the first round of drinks, the lead performer came with a clapperboard to request the selection of plays. They began with "Ascending the Altar and Worshipping the Generals," a Kunqu opera piece to invoke good fortune.
Midway through the feast, tables were cleared for fireworks. A high scaffold, taller than the treetops, was erected in the garden to hang and launch fireworks and various pyrotechnic devices. Golden serpents danced in myriad paths, pearl-like sparks formed thousands of strings, endlessly transforming, delighting the eyes and hearts of all - truly a spectacular sight.
That day, host and guests exchanged toasts and reached the pinnacle of joy. Most remarkably, all the congratulatory words, praises for Yang, discussions, questions and answers, and jokes exchanged at the table did not include a single word about financial profits, which was particularly refined and rarely seen in the business world. I couldn't help but feel joy and have something to say about this.
Hosting feasts and entertaining guests is a common affair, so what is there to be particularly joyful or worth discussing? What I rejoice in is not the hosting of the banquet itself, nor is what I want to discuss about the feast itself. So what am I joyful about, and what do I want to discuss?
The lack of culture in the secular world is indeed severe, especially in this distant overseas land where the educational influence of the Central Plains is unheard. Those who travel to this country only focus their efforts on the trading markets, unaware of what fame and honor mean. Even if there are those who emulate Bu Shi in offering grain or imitate Xiangru in presenting eight gifts, they merely hold empty titles without substance. How many truly harbor sincerity and respect in their hearts?
Now, if someone were to say, "The honors bestowed by the imperial court are meant to reward those with merit. This system is of utmost importance, and receiving such honor is the greatest glory in one's life." Upon hearing this, people would invariably scoff and laugh. Similarly, if someone were to say, "As we sojourn in this distant land and have gained some surplus, shouldn't we repay the imperial court and seek the honor of an official title as a mark of glory?" Listeners would also deem it impractical and tire of such talk.
The secular world has long viewed official honors as useless objects. Some say that in recent times in China, official titles have become greatly devalued. Since the practice of obtaining ranks through donations began, even a farmer who harvests a few more bushels of wheat can become an official. Therefore, it's no wonder that people scoff at, laugh at, consider impractical, and tire of such notions.
However, this view cannot be the basis for argument. If one truly believes that fame and honor are useless, why not retreat from society and claim lofty ideals? Yet many in the world still like to donate for official titles. Once obtained, they become indifferent and set them aside unused. Why is this? It's likely because there hasn't been a leader to set an example, so people are hesitant to act.
Fortunately, Observer has boldly taken the initiative to manifest imperial favor in this coastal region and promote propriety and deference in this distant land. This allows us overseas Chinese to understand the dignity of official honors. In the future, when benevolence is promoted and propriety becomes the norm, helping this place gradually become a land of civility and culture, Observer's guiding contribution will be significant indeed.
This place has long been known as a difficult area to govern, with people's customs being hard to change. Most who come here are craftsmen, with few scholars and literati arriving. As a result, incidents of fighting and robbery occur frequently, nearly exhausting the efforts of good officials in suppressing violence. If one day the rough can be transformed into the refined, it would be a great service to the local area. Therefore, this gathering is not merely for the enjoyment of a feast. The emergence of a dignified and solemn atmosphere is enough to set a precedent for cultural transformation. On the way back, I record this with my scholarly brush to encourage social customs and people's hearts.
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