Crane

　　When I lived in the north, I once had a chance to take a really closer look at a crane. It was indeed a unique creature, radiating a sense of calmness, wisdom and spirituality. I stared right into its eyes, trying to observe it more carefully; and it also stared right into my eyes, with a look that he knew everything. The eyes of the creature from a different species were so penetrating that I felt I was deeply moved and sympathized with it.

　　Crane is associated with freedom, nobleness, prosperity and longevity in traditional Chinese culture. Those who were obsessed with immortality aspired to be able to ride a crane to find the paradise where men could live forever. The image of crane appeared repeatedly in Chinese paintings and poems and was highly eulogized and widely favored. It can be seen as a unique culture phenomenon of the east.

　　Chinese people's obsession with crane seems to have something to do with Taoist philosophies. Crane has an air of elegance and dignity. With a pair of wings that are like clouds in the sky and a gracefully penetrating voice, the image of crane matches the aesthetic taste stated in Zhuangzi's Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease. Moreover, the sense of calmness and detachment it gives out complies with Wu Wei (literally "non-action" or "non-acting"), a central concept of Taoism. In China, literati prefer to refer themselves as "wild cranes and floating clouds".

　　Nowadays recluses' humble thatched cottages and bamboo fence are replaced by the concrete jungle. In a world that is full of material desires, people gradually leave the elegance of "non-action" behind. In the case for cranes, despite the sharp decrease in its number, the image is more and more frequently seen in this commercialized society and has drifted away from the original ideals it stands for. It's been degraded to a cheap sign that can be seen at almost every corner of the street. It's quite a pity, both to cranes and to human beings.

　　Nonetheless, the image of this graceful and mysterious creature, the long history and profound cultural implications behind it will never fade out. It's eastern and it's eternal.

　　Cranes are smart. They observe the world and human beings with curiosity. But in the meantime, the sense of detachment and independence they give out distances them from the hustle and bustle of the world. It seems that they accidentally fall to the madding crowd from some heavenly fairyland.

　　In a way, they share some similarities with modern urban dwellers. It's often the case that the richer it is on the material level, the lonelier it is on the spiritual level. Loneliness is the shadow of freedom. A crane falling in earth is a portrayal of ourselves.