July 8, 2010 - Beijing, China

Pinyin: tian gao hiang di yuan
Translation: The heaven is high and the emperor is far away
Comparable English Idiom: When the cats away, the mice will play


The first day early-morning-rise always comes naturally when traveling in Asia because it's mid-afternoon in the Pacific Northwest. Hoping to find a Starbucks ready to serve, as the sun barely hung in the sky, I was quickly disappointed. Instead, I followed the marching People's Liberation Army soldiers towards Sun Temple Park. Although extremely early, a multitude of T'ai Chi and Qigong practitioners, sword dancers, chanters, and others were already beginning to honor the new day. Smoking is rampant in Asia, so spying a T'ai Chi student gracefully maneuver the 108 progressions with a illuminated cigarette laced between his fingers was of no surprise. Eventually I found "my people" when invited by five elderly Han to thirty minutes of vigorously pounding the legs, back, neck, arms, and face with clenched fists, to awaken the bodies 'Qi' (energy). Perfect physical endeavor for a sore, jet-lag soul.

For over 500 years emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasty have inhabited the Forbidden City, in the heart of Beijing. Establishing central north-south axis for the entire city, the south line extends through the Tienanmen gate. Built in the exact same years (1409-1420), but a couple miles to the southeast, but still on the same grid-system is the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heave was erected for honoring celestial ancestral spirits to bring a good harvest to their descendants. Opposing, The Forbidden City was built to glorify the Emperor - the only divine connection between the people and heaven.


Fortuitous with uncommonly blue skies (usually polluted smog socks in the city), we spent the entire day exploring the major historical/tourist sites on the Beijing grid. The last 100 years of China's history stands poignant as we schlep through Tienanmen Square, past Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and are continuously surrounded by billboards of communist propaganda.



Remembering the 1989 Tienanmen Uprising, when the People's Liberation Army tank shot and killed the young protester - we were quickly able to identify the exact location of the fateful event. China states that no one was killed in Tienanmen Square on that day... this is true. The famous "tank man," and others like him, were killed just feet from the square, on the adjacent streets.


Although we walked miles in torturous heat today, my body felt great. Thank goodness for the quality time I spent energetically hitting myself this morning in the park - my 'Qi' is flowing.