Quotes from Lin Yutang - Moment in Peking

This is by far one of the best novels I have ever read.
In this video, I share some of my favourite quotes in the book as well as my reflections and thoughts after reading the book. I hope you enjoy!
The novel is set to begin in the year of 1900 which coincides with the period of the Boxing Rebellion that China was then engulfed in. The main protagonist is a 10 year old girl Mulan. Mulan and her family are fleeing Peking (Beijing) to Hangzhou, which is located in the South of China, to escape from the violence and danger that threatened the peace and harmony of Peking. As a result, the family has to bring with them their belongings, pack up and evacuate. A day before their departure, the head of the family, Mulan’s father, decides to bury the family’s valuable curios underground so that they stay hidden should their house be invaded in the family’s absence. In view of it, Mulan expresses her concerns to her father about whether it was a safe-proof measure. To which, he replies:
“Everything has its destined owner. How many hundred owners do you think those Chou bronzes have had in the last three thousand years? No one ever permanently owns a thing in this world. For the time being, I am their owner. A hundred years from now, who will be their owner?”
From this answer, we can see that Mulan’s father is imparting to Mulan the wisdom of “Time and Impermanence”, which is a concept put forth strongly by Taoism. By nature, Mulan’s father is a wise man, educated in the Chinese classics and a Taoist at heart. While he is Chinese in his beliefs, he is also a modern man in many ways as demonstrated in many instances within the book where he is quick to voice his support for new ideas that are thought to be good for the betterment of society.
Mulan, the protagonist of the novel, looks up to her father and takes after him in many ways. Throughout the novel, many of Mulan’s thinking and actions can be traced back to her father’s teachings and beliefs. Her father’s wisdom is akin to the lighthouse by the sea, guiding her through her life. As a result, she herself grows up to be a capable, intelligent and quick-witted girl, commonly praised by many whom she interacts with throughout her life.
Through the eyes of Mulan growing up from a young girl to a married mature woman with her own family, this novel exposes readers to the daily lives, happenings, habits and thinkings of Chinese people living in the era of 1900 till roughly 1940s. Although it is a fiction book, the events that happen in Mulan’s life are shaped by real world happenings and the author makes an effort to describe sufficiently the historical backdrop so that readers can understand the contents with ease. It is a story filled with exciting happenings and beautifully detailed enough for readers to appreciate the beauty of the Chinese culture.
Throughout the novel, it is evident that Taoism thinking is an important theme of the story as the characters behave and think accordingly to the Taoism teachings.
Another key theme of this novel would be family and relationships. In the novel, we can see that Mulan is close to both members (servants included) of her immediate family members as well as in-laws. She takes great pain and effort to extend her helping hand whenever anyone she knows of is in need of one. As she evolves from a little girl to a mature woman, it is she who steps up to shoulder the responsibilities of her family.
The book is truly a delight to read and it offers readers a feast for the eyes.