I think to really be literate in nu shu you only need about 600 characters because it is phonetic. So you're able to then create many words out of one character.
Lisa SeeWhat stays with me most is a general sense of loss, unease, and longing for the past that cannot be relieved.
Lisa SeeMama used to tell us a story about a cicada sitting high in a tree. It chirps and drinks in dew, oblivious to the praying mantis behind it. The mantis arches up its front leg to stab the cicada, but it doesn't know an oriole perches behind it. The bird stretches out its neck to snap up the mantis for a midday meal, but its unaware of the boy who's come into the garden with a net. Three creaturesโthe cicada, the mantis and the orioleโall coveted gains without being aware of the greater and inescapable danger that was coming.
Lisa SeeMy love for him had never gone away but only changed, growing deeper like wine fermenting or pickles curing. It bore into me with the pervasiveness of water working its way to the center of a mountain.
Lisa SeeI am still learning about love. I thought I understood it--not just mother love, but the love for one's parents, for one's husband, and for one's laotong. I've experienced the other types of love--pity love, respectful love and gratitude love. But looking at our secret fan with its messages written between Snow Flower and me over many years, I see that I didn't value the most important love--deep-heart love.
Lisa See