"The little bridge stood alone and was speechless, and caught a glimpse of the rising dawn in the forest."
This is the scene in "A morning trip to Shinobazu Pond" specially created by Li Shutong after his spring outing with Seiko. verse.
The poem is always filled with a romantic and aesthetic emotion.
This also reflects the happy days when the two of them dated and went on spring outings together.
Speaking of Seiko, no one knows her real name.
Only in Li Shutong’s biography and writings, we vaguely know her name Xuezi, Chengzi or Ye Zi.
From 1906 to 1918, when Li Shutong became a monk, Chengzi and Li Shutong lived together for 12 years.
Perhaps these 12 years should be the best time in Chengzi's life.
As Li Shutong’s Japanese wife, Chengzi has been with Li Shutong for 12 years.
She accompanied Li Shutong when he returned from studying in Japan, and she became a monk at Hupao Temple with Shutong. And leave.
Her life is legendary.
01
First Meeting with Shutong
In the early 20th century, Tokyo was culturally prosperous and advanced. Chinese intellectuals flocked there, and Li Shutong was no exception. .
In 1905, Li Shutong went to Japan to study, and soon studied painting at the Tokyo Art School. During his study in Tokyo, Li Shutong had a wide range of hobbies, and in art, oil painting was the most important.
Li Shutong was exceptionally talented in literature and art. After arriving in Japan, he became even more obsessed with it.
He is particularly obsessed with Western painting. Western painting art emphasizes realism, and sketching the human body is the only way to learn painting.
So he began to look for nude models. At first, he began to use male models to start life sketching in school, but he was also at a loss for female models.
I recall that later Liu Haisu introduced female models for nude sketching. In fact, it was Li Shutong who was the first to introduce female models.
His female model is his Japanese wife, Makoto.
Chengzi was the daughter of the landlord who delivered food to him. One day, Chengzi delivered food to Li Shutong as usual.
Uncle Tong had an idea. Looking at the pretty little girl, a thought flashed in his mind, "Isn't this the female model I'm looking for."
Li Shutong immediately and sincerely asked her to be his sketching model. Although this invitation was sincere, it was also very abrupt.
But Chengzi did not refuse, nor was he surprised or upset. He was moved by Li Shutong's talent and sincere attitude.
In this way, this beautiful Japanese girl became Li Shutong’s full-time female model.
Whenever the painting is completed, he will ask the Japanese girl to comment.
In this way, as the communication deepened, the hearts of the two young people began to slowly get closer.
A foreign love affair quietly begins.
02
Exotic Romance
As time passed, the two young people began to know and communicate with each other.
They discovered The two of them have many similar hobbies. They treat each other sincerely and begin to cross the boundaries between painters and models.
At that time, Makoto was only 18 years old, a time when love had just begun and she was innocent.
He was deeply attracted by Li Shutong's talent. Li Shutong lived alone in a foreign country and rarely had such an intimate female friend. The fire of his love burned like a raging flame, burning away the loneliness and hesitation in a foreign country.
So he acquiesced to this foreign relationship, after several months of communication.
They started living together, and in a blink of an eye it was spring. Cherry blossoms are flying all over the sky.
They often walk by the lake together, paint together, and play together.
The two comforted each other and spent an unforgettable time studying abroad together.
Of course, Chengzi at that time did not know that Li Shutong had married a wife and had children in China, and he never mentioned it to his Japanese girlfriend.
Of course, Chengzi's parents did not approve of this relationship, and they strongly opposed it.
They knew that Li would definitely leave Japan in the future and return to China for development.
But Chengzi followed Li Shutong wholeheartedly and recognized Li Shutong.
Chengzi was deeply attracted by Li Shutong, who was elegant and talented.
In this way, the two spent the unforgettable six years of studying abroad.
03
Life in a Foreign Country
In 1911, Li Shutong returned to China after studying in Japan, along with his Japanese wife Makoto.
They settled down together on Hailun Road in Shanghai and lived there.
At this time, Li Shutong's family was in decline, and he was no longer the handsome third son of the Tongda Li family in people's eyes.
He had to find work for his livelihood, and Li initially found a job in Tianjin.
Not long afterward, Li Shutong went south again and never set foot in Tianjin again.
He and Chengzi have been living in the south. The two took care of each other and lived an ordinary couple. days.
In 1912, Chengzi followed Li Shutong to Shanghai again and worked at the Chengdong Women's School, teaching Chinese and music.
Soon he was hired as the chief writer by Pacific News, and was also in charge of literary supplements and advertising.
In 1913, Chengzi once again followed Li Shutong to live in Hangzhou.
As Li Shutong entered the Zhejiang Normal School, the center of life of Chengzi and Li moved to Hangzhou.
From then on, the two of them lived a harmonious life in Hangzhou. Miss Chengzi played the piano and Li Shutong composed the music. Their lives began slowly like this. The two lived together in Hangzhou for five years. Chengzi stayed with Li Shutong until Li Shutong became a monk in 1918.
Li Shutong also deeply cared for his wife.
04
Shutong became a monk
Left China in despair
Buddhism has the theory of fasting, and Taoism has the art of fasting.
In 1916, Li Shutong read a Japanese book on fasting after being recommended by his friend Xia Jizun. From then on, Li Shutong became obsessed with fasting.
To fast, he needed a quiet place, so Li chose Hupao Temple. This was the beginning of Li becoming a monk.
In 1918, Shutong insisted on becoming a monk at Hupao Temple. He became the master of Master Wu and took his Buddhist name of Yanyin, also known as Hongyi.
This should be a bolt from the blue for his Japanese wife, Makoto.
She had no idea that her husband would insist on becoming a monk, and she burst into tears over this.
For her, she will face leaving Li Shutong and leaving China.
She refused to give up Li Shutong. She went to Li's good friend Yang Baimin and cried: Japanese monks can have wives and concubines, why did Mr. Li deport her? After Yang Baimin explained, Chengzi begged Yang to take her to see him again.
After arriving in Hangzhou, Yang Baimin asked Master Hongyi to come out for a meeting. Master Hongyi couldn't refuse, so he had to accept the appointment.
Several people found a vegetarian restaurant to eat. During the period, Yang left first, leaving Master Hongyi and his Japanese wife Chengzi behind.
The two looked at each other for a long time without speaking.
During this period, Li Shutong took off his watch from his hand and gave it to Chengzi as a souvenir, and said calmly: You have With technology, I won’t lose my job even if I return to Japan.
Chengzi immediately cried and couldn't help herself.
After the meal, the two said goodbye to each other.
In the spring of 1918 in Hangzhou, the lake was clear and peaceful. In the morning mist where the water and sky were the same color, a simple monk and a Japanese woman in kimono walked silently.
Chengzi said: Shutong, are you really not going to go back with me?
Li Shutong: Please call me Hongyi.
The woman lowered her head and remained silent for a long time, then asked: Hongyi, please tell me what love is?
Hong Yi replied: Love is compassion. You go back.
After finishing speaking, Master Hongyi turned around and left without looking back, and just disappeared into the sky.
Chengzi had no choice but to follow Yang back to Shanghai, and then returned to Japan.
Since then, Chengzi has never returned to China
No one knows about her.