PaliPali

The Chinese saying “大樹底下好乘涼” means “Great trees are good for nothing but shade” — implying that under the protection of powerful people or organizations, one can benefit. But such comfort comes with risk.

When too many birds rest on a tree, you’re bound to get hit by droppings. Worse, the entire tree might be cut down someday — and everything beneath it goes down too.

That’s why I admire the elk in this photo (a modern sculpture at Kunshan Station, China). She carries her own tree on her head, nurtured with her own blood and strength. She doesn’t rely on others for shelter.

If noisy birds come too close, she can shake them off. When crisis looms, she can choose to fight — or run — with her tree still intact.

This tree is hers. It will stay with her, rooted in her spirit, until the end.

偉大的樹木提供陰涼——但並非沒有風險。

中文諺語「大樹底好乘涼」的意思是「大樹只適合遮陽」——暗示在有權勢的人或組織的保護下，一個人可以受益。 但這種舒適伴隨著風險。

當太多鳥在樹上休息時，你肯定會被糞便擊中。 更糟糕的是，有一天整棵樹可能會被砍掉——它下面的所有東西也會被砍掉。

這就是為什麼我欣賞這張照片中的麋鹿（中國崑山站的現代雕塑）。 她頭上扛著自己的樹，用自己的血液和力量滋養著。 她不依賴別人作為庇護所。

如果吵鬧的鳥離得太近，她可以把它們甩掉。 當危機迫在眉睫時，她可以選擇戰鬥——或者逃跑——她的樹仍然完好無損。

這棵樹是她的。 它將一直陪著她，植根於她的精神，直到最後。

“Great trees offer shade — but not without risk"

The Chinese saying “大樹底下好乘涼” means “Great trees are good for nothing but shade” — implying that under the protection of powerful people or organizations, one can benefit. But such comfort comes with risk.

When too many birds rest on a tree, you’re bound to get hit by droppings. Worse, the entire tree might be cut down someday — and everything beneath it goes down too.

That’s why I admire the elk in this photo (a modern sculpture at Kunshan Station, China). She carries her own tree on her head, nurtured with her own blood and strength. She doesn’t rely on others for shelter.

If noisy birds come too close, she can shake them off. When crisis looms, she can choose to fight — or run — with her tree still intact.

This tree is hers. It will stay with her, rooted in her spirit, until the end.