Zhang Xiaotong 張曉彤 · Father
The way of Heaven benefits and does not harm; the way of humans is to act and not contend.
Life
Autobiographical Poem
A self-composed poem (original 自傳詩 below; interpretive English translation in italics).
起名即曉彤，半生創業中；
只忙東方紅，未等太陽升。
Named Xiaotong (“Dawn-Red”) at birth, half a life spent building anew;
busy with the Eastern Red, never waiting for the sun to rise.
自詡不凡命，那屑與人同；
運蹇不認輸，愛登最高峰。
Claiming an extraordinary fate, scornful of being like others;
when fortune wavered, refusing to lose — loving the highest peaks.
位卑憂國運，處難慮民生；
好管不平事，義正敢為爭。
Lowly in station yet grieved for the nation, in hardship still mindful of the people;
quick to right wrongs, righteous and unafraid to contend.
粗心隨己意，慮慢多妄行；
少顧他人意，常忽世人情。
Careless, following his own will, slow to consider, often acting rashly;
seldom heeding others, often missing the world’s sentiments.
老來思往事，似有幾分明；
細算功與過，無悔這一生。
In old age recalling the past, seeing it with some clarity;
tallying merits and faults — no regret for this life.
死後任評說，無惜利與名；
若論精神在，可共天地清。
After death, let others judge — caring nothing for gain or fame;
if the spirit endures, may it share the clarity of heaven and earth.
Photographs
Photos coming soon — drop image files into public/images/xiaotong/
The Aspiration of Pingxintang (平心堂之志)
Pingxintang (平心堂) is the traditional Chinese medicine practice he founded. Its mission, in his own words:
開慧悟道 已解生命之謎
力興岐黃 帶來人類安康
Open wisdom, grasp the Way — solve the mystery of life;
Advance the art of medicine — bring health to all.