羚羊之恩

羚羊之恩

The ancient Chinese Classic of Mountains and Sea mentions a mythical animal called “Ling”, which has its origins in the antelope. Quite a few poems have talked about goats, yet only a few mentioned antelopes, one of which is called Transmission of the Lamp by poet Shi Daoyuan from the Song Dynasty.

While sleeping, an antelope hangs its horns on the tree, leaving its feet above the ground, so to hides itself from any potential danger. In the past, people likened this behavior to poems that don't have roots in other works.

Most of the time, a masterpiece is based on a flash of inspiration, and cannot be explained when it's done.

Antelopes' horns are also used as a component of Chinese medicine. It is said to be able to calm the liver, reduce swelling and improve eyesight.

When I had a fever, my aunt used to grind antelope's horn into a powder, and make it into a drink for me. I also used to wear a string of Buddha beads made of antelope's horns. It is believed to be able to calm my soul and ward off evil influence.

When I went to Nepal, my sister gave me a scarf as a gift, which is made of an antelope's beard.

I owe antelopes quite a lot, and I wish I could make it up to them in the future.

Kallen Guo

Senior filmmaker, socialite and bestselling author, authored Don't Fall in Love with Zurich, the winner of The Best Foreign Language Novel.

郭丹

资深影视人、名媛、畅销书作家。代表作包括最佳外语小说奖获得作品《别爱苏黎世》等。

《山海经》中《西山经》有提到麢（líng），就是现在的羚羊。古代说到羊的诗词很多，羚羊的却没多少，只有一个，是宋释道原《景德传灯录》：义存禅师示众语谓：“我若东道西道，汝则寻言逐句；我若羚羊挂角，你向什么处扪摸？”

羚羊挂角，羚羊夜宿，挂角于树，脚不着地，以避祸患。旧时多比喻诗的意境超脱。这点我深有体会：创作文字和音乐和美术，都仰仗于灵光一现，无法进行理性的阐释。

我对羚羊的认识，来自中药中的羚羊角一味：平肝息风；清肝明目；凉血解毒。主肝风内动，惊痫抽搐；筋脉拘挛；肝阳头疼眩晕；肝火目赤肿痛以及血热出血；温病发斑；痈肿疮毒。用于高热惊痫，神昏痉厥，子痫抽搐，癫痫发狂，头痛眩晕，目赤翳障，温毒发斑，痈肿疮毒。

我小时候常发烧，东方婶婆用羚羊角磨粉给我喝，还有串羚羊角佛珠，常戴着收魂压惊。

后来去尼泊尔，小王妃师姐送我的围巾是藏羚羊的下巴颏毛儿捻出来的。

我欠羚羊良多，愿日后时时弥补。

Grace of the Antelope

Text by Guo Dan Translation by Madz Illustration by Nan Fang