如 是 我 闻
天 命 初 啟
開 蒙 幻 化
智 勇 鳳 靈
承 續 古 今
載 文 載 武
太 阳 之 旅
示 現 和 平
《鳳程頌》
The PHOENIXA CHENG LEGACY SHOW
The PHOENIXA CHENG LEGACY SHOW
Welcome to the PHOENIXA CHENG LEGACY SHOW. Our host, the acclaimed Chinese American intercultural critic and author J.J. Cheng, invites you on a cosmic journey through myth, memory, ancestry, and self-transformation. Centering around J.J.Cheng’s timely creation of PHOENIXA: THE NEST, A Mystical Quest for the Cheng Legacy, the first of the PHOENIXA Saga, a 60-minute in-depth interview was filmed on her birthday in 2024 by her long-time friend, photographer Steven Speliotis, now presented in 17 segments for your convenience. These invaluable moments encapsulate over three decades of Cheng’s cross-cultural life experience from China to America, her bilingual creative process from journalist to filmmaker, then to author, her relationship with her grandfather, with Buddha, with God, and with the cosmos—her soulful quest for meaning in this life and beyond.
In the interview, Cheng eloquently articulates her living philosophy, inherited from her Renaissance grandfather Cheng Zhen Jun (1888–1932), one of China’s early modernizers at the dawn of the 20th century. Today, Cheng’s reflections remain as relevant as ever. She shares not only her personal journey but also the timeless wisdom of her Chinese ancestors—an enduring call for human introspection, moral cultivation, inner serenity, and harmony across the world.
歡迎來到《鳳程論壇》節目
《鳳程論壇》主持人 程一若（J.J. Cheng）享譽國際的華裔美國跨文化評論家、作家，她以獨特的東西方視野，探索人性、文化歷史，靈性昇華和世界和平。請步入一場穿越宇宙、神話、家族記憶、祖脈 和生命意義 的心靈之旅。
以創作《鳳程》三部曲之一《鳳巢》為緣起（Phoenixa: The Nest, A Mystical Quest for the Cheng Legacy）程一若於2024年她生日當日接受了一場長達六十分鐘由多年摯友、攝影師 史蒂文・斯佩利奧蒂斯（Steven Speliotis）進行的深度訪談。 現分十七個片段呈現，便於您的觀賞。這些珍貴的時刻，凝聚了程娟三十餘年跨文化的人生歷程——從中國到美國，從新聞工作者到影人，再到作家，她的中英雙語創作歷程；展現了她與祖父、佛、上帝以及宇宙的深厚聯繫——一場關於生命與超越世俗的靈魂探尋。
程娟特別發現她的生命哲學和宇宙情愫原來源自祖父 程振鈞（1888–1932）這位二十世紀初用生命推動中國現代化的先驅之一。時至2025年，她的思索依然光芒不減。程娟不僅與讀者、觀眾分享她個人的生命體驗，更傳遞了中華的先祖智慧——呼喚人類的自省、德性的培養、內心的安寧，以及世界的和平。
FENG HUANG (Phoenix) in Chinese Myth
EP#1
FENG HUANG in Chinese Myth
“Five hundred miles to the East, there is a mountain called the Red Cave, rich in gold and jade. A red river flows to the south into the Ocean Bo. There lives a bird in the shape of a pheasant with five-colored markings. It’s called Feng Huang 鳳凰. The marking on its head spells Morality 德; on its wings, Righteousness 義; on its back, Propriety 禮; on its chest, Benevolence 仁; and on its abdomen, Faith 信. Feng Huang eats and drinks from nature, elegant in singing and dancing at will. It’s an omen of peace if it’s seen.” Southern Mountain Chapter,SHAN HAI JING《山海经》The Classic of Mountains and Seas
Why was it important for you to write PHOENIXA, the book?
EP#2
WHY was it important for you to write this book (PHOENIXA)
I am writing this book in the period of pandemic. in a time when we have wars. I think the world needs peace. That’s why I am writing. Sounds like a very lofty goal to try to write something to present a possible solution to embrace peace. To me it’s a very concrete personal, almost private effort, before I launch the book. My grandfather is a man who dedicated his life. to present a better China. I think his story inspired me to look at humanity at such a micro way. The essence of Chinese culture is the essence of cultivating yourself, so the virtues, if one were so lucky to cultivate. If we are beings that beileves in goodiness, if were are beings who believe we are born good, if we cultivate our essence, then we wouldn’t have all this greediness, jealousy, so that war could become a possible solution to some. so I think it’s the beings, the human beings, their default, or their defects I am addressing in this novel. However, it sounds a heavy subject. In fact itts a fantasy, a novel with a fantasy twist, enchanting, very lively. Children can embrace this book through the help of their parents. So it’s a family book, almost, celebrating harmony within humanity and peace on this planet.
Tell me a little bit about Relationship with your Grandfather
EP#3
Tell me a little bit about Relationship with your Grandfather
I have never seen my grandfather before. My relationship with my grandfather is an imagined one. But it’s the most intense relationship I’ve ever had, anything in my life. If I could say buddha, my chosen religion, I have very intimate relationship with Buddha. The next one is with my grandfather. It’s deeply spiritual, profoundly significant. I must share that story with you, everyone, thank you for listening…To know my grandfather is to know humanity, or what we could possibly become. Because I think I got confused about American individualism. I thought individualism is to think for yourself. I think I got really confused there. I think to be in America, to learn about capitalism is you try to earn things, and you try to make a life out of it for yourself for your family. But if you are not educated correctly, it could be deviated into you re self centered and you become selfish. This is the ultimate distinction I need to make through learning about my grandfather’s selflessness that I can still continue my American dream, pursue my individual dream that is to give to the world through your self manifestation. You see, This is the distinction that I’ve come to learn how to be selfless when you are self-realizing your dream, which should be a dream for humanity.
Could you give me your elevated pitch on what this book is about?
EP#4
Could you give me your elevated pitch on what this book is about?
This book is about self-transformation. It’s about enlightenment. It’s about the pursuit of peace and harmony through personal cultivation of virtues. I think this book is for our future generation, for those who are still pure, who can still learn goodness from the start. That’s why I think the parents should get this book for their children. They can this, the fanatical part of it. If you like Harry Potter, you should like this book. I think it goes further into a journey of self-realization. If you like J.R. Tokins, you will like this book, because its fantasy. Fantasy is not a game. You fantasize a possibility that’s beyond the mandate world daily existence. You should rise above your daily existence and think higher. Almost like, this is mystical, that’s why I call it a mystical quest. This is not a social realism work. It’s based on social realism. But it rises above it and gives you a fantastic twist. Very enchanting, very visual. You almost see a film when you read this book. It requests your total concentration. You can not take it so lightly. But you get so much enjoyment because it’s so fun.
Reading of Chapter 7: Celestial
EP#5
Reading of Chapter 7: Celestial
You talked about the Little girl’s relationship with her grandpa.
Absolutely, that’s the beginning, actually, it’s her relationship with the world, with the sky, actually. Let me read you a paragraph.
What kind of world we’ve seen. Any questions? When I hear your read, I think about the children, how our imagination expands by your words? It expand my imagination, which is wonderful. It’s like reading a fairytale, a nighttime story. You would want to read this before bed, so you have beautiful dreams, you can dream bigger.
Reading of Chapter 32: Auspicous
EP#6
Reading of Chapter 32: Auspicous
So I am trying to portray China, in a surrounding. At this moment, it was dark and gloomy, and hauntingly lonely, for this girl who was six year old. Why was she so lonely? Because she found no friends to play with. Because her friend isolated her. Why was that? You are going to read the story on your own and discover why she was isolated, so she was engulfed with this imaginary world, enticed by this mythical story her grandfather introduced to her. So she is so rich in her imagination, going to the celestial world. She is also into the fantastical animal worlds, which you will also going to discover. The classic of mountains and seas is a beautiful Chinese book. It’s almost a prerequisite. Check that out before reading this book. I am going to produce a simplified version of Shanhaijing, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, to help the reader get into this strange land with animals with multiple heads, multiple wings. They carry beautiful virtues we humans need to learn from them. That’s why I use it as the source of my creation.
Have you ever thought just write children sories?
EP#7
Have you ever thought just write children sories?
Writing a novel is a huge accomplishment. Have you ever thought of just writing children’s stories?
I was told I must write children story, about twenty years ago by a man I was working with or in love with, and he said because you have such a pure heart and you have such imaginative energy. You should really give that back to children. I did not pick that up until recent years. I will definitely write children’s book and this Phoenixa the Nest. It’s for adult because its quite philosophical, but I can distill the pureness essence for children. Because it is children that this world can hope for They can become the new generation with better virtues. They are leading the future. So thank you for that question.
Tell me about the illustrations in the book
EP#8
Tell me about the illustrations in the book
Ok, my illustrations are not just a tool to help you understand the story. One picture itself is a world I want the reader to dive into. It’s a parallel narrative presented together with the words. I give 75 illustrations to my readers for free. Why? Because I did all the illustrations on my own. Originally, I thought I would hire someone to do the illustration. Because during the pandemic, its hard to reach anyone, and also my illustration is somewhat surreal a lot of times. It’s very hard for me to tell them what I want. Until I started drawing, these celestial visions came to me, so I have to bring out the Chinese fantasy. Fantasy shouldn’t have a nationality. But mine is deeply rooted in my Chineseness. So I discovered my essence through illustrating. I hope children and adults alike would embrace them. And I will draw more for you, readers and listeners. I do have an audio book, which you will not see anything but my writing is very visual. I am sure you can conjure up something on your own. But do pick up the hardback and paperback for the purpose of illustration, and the ebook in particular if you are on the go.
I do have Audiobook
EP#9
I do have Audiobook
I do have audiobook, its a multimedia presentation of the story. It has music. It has sound design. I think its very engulfing. Engulfing in such a way, an immersive experience. I think its perfect for anyone who has a moment of solitude peaceful moment before bed. Do not try to listen to it when you are washing dishes. It won’t work that well. Because it’s transformative. It needs you to get into a kind of meditative mode. All my work touches souls. My soul or the soul of my character, is actually the main character. I write about this world, but I explore other worlds through spirits. And I think they are infinitely fascinating, so the invisible world is what I am looking for and is what I will want my audience or readers or children to start too tap into. The rare, infinitely beautiful, expansive, challenging, exciting, go deeper, ups have bigger world to embrace.
Six decades, You just had a birthday
EP#10
Six decades, You just had a birthday
Six decades, you just had a birthday. Yesterday was your birthday. Haha, everybody. Ya, so I am 60 yesterday or today. Iam so thrilled I still have the purity of a six year old. I am so thrilled I feel so young. I feel so thrilled I was reborn through this effort. I am so thrilled I can give this to you now. Its going to fly on its own. I am not worried no one will read it. this is a book with wings. Because it talks about the goodness of humanity. I believe in humanity. Many people are disappointed in humanity thinking this is the end of the world. I really think this will be the beginning of the world that believes in goodness of humanity. When you believe in goodness, the goodness always rise. So you will gain your wings. You will fly, so read this book and get charged, energized.
Transformative experience
EP#11
Transformative experience
I really feel I have been metamorphized. How do I know I am metamorphized? I feel I can be alone and totally happy. I no longer need exterior stimulation. Don’t feel a party would really make me thrilled. I just feel I’ve gained emotional center. So when I create alone, I can bring out the purest. I downloaded wisdom from my ancestors, Cheng ancestors. I am the direct descendant of the Cheng brothers, the neo-Confucianists of Song dynasty, a dynasty when China was world’s number one. A dynasty that was ruled by emperors who sued mentors who believed in civilization.Not an emperor who conquered by force. This dynasty, they ruled or reigned by culture. So this the dynasty I’m trying to bring I back.
Aa a filmmaker , do you see your book become a film?
EP#12
As a filmmaker , do you see your book become a film?
Absolutely. I just want to tell the potential film producers of the film. I actually wrote the story as a screenplay to begin with. During the pandemic, I got so locked down, I expanded the screenplay to a novel. I know many people are doing it the other way. Because I am a filmmaker, I truly believe this is a very major film. If you think about Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a story of that young boy, I think about Phoenixa. If you think about Steven Spielberg, He has all his boy stories, right? I think of Phoenixa. So its in the same caliber of Spieberg, Scorsese, or what do you call that…You ? My story is this girl with this phoenix. It’s totally about this. You know the Spanish filmmaker, hold on, I need to get his book. Guillermo del Toro.
A Poem: China, My Cradle
EP#13
A Poem: China, my cradle.
China, my cradle, you rocked me so violently,
You dislocated my jaw, my shoulder, and my faith.
I pledged to leave you while still loving you.
Oh, put aside my restless, aching vow,
How I wish I were soothed,
By the sound of the soft lullaby and
The laughters in a haven…
Lost was a time of dreams,
A time of peace,
Dreams within dreams,
Peace within peace,
Time within time.
Don’t you see,
We are running out of time,
Out of grace and
Out of luck.
A Poem: Moon Sonata
EP#14
A Poem: Moon Sonata
The Moon carried my memory,
Fading into the void.
The clouds swallowed me
Like the tidal waves swallowed the city.
I stood naked in her dissipated glow,
Lost in a reverie.
Not an inch dare I rove,
Forgetting I am the light.
In the aura of magic,
This winged little girl with subdued smiles
Unveiled a secret
To the sleepers in the perilous dark.
My Grandfather, andThe Heavenly Mandate
EP#15
My Grandfather and The Reincarnation of the Star
I really want to reveal to the world that the day before yesterday, I got this exclusive news. It’s no longer news. It’s information we dig out from Chinese archives. It detailed the last moment of grandfather’s life by this one writer. He revealed that my grandfather may be the renovation of a star, the northern star. The heavenly celestial star. I was shocked how a human…? My grandfather was in a human form, but his previous life was in heaven, in the celestial realm, that’s shocking, that star, the ultimate star, the brightest star in the sky, which means to be illuminating, and if that’s true.. why he said that? Because the last moment of his life, the pavilion collapsed, the wind twirled, there was a piece of tile hit my grandfather’s forehead. Storm came and went. My grandfather was signing off on all the documents; he was sitting here, calm, embracing the moment. He gave his all to his country. I never knew my grandfather was such an individual who embodied the celestial spirit. This news told me he may be the renovation of the brightest celestial star. I was utterly shocked. If that’s the case, he carried the mandate of heaven. He carried the principle of heaven, the sky, the cosmic message. That is why I had the energy. I downloaded from him, from God, that is why my work is not religious, but cosmic, religious maybe, it’s deeply spiritual. That’s why I can withhold solitude. I can be enriched. I feel empowered. I feel so empowered that I must share this beautiful energy with you.
The Guding Light
EP#16
You Are the Light
My grandfather is the guiding light. When I wrote the story I had no idea that he came from the sky. I thought he was just one those enlightened earthly being who is so selfless who want to give back. I had no idea when he was showing me the light, the phoenix constellation residing in southern hemisphere, he is one of the star , and this is not believable from common sense, that’s why I want my reader, there are thousands of them, if a few of them believe in the story, then my mission is complete. So in one of the chapters I conjured up is grandpa showing the little girl what it meant to be the light yourself. Let me read that for you. The chapter call: Light.
Chapter 18: Light It’s kind of long but…
The Last words
EP#17
The last words
I am always shaking every time I think of grandpa, who gave me the best gift in life. Now I want to share it with you. You will be the light that brightens the world. Read this. You will help me so much if you get this message, to be the light to brighten the darkness around us. There are so much darkness around us. But we can change that because we are the light.Do you believe in that? I do.
S: That was very powerful. Reading this passage that you heard that your grandfather was bright star. However, we want to put it, an incarnate of star, you know, he was made of star stuff, and then this book was written before that, where this little girl gets this mystical experience with the stars and with the cosmos, that’s the beauty.
That’s why it’s so profound that I am connected with my grandfather’s energy as if I knew, I did not know. That is why for people to discover their subconsciousness. That is why I want to write a work to tap into your subconscious. The realist writer, we have enough of that. I want to be the surrealist writer who taps into the subconscious. I am deeply connected with my grandfather’s consciousness, with his spirit. He is gone, but he is eternally inside of me. I may be the incarnation of him; I may not be. I want to share his spirit. His spirit is the spirit of the cosmos. It‘s the good spirit. Its the spirit who wants to change, who wants to share joy, who wants to share fantastical magic. That is the beauty. I just feel I am so connected with my grandfather. We just have to rise above to share it with one another. Go search for your ancestors or go have children. We are many lives in us. Even though you don’t believe in reincarnation. Believe we are many things, we are multidimensional. Believe we are part of nature, so we learn from it. Life, as long as we have this…life is all about breathing, right? If you are dead, that means you stop breathing. As long as you are breathing, you have the opportunity to learn, to integrate, to excavate treasures in you. Every child is a treasure, every man, every woman, every being is a treasure. We have it all in us. This is the ultimate message. We are good. Its all in us. We are our own treasure; dig it out, if you don’t know how. Read this book. It will somehow guide you, inspire you, and enchant you in some way. Even if you don’t like it, I would love to hear from you why you like it or dislike it. Now the gift is out, it’s for you to collect it. You will help me so much if you become who you are. This is all about you, not about me. I shared something so you can become you. You can be free. I think we are all in bondage right now. We are trapped, we are enslaved. We need to be free, so get on the journey. It’s yours. Your beautiful journey is ahead of you. I am on mine. Yesterday or today, I became sixty; I feel so youthful. Because I have retained or channeled the energy from my ancestors, from my grandfather, I want to share that with you.
FENG HUANG (Phoenix) in Chinese Myth
EP#1
FENG HUANG in Chinese Myth(Read in English and Chinese)
“Five hundred miles to the East, there is a mountain called the Red Cave, rich in gold and jade. A red river flows to the south into the Ocean Bo. There lives a bird in the shape of a pheasant with five-colored markings. It’s called Feng Huang 鳳凰. The marking on its head spells Morality 德; on its wings, Righteousness 義; on its back, Propriety 禮; on its chest, Benevolence 仁; and on its abdomen, Faith 信. Feng Huang eats and drinks from nature, elegant in singing and dancing at will. It’s an omen of peace if it’s seen.” Southern Mountain Chapter,SHAN HAI JING《山海经》The Classic of Mountains and Seas
FENG HUANG (Phoenix) in Chinese Myth
EP#1
FENG HUANG in Chinese Myth (Read in Chinese Mandarin only)
“Five hundred miles to the East, there is a mountain called the Red Cave, rich in gold and jade. A red river flows to the south into the Ocean Bo. There lives a bird in the shape of a pheasant with five-colored markings. It’s called Feng Huang 鳳凰. The marking on its head spells Morality 德; on its wings, Righteousness 義; on its back, Propriety 禮; on its chest, Benevolence 仁; and on its abdomen, Faith 信. Feng Huang eats and drinks from nature, elegant in singing and dancing at will. It’s an omen of peace if it’s seen.” Southern Mountain Chapter,SHAN HAI JING《山海经》The Classic of Mountains and Seas
EP#2
WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO WRITE PHOENIXA THE BOOK
Could you give me your elevated pitch on what this book is about?
EP#4
Could you give me your elevated pitch on what this book is about?
This book is about self-transformation. It’s about enlightenment. It’s about the pursuit of peace and harmony through personal cultivation of virtues. I think this book is for our future generation, for those who are still pure, who can still learn goodness from the start. That’s why I think the parents should get this book for their children. They can this, the fanatical part of it. If you like Harry Potter, you should like this book. I think it goes further into a journey of self-realization. If you like J.R. Tokins, you will like this book, because its fantasy. Fantasy is not a game. You fantasize a possibility that’s beyond the mandate world daily existence. You should rise above your daily existence and think higher. Almost like, this is mystical, that’s why I call it a mystical quest. This is not a social realism work. It’s based on social realism. But it rises above it and gives you a fantastic twist. Very enchanting, very visual. You almost see a film when you read this book. It requests your total concentration. You can not take it so lightly. But you get so much enjoyment because it’s so fun.
Tell me a little bit about Relationship with your Grandfather
EP#3
Tell me a little bit about Relationship with your Grandfather
I have never seen my grandfather before. My relationship with my grandfather is an imagined one. But it’s the most intense relationship I’ve ever had, anything in my life. If I could say buddha, my chosen religion, I have very intimate relationship with Buddha. The next one is with my grandfather. It’s deeply spiritual, profoundly significant. I must share that story with you, everyone, thank you for listening…To know my grandfather is to know humanity, or what we could possibly become. Because I think I got confused about American individualism. I thought individualism is to think for yourself. I think I got really confused there. I think to be in America, to learn about capitalism is you try to earn things, and you try to make a life out of it for yourself for your family. But if you are not educated correctly, it could be deviated into you re self centered and you become selfish. This is the ultimate distinction I need to make through learning about my grandfather’s selflessness that I can still continue my American dream, pursue my individual dream that is to give to the world through your self manifestation. You see, This is the distinction that I’ve come to learn how to be selfless when you are self-realizing your dream, which should be a dream for humanity.
My Grandfather, andThe Heavenly Mandate
EP#15
My Grandfather and The Heavenly Mandate
I really want to reveal to the world that the day before yesterday, I got this exclusive news. It’s no longer news. It’s information we dig out from Chinese archives. It detailed the last moment of grandfather’s life by this one writer. He revealed that my grandfather may be the renovation of a star, the northern star. The heavenly celestial star. I was shocked how a human…? My grandfather was in a human form, but his previous life was in heaven, in the celestial realm, that’s shocking, that star, the ultimate star, the brightest star in the sky, which means to be illuminating, and if that’s true.. why he said that? Because the last moment of his life, the pavilion collapsed, the wind twirled, there was a piece of tile hit my grandfather’s forehead. Storm came and went. My grandfather was signing off on all the documents; he was sitting here, calm, embracing the moment. He gave his all to his country. I never knew my grandfather was such an individual who embodied the celestial spirit. This news told me he may be the renovation of the brightest celestial star. I was utterly shocked. If that’s the case, he carried the mandate of heaven. He carried the principle of heaven, the sky, the cosmic message. That is why I had the energy. I downloaded from him, from God, that is why my work is not religious, but cosmic, religious maybe, it’s deeply spiritual. That’s why I can withhold solitude. I can be enriched. I feel empowered. I feel so empowered that I must share this beautiful energy with you.
Transformative experience
EP#11
Transformative experience
I really feel I have been metamorphized. How do I know I am metamorphized? I feel I can be alone and totally happy. I no longer need exterior stimulation. Don’t feel a party would really make me thrilled. I just feel I’ve gained emotional center. So when I create alone, I can bring out the purest. I downloaded wisdom from my ancestors, Cheng ancestors. I am the direct descendant of the Cheng brothers, the neo-Confucianists of Song dynasty, a dynasty when China was world’s number one. A dynasty that was ruled by emperors who sued mentors who believed in civilization.Not an emperor who conquered by force. This dynasty, they ruled or reigned by culture. So this the dynasty I’m trying to bring I back.
FENG HUANG (Phoenix) in Chinese Myth
EP#1
Reading of Chapter 1: FENG HUANG
“Five hundred miles to the East, there is a mountain called the Red Cave, rich in gold and jade. A red river flows to the south into the Ocean Bo. There lives a bird in the shape of a pheasant with five-colored markings. It’s called Feng Huang 鳳凰. The marking on its head spells Morality 德; on its wings, Righteousness 義; on its back, Propriety 禮; on its chest, Benevolence 仁; and on its abdomen, Faith 信. Feng Huang eats and drinks from nature, elegant in singing and dancing at will. It’s an omen of peace if it’s seen.” Southern Mountain Chapter,SHAN HAI JING《山海经》The Classic of Mountains and Seas
Reading of Chapter 7: Celestial
EP#5
Reading of Chapter 7: CELESTIAL
You talked about the Little girl’s relationship with her grandpa.
Absolutely, that’s the beginning, actually, it’s her relationship with the world, with the sky, actually. Let me read you a paragraph.
What kind of world we’ve seen. Any questions? When I hear your read, I think about the children, how our imagination expands by your words? It expand my imagination, which is wonderful. It’s like reading a fairytale, a nighttime story. You would want to read this before bed, so you have beautiful dreams, you can dream bigger.
The Guding Light
EP#16
Reading of Chapter 18: LIGHT
My grandfather is the guiding light. When I wrote the story I had no idea that he came from the sky. I thought he was just one those enlightened earthly being who is so selfless who want to give back. I had no idea when he was showing me the light, the phoenix constellation residing in southern hemisphere, he is one of the star , and this is not believable from common sense, that’s why I want my reader, there are thousands of them, if a few of them believe in the story, then my mission is complete. So in one of the chapters I conjured up is grandpa showing the little girl what it meant to be the light yourself. Let me read that for you. The chapter call: Light.
Chapter 18: Light It’s kind of long but…
Reading of Chapter 32: Auspicous
EP#6
Reading of Chapter 32: AUSPICIOUS
So I am trying to portray China, in a surrounding. At this moment, it was dark and gloomy, and hauntingly lonely, for this girl who was six year old. Why was she so lonely? Because she found no friends to play with. Because her friend isolated her. Why was that? You are going to read the story on your own and discover why she was isolated, so she was engulfed with this imaginary world, enticed by this mythical story her grandfather introduced to her. So she is so rich in her imagination, going to the celestial world. She is also into the fantastical animal worlds, which you will also going to discover. The classic of mountains and seas is a beautiful Chinese book. It’s almost a prerequisite. Check that out before reading this book. I am going to produce a simplified version of Shanhaijing, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, to help the reader get into this strange land with animals with multiple heads, multiple wings. They carry beautiful virtues we humans need to learn from them. That’s why I use it as the source of my creation.
Have you ever thought just write children sories?
EP#7
Have you ever thought just write children sories?
Writing a novel is a huge accomplishment. Have you ever thought of just writing children’s stories?
I was told I must write children story, about twenty years ago by a man I was working with or in love with, and he said because you have such a pure heart and you have such imaginative energy. You should really give that back to children. I did not pick that up until recent years. I will definitely write children’s book and this Phoenixa the Nest. It’s for adult because its quite philosophical, but I can distill the pureness essence for children. Because it is children that this world can hope for They can become the new generation with better virtues. They are leading the future. So thank you for that question.
Tell me about the illustrations in the book
EP#8
Tell me about the illustrations in the book
Ok, my illustrations are not just a tool to help you understand the story. One picture itself is a world I want the reader to dive into. It’s a parallel narrative presented together with the words. I give 75 illustrations to my readers for free. Why? Because I did all the illustrations on my own. Originally, I thought I would hire someone to do the illustration. Because during the pandemic, its hard to reach anyone, and also my illustration is somewhat surreal a lot of times. It’s very hard for me to tell them what I want. Until I started drawing, these celestial visions came to me, so I have to bring out the Chinese fantasy. Fantasy shouldn’t have a nationality. But mine is deeply rooted in my Chineseness. So I discovered my essence through illustrating. I hope children and adults alike would embrace them. And I will draw more for you, readers and listeners. I do have an audio book, which you will not see anything but my writing is very visual. I am sure you can conjure up something on your own. But do pick up the hardback and paperback for the purpose of illustration, and the ebook in particular if you are on the go.
I do have Audiobook
EP#9
I do have Audiobook
I do have audiobook, its a multimedia presentation of the story. It has music. It has sound design. I think its very engulfing. Engulfing in such a way, an immersive experience. I think its perfect for anyone who has a moment of solitude peaceful moment before bed. Do not try to listen to it when you are washing dishes. It won’t work that well. Because it’s transformative. It needs you to get into a kind of meditative mode. All my work touches souls. My soul or the soul of my character, is actually the main character. I write about this world, but I explore other worlds through spirits. And I think they are infinitely fascinating, so the invisible world is what I am looking for and is what I will want my audience or readers or children to start too tap into. The rare, infinitely beautiful, expansive, challenging, exciting, go deeper, ups have bigger world to embrace.
Six decades, You just had a birthday
EP#10
Six decades, You just had a birthday
Six decades, you just had a birthday. Yesterday was your birthday. Haha, everybody. Ya, so I am 60 yesterday or today. Iam so thrilled I still have the purity of a six year old. I am so thrilled I feel so young. I feel so thrilled I was reborn through this effort. I am so thrilled I can give this to you now. Its going to fly on its own. I am not worried no one will read it. this is a book with wings. Because it talks about the goodness of humanity. I believe in humanity. Many people are disappointed in humanity thinking this is the end of the world. I really think this will be the beginning of the world that believes in goodness of humanity. When you believe in goodness, the goodness always rise. So you will gain your wings. You will fly, so read this book and get charged, energized.
Transformative experience
EP#11
Transformative experience
I really feel I have been metamorphized. How do I know I am metamorphized? I feel I can be alone and totally happy. I no longer need exterior stimulation. Don’t feel a party would really make me thrilled. I just feel I’ve gained emotional center. So when I create alone, I can bring out the purest. I downloaded wisdom from my ancestors, Cheng ancestors. I am the direct descendant of the Cheng brothers, the neo-Confucianists of Song dynasty, a dynasty when China was world’s number one. A dynasty that was ruled by emperors who sued mentors who believed in civilization.Not an emperor who conquered by force. This dynasty, they ruled or reigned by culture. So this the dynasty I’m trying to bring I back.
Aa a filmmaker , do you see your book become a film?
EP#12
As a filmmaker , do you see your book become a film?
Absolutely. I just want to tell the potential film producers of the film. I actually wrote the story as a screenplay to begin with. During the pandemic, I got so locked down, I expanded the screenplay to a novel. I know many people are doing it the other way. Because I am a filmmaker, I truly believe this is a very major film. If you think about Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a story of that young boy, I think about Phoenixa. If you think about Steven Spielberg, He has all his boy stories, right? I think of Phoenixa. So its in the same caliber of Spieberg, Scorsese, or what do you call that…You ? My story is this girl with this phoenix. It’s totally about this. You know the Spanish filmmaker, hold on, I need to get his book. Guillermo del Toro.
A Poem: China, My Cradle
EP#13
A Poem: China, my cradle.
This is a book of magical realism, I now call it mystical realism. I have three poems I would like to share with you.
China, my cradle, you rocked me so violently.
You dislocated my jaw, my shoulder, and my faith.
I pledged to leave you while still loving you.
Oh, put aside my restless, aching vow,
How I wish I were soothed,
By the sound of the soft lullaby and
The laughter in a haven…
Lost was a time of dreams,
A time of peace,
Dreams within dreams,
Peace within peace,
Time within time.
Don’t you see,
We are running out of time,
Out of grace and
Out of luck.
A Poem: Moon Sonata
EP#14
A Poem: Moon Sonata
The Moon carried my memory,
Fading into the void.
The clouds swallowed me
Like the tidal waves swallowed the city.
I stood naked in her dissipated glow,
Lost in a reverie.
Not an inch dare I rove,
Forgetting I am the light.
In the aura of magic,
This winged little girl with subdued smiles
Unveiled a secret
To the sleepers in the perilous dark.
My Grandfather, andThe Heavenly Mandate
EP#15
My Grandfather and The Reincarnation of the Star
I really want to reveal to the world that the day before yesterday, I got this exclusive news. It’s no longer news. It’s information we dig out from Chinese archives. It detailed the last moment of grandfather’s life by this one writer. He revealed that my grandfather may be the renovation of a star, the northern star. The heavenly celestial star. I was shocked how a human…? My grandfather was in a human form, but his previous life was in heaven, in the celestial realm, that’s shocking, that star, the ultimate star, the brightest star in the sky, which means to be illuminating, and if that’s true.. why he said that? Because the last moment of his life, the pavilion collapsed, the wind twirled, there was a piece of tile hit my grandfather’s forehead. Storm came and went. My grandfather was signing off on all the documents; he was sitting here, calm, embracing the moment. He gave his all to his country. I never knew my grandfather was such an individual who embodied the celestial spirit. This news told me he may be the renovation of the brightest celestial star. I was utterly shocked. If that’s the case, he carried the mandate of heaven. He carried the principle of heaven, the sky, the cosmic message. That is why I had the energy. I downloaded from him, from God, that is why my work is not religious, but cosmic, religious maybe, it’s deeply spiritual. That’s why I can withhold solitude. I can be enriched. I feel empowered. I feel so empowered that I must share this beautiful energy with you.
The Guding Light
EP#16
You Are the Light
My grandfather is the guiding light. When I wrote the story I had no idea that he came from the sky. I thought he was just one those enlightened earthly being who is so selfless who want to give back. I had no idea when he was showing me the light, the phoenix constellation residing in southern hemisphere, he is one of the star , and this is not believable from common sense, that’s why I want my reader, there are thousands of them, if a few of them believe in the story, then my mission is complete. So in one of the chapters I conjured up is grandpa showing the little girl what it meant to be the light yourself. Let me read that for you. The chapter call: Light.
Chapter 18: Light It’s kind of long but…
The Last words
EP#17
The last words
I am always shaking every time I think of grandpa, who gave me the best gift in life. Now I want to share it with you. You will be the light that brightens the world. Read this. You will help me so much if you get this message, to be the light to brighten the darkness around us. There are so much darkness around us. But we can change that because we are the light.Do you believe in that? I do.
S: That was very powerful. Reading this passage that you heard that your grandfather was bright star. However, we want to put it, an incarnate of star, you know, he was made of star stuff, and then this book was written before that, where this little girl gets this mystical experience with the stars and with the cosmos, that’s the beauty.
That’s why it’s so profound that I am connected with my grandfather’s energy as if I knew, I did not know. That is why for people to discover their subconsciousness. That is why I want to write a work to tap into your subconscious. The realist writer, we have enough of that. I want to be the surrealist writer who taps into the subconscious. I am deeply connected with my grandfather’s consciousness, with his spirit. He is gone, but he is eternally inside of me. I may be the incarnation of him; I may not be. I want to share his spirit. His spirit is the spirit of the cosmos. It‘s the good spirit. Its the spirit who wants to change, who wants to share joy, who wants to share fantastical magic. That is the beauty. I just feel I am so connected with my grandfather. We just have to rise above to share it with one another. Go search for your ancestors or go have children. We are many lives in us. Even though you don’t believe in reincarnation. Believe we are many things, we are multidimensional. Believe we are part of nature, so we learn from it. Life, as long as we have this…life is all about breathing, right? If you are dead, that means you stop breathing. As long as you are breathing, you have the opportunity to learn, to integrate, to excavate treasures in you. Every child is a treasure, every man, every woman, every being is a treasure. We have it all in us. This is the ultimate message. We are good. Its all in us. We are our own treasure; dig it out, if you don’t know how. Read this book. It will somehow guide you, inspire you, and enchant you in some way. Even if you don’t like it, I would love to hear from you why you like it or dislike it. Now the gift is out, it’s for you to collect it. You will help me so much if you become who you are. This is all about you, not about me. I shared something so you can become you. You can be free. I think we are all in bondage right now. We are trapped, we are enslaved. We need to be free, so get on the journey. It’s yours. Your beautiful journey is ahead of you. I am on mine. Yesterday or today, I became sixty; I feel so youthful. Because I have retained or channeled the energy from my ancestors, from my grandfather, I want to share that with you.
