I told them that in the past, people used to say "Life begins at forty." In my opinion, that statement is already out of date. Our life expectancy has increased and is increasing as a result of scientific progress. For this reason, we should say instead: "Life begins at seventy." In the past people used to say: "Since time immemorial, few have lived up to seventy", now in order to keep in step with the march of time; we should modify it by saying: "Henceforth many will live up to seventy."
Newspaper Friends
Later, I was surprised to learn that what I told my newspaper friends on that day became known far and wide. It was even reported in some papers overseas. I understand that older people were particularly pleased when they read about it. I know because I have received letters from many of them all expressing their concurrence with my statement. What is the reason?
One's life lasts only for several tens of years. It does seem rather short. Except an extremely few who are tired of living because of unhappy things that have happened to them and hence wish to kill them selves, I can arbitrarily say that everybody wants to live long.
In Chinese history, the founder of the Chin Dynasty and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty both searched for the elixir of life, and having failed to find any in China, they even sent special missions to places overseas to continue looking for it. I trust you are all familiar with these stories. Then during the period of the Three Kingdoms, Tsao Meng-Teh, better known as Tsao Tsao, in one of his immortal poems, voiced the sentiments of people in general, when he said: "Sing when there is wine before you. For how long can one live? Life lasts no longer than the morning dew. Days gone by are regrettably more numerous than those yet to come."
Tomorrow We Die
In the West, there is also the saying: "Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die." The idea is that we must enjoy while we can, before it is too late.
The general feeling is that life is very short. This explains why there is so much interest in any discussions which have a bearing on the lengthening of our life span. For this reason I feel that it is worthwhile to ask: "What is our life expectancy?" This is the subject of my talk today.
What is our life expectancy? According to the traditional Chinese conception, the maximum is a hundred years. There is even a special term "chi yi" to describe the age of a centenarian, When a child is born in China, a generally acceptable present by friends and relatives is a golden lock, on which are inscribed four Chinese characters "chang ming pai sui", which, when transliterated, means: "Long life up to a hundred years." A customary gift at a Chinese wed ding is a piece of red silk on which are pinned four characters cut from some golden foil. The characters are "pai nien hao ho," which, literally translated, means "A good match lasting for a hundred years." On the birthday of someone fairly advanced in age, the most propitious gift is a scroll on which the Chinese character "shou," meaning longevity, is written a hundred times.
Though living up to a hundred years has been the goal, on the average one is considered to have reached the ripe old age by the time he is seventy. This is how the lament has come about: "Since time immemorial few have lived up to seventy."
Similar Sayings
There are similar sayings in the West. According to a prayer of Moses, the man of God said: "The years of our life are three-scores and ten, or even by reason of strength, fourscores."
The European custom of celebrating wedding anniversaries, is also a good indication. Twenty-five years is known as the Silver Wedding, fifty years as the Golden Wed ding, and seventy-five years as the Diamond Wedding. To my knowledge there are no special designations for wedding anniversaries over seventy-five years. According to the Chinese tradition, a man marries at thirty and woman at twenty. The average age of people getting married in China is, therefore, twenty-five. It has been more or less the same in the West. Twenty-five plus seventy-five. That makes one hundred. This is an indirect proof that a hundred years is the longest one can expect to live.
In recent centuries, however, thanks to rapid progress in science, things have been changing. Man as the highest form of creature, has benefited tremendously from scientific developments. Our living environments have been very much better than they used to be. There has been a marked improvement in sanitation and nutrition. This has been especially the case in the field of medicine. All these factors contributed toward the increasing of our life span.
Modern Conception
Having said this, one must ask: According to the modern conception, what is own life expectancy after all?
Dr. Gayelord Hauser, a well-known English nutrition expert, has written a book entitled Look Younger Live Longer. He said that generally speaking, the life span of animals is from six to seven times their age of maturity. Man reaches maturity at twenty. This means he should be able to live up to from one hundred twenty to one hundred forty.
Last year, Dr. Itogawa president of Japan's Longevity Association, which has a nationwide membership of half a million people, I came to Taiwan. According to him, Dr. "Furubeta, president of Tokyo Medical College and a world authority on serum, has made a special study of the question of man's maturity, and found that man reaches maturity at the age of 32, not 20: This means that man's normal life span should be 160. Dr. Itogawa fully agreed with me when I said "Life begins at seventy." Recently, Dr. Edward LeRoy Bortz, formerly chairman of the American Medical Association, was reported in an AP dispatch from Chicago published in Taipei papers on May 15 as having said that man's normal life should be from 125 to 150 years.
Same Conclusion
The three experts from three different countries, whom I have just quoted, have arrived at more or less the same conclusions from their separate studies. From time to time, experts in other countries have made similar statements for publication. This shows that it is no pure fantasy to say that man's normal life span should be much longer than it is. On the contrary, it has a scientific basis.
What is the average life expectancy in various countries today? I am sorry I do not have the latest material on "this subject, According to statistics for the years from 1948 to 1950, life expectancy was the highest in Norway and the United states. In Norway it was 67.76 years for men and 71.68 for women. In the United States, it was 65.5 years for men and 71 years for women. Presumably the life expectancy in both countries must have risen further since. The other day a friend of mine, just returned from the United States, told me that the latest saying on this subject in America today is: "Life begins at 65." This shows it is fast catching up with my contention that "Life begins at seventy."
Chinese Saying
However, no matter whether it is 120 years, or 160 years, it is the life span given us by God. This is to say that man could live up to that age, but it does not mean that every man can necessarily reach it. There is a Chinese saying: "Misfortune or fortune comes at one's own beckoning." Whether a man can actually fill out his normal life span, depends on whether he can observe certain rules of living.
What are these rules of living? Generally speaking, they come under two headings, namely, physical hygiene and mental hygiene. There are many schools of thought on this subject, both ancient and contemporary, Chinese and Western. Let me quote for you, some of the most succinct arid most pertinent sayings.
Cheng Ying-chuan, a great Confucian scholar of the Sung Dynasty, said: "Talk less, worry less and eat less. If one can do all three, immortality will be within reach. Wine should be abstained from. Anger should be promptly controlled. Desire should be resolutely restrained. If one can do all three, illness will naturally become scarce."
A Proper Division
Tseng Kuo-fan of the Manchu Dynasty said: "The way to good health is to have a proper division of labor between the master that is the mind, and the servant, that is the body. Spare oneself of worry and anxiety. When this is done, one's mind, that is the master, is at ease. At the same time, take frequent walks and constantly exercise one's sinews and bones. This is the way to keep the servant namely, the body, busy."
There was an entry in writings left by the late Dr. Ting Fo-pad, a well-known Chinese physician. According to him, one Dr. Seale Harris of the United States, after having made a careful study of the lives of 201 centenarians, had arrived at the conclusion that they shared four characteristics, namely, one, an ability to take things easy plus a sense of humor; two, moderation in food; three, keeping busy; and four, adequate rest.
One Dr. Boerhave of the Netherlands left at his deathbed a sealed envelope containing a secret formula for good health. When a rich man in England heard of this, he offered a handsome reward for the sealed envelope. When he opened it, all he found in it was a piece, of paper; on which were written only a few words arranged in three lines: "Keep your head cool, your feet warm, and your stomach not overly full."
Food And Sex
In the Works of Mencius, Kaotzu, a contemporary of' Mencius, was reported to have said: "Food and sex are both matters of natural instinct." This is another way of saying that food and sex are man's principal desires. The implication is that any attempt at controlling them is against human nature. But if one should indulge in them, it will lead to poor health and quicken aging process. There is a Chinese saying: "Eat three mouthfuls less at each meal. Walk 100 steps afterwards. Choose an unattractive woman as your wife. And you will live up to 99." This is the original saying: I notice we have ladies here today. Therefore, I hasten to add, for their benefit, that is, marry an ugly man, and you will live up to 99, too. Though this sounds somewhat unrefined, it does offer a useful suggestion for good health and long life.
What I have said has been culled from the experiences of both Chinese and Westerners who have made a special study of the subject. I believe you can cite many more such quotations than I can.
Ways Of Living
As to myself, though I have chosen to speak on this topic today, actually aside from quoting what others have said to explain what I have in mind, I really have nothing of my own to offer you. But I do believe I have benefitted considerably from the ways of living I have described to you.
If I must look within myself for something to talk about, all I can say is that in keeping healthy I have all along paid a great deal of attention to the rhythm of living and the law of adjustment, and I have kept up my daily exercise.
To keep mentally fit, I have strived not to be unnecessarily harassed. This is what Tseng Kuo-fan meant by a "restful master and a hard-working servant."
Since the founding of the Chinese Republic, our country has undergone numerous crises. Beginning with the Revolution of 1911, I have undertaken numerous difficult tasks. Several times even my life was in danger. What still lies ahead of me maybe truly described as the "remainder of a life that has been replete with worries and dangers."
To Be At Peace
No matter whether things are moving smoothly or otherwise, I always remind myself that I must learn to be at peace no matter where I am. I should feel neither elated when things are coming my way nor downhearted when they are moving the other direction. Even when I am confronted with an extremely difficult issue, I try my best to overcome it, without being upset by it. In no circumstances do I allow myself to be burdened down with worries and anxieties. Even if one day I should find that my very life hangs in the balance I, as a Christian, shall only leave my fate in the hands of God.
On the question of self-improvement and self-discipline, sometime ago I wrote a pamphlet, in which I approach the subject from five different angles, how to cultivate one's body, how to cultivate one's mind, how to cultivate one's capacity for compassion, tolerance and forgiveness, and how to cultivate one's social prestige, influence and leadership. This may be described as the sum total of experience I have accumulated after several tens of years of study and work.
I must confess I have put down in my pamphlet much more than I practice myself. I have brought along some copies. You are welcome to have them. (I must apologize to the non-Chinese-reading members of your club because the pamphlet is in Chinese.) In concluding my talk I wish you all good health, both in body and in mind, and let us march together into the realm of Longevity.
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Editor's Note—This is a speech made by General Chang Chun, Secretary General of the Office of the President, at the Rotary Club luncheon meeting on June 20 at the Friends of China Club, Taipei.