Mountain's Lament

The history of a people’s rise and fall begins with the lives of those at the very front line: ordinary people whose nerves and senses are the first to feel the pain. This is especially true of the countryside, home to most of China’s population, and of the people in remote mountain regions, who make up a large part of the rural population. Through the most traditional ways of living and working, they embody humanity’s progress and every subtle step in its evolution. Each step they take seems so heavy, as if burdened by immense weight and pressure. They advance breathlessly, every step an effort, yet each footprint is profound and indelible. It seems that every step they take forward leaves a deep mark on the road ahead, an imprint that cannot be erased. Every call they send toward the mountains seems filled with profound affection and grief. In these mountains, the yearly flourishing and withering of plants, and each change of season, leave marks on them that can never be erased. The mountains breathe in time with their pulses. Their bond with the mountains and rivers takes root in their hearts, branching out, blossoming, and bearing fruit.