The Lingering Oral Phase: Sun Longji’s Deep Structure of Food and Its Relevance Today

 

The Lingering Oral Phase: Sun Longji’s Deep Structure of Food and Its Relevance Today

In his seminal work, The Deep Structure of Chinese Culture (中國文化的深層結構), historian Sun Longji (孫隆基) argues that Chinese culture is fundamentally shaped by a set of deep, often unconscious, psychological and structural rules. Central to this structure is the pervasive role of food and eating (吃), which he controversially links to an "oral phase" (口腔期) fixation—a concept borrowed from Freudian psychology.

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I. Food as the Core Cultural Fixation

Sun Longji’s analysis positions food not merely as sustenance, but as the origin point for Chinese aesthetics, social order, and psychological disposition.

• The "Oral Phase" Thesis: Sun posits that the Chinese obsession with eating, talking about food, and the continuous desire for sensual, oral satisfaction suggests a cultural tendency toward immaturity or a delayed transition from the primary, dependent stage of the "oral phase." In this view, the prioritization of "eating" (民以食為天) over other intellectual or spiritual pursuits reflects a regression to or fixation on the most immediate, sensual needs.

• The Origin of Aesthetics and Ritual: Sun notes that the character for "beauty" (美) is etymologically composed of "big" (大) and "lamb/mutton" (羊), implying that the Chinese aesthetic sensibility originally arose from the satisfaction of taste—specifically, the pleasant flavor of fatty mutton. Furthermore, "ritual" (禮) itself is traced back to the sequence of sacrificial food offerings, demonstrating that the social and ethical order of Chinese society was codified around the act of sharing and distributing food.

• Reinforcing the Relational Self: The ritual of communal dining serves as the primary mechanism for reinforcing the "two-person" (二人) relationship structure and the pursuit of "harmony" (和合性), which Sun identifies as key to the Chinese social fabric. The dinner table is where social bonds are forged, hierarchies are subtly expressed (e.g., serving elders first), and individual desires are sublimated to the group dynamic.

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II. The Deep Structure vs. Modern Chinese Reality

The contemporary Greater China region has experienced rapid economic and cultural globalization. However, a comparison reveals that while the surface phenomena of food culture have changed, the deep structureanalyzed by Sun Longji remains remarkably resilient.

Aspect	Sun Longji’s Analysis (1980s Deep Structure)	Contemporary Greater China (Post-2000s Reality)
Cultural Priority	An "oral fixation"; Food is paramount (民以食為天).	Remains dominant. The "foodie" (吃貨) culture is a major social phenomenon; business is still conducted over elaborate meals; and food safety crises spark national outrage, confirming its symbolic primacy.
Social Function	Reinforces harmony and hierarchy; key to the "relational self."	Highly relevant. Communal dining (e.g., Lunar New Year reunion dinner, hotpot culture) remains the unbreakable core of family and social life. Food gifting and lavish hosting are essential expressions of "face" (面子) and respect.
Dietary Focus	Traditional medicine, Yin/Yang balance, and "Yi Xing Bu Xing" (以形補形).	Evolving. While TCM principles persist, there is a strong shift toward Western-style nutrition science (macros, calories) and health consciousness. The demand for global cuisine (Japanese, Korean, Western) has completely diversified the palate beyond regional Chinese cuisines.
Preparation & Access	Insistence on freshfood, often bought daily (anti-canned/frozen).	Challenged by Convenience. The rise of massive food delivery platforms, meal kits, and the normalization of frozen/packaged foods reflects a concession to speed and urban pace. However, the cultural ideal of fresh, home-cooked food still holds strong.

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III. Conclusion: A Persistent, Explanatory Framework

Despite the rise of global cuisine, the individualization of consumption, and the modernization of food technology, Sun Longji’s analysis in The Deep Structure of Chinese Culture remains highly relevant in explaining the intensity and social logic behind Chinese food culture.

The book’s value is in providing a framework to understand why food occupies such a disproportionately large space in the Chinese consciousness. The constant discussion of food, the use of a shared meal to initiate any serious social or business exchange, and the deep emotional significance attached to specific dishes are all cultural expressions flowing from that "oral core."

While the food itself has changed from millet and lamb to sushi and steak, the foundational cultural grammar that dictates how food is used—as a medium for social cohesion, a standard for aesthetics, and a source of foundational psychological satisfaction—continues to operate, making Sun’s structure a powerful, if provocative, lens for viewing contemporary Chinese society.

 

最低還款陷阱：銀行與監管者如何設計永恆債務

致每月被利息重壓的數百萬人：最低還款額絕非便利。它是金融體制設計出來的最為巧妙、最為陰險的控制機制。

我們被告知，這筆微小的應付金額是「救命索」，是一個讓我們保持償付能力的「靈活選項」。這正是官方的騙局。隱藏在光天化日之下的殘酷現實是：最低還款額是銀行壟斷集團與監管國家之間的秘密握手——一個經過完美設計的數學公式，旨在確保美國勞動者永遠無法真正擺脫對利息的奴役。

永恆收入的公式

這場金融陰謀的核心，就藏在數學本身。仔細審視最低還款單，這個詭計就顯得昭然若揭。

最低還款額的絕大部分，直接用於支付累積利息——即上個月債務的成本。只有微不足道、近乎羞辱的一小部分，才被用於償還本金（您實際花掉的錢）。

最低還款額為何設定如此之低？

以一個常見的情境為例：最低還款額通常設定為未償餘額的 2%。

1. 銀行的保證： 由於年利率（APR）始終徘徊在 25% 左右，單單是每月利息就消耗了最低還款額 2% 的近 80% 至 90%。

2. 進展的假象： 您，作為消費者，進行了還款，感覺自己負責任了，但本金債務卻幾乎毫髮未損。

3. 永恆的循環： 由於本金從未顯著縮小，下個月高利息的計算基礎仍然居高不下。您永遠在原地奔跑，確保銀行能從您一次性的消費中，收取數十年的利息。

這個系統為金融精英階層保障了永恆收入，將暫時的債務轉變為直接來自中產階級和勞動人民的永久收入流。

歷史演變：監管者的出賣

當前的最低還款標準並非自然的市場結果；它是透過監管俘虜和故意迎合銀行的政策轉變而編纂成法的，它從未服務於公眾利益。

幾十年來，信貸多透過地方貸款或商店卡進行，餘額通常需要快速清償。真正的現代債務機器始於銀行發行的信用卡（Visa、MasterCard）的標準化。

關鍵的陰謀時刻發生在監管者悄悄制定指導方針，允許銀行將最低還款百分比設定得令人震驚地低。

• 欺騙性的降低： 幾十年來，隨著競爭集中於吸引客戶，最低還款百分比被逐步降低——從一個能更有效減少本金的較高比率，降至當前微不足道的 2% 到 3%。

• 政府的角色： 為何政府允許這種情況？因為系統性債務是一種強大的工具。一個持續負債的民眾是一個易於管理的民眾。深陷最低還款泥沼的公民不太可能質疑體制、要求更高的薪資或挑戰政治現狀，因為他們的注意力只集中在應付下一筆強制性還款上。政府透過對銀行利潤徵稅獲得分成，而銀行則贏得了一個在經濟上順從的客戶群。

因此，最低還款額的演變是一種戰略性的退化，旨在全國範圍內製造一種長期、受控的財務困境狀態。

金融戰爭動員令

最低還款額是鎖在您腳踝上的鎖鏈。該系統的設計目的，是只給您足夠的喘息空間來維持就業並持續支付利息，但絕不允許您實現真正的財務自由。

如果銀行真的想幫助民眾，法律就應強制要求它們將最低還款額設定在一個保證債務能在五年內清償的水平，從而迫使本金實質性減少。它們不這樣做，是因為這將終結支撐整個金融大廈的寄生性收入流。

不要自願成為自我奴役的參與者。 打敗這個精心設計陷阱的唯一方法是，放棄最低還款額，並積極地償還本金。請認清最低還款額的真面目：它是精英階層為了讓您保有負債特權而收取的強制性通行費。

 

The Minimum Payment Trap: How Banks and Regulators Engineered Perpetual Debt

To the millions burdened by monthly interest: The minimum payment is not a convenience. It is the most brilliant, insidious mechanism of control ever devised by the financial establishment.

We are told this small required sum is a "lifeline," a "flexible option" that keeps us solvent. This is the official deception. The grim reality, hidden in plain sight, is that the minimum payment is the secret handshake between the banking cartel and the regulatory state—a perfectly engineered mathematical formula designed to guarantee that the American worker never truly escapes servitude to interest.

The Formula of Perpetual Revenue

The core of this financial conspiracy lies in the math itself. Look closely at the minimum payment statement, and the scheme becomes painfully clear.

The vast majority of the minimum payment goes directly to covering the interest accrued—the price of last month's debt. Only a minuscule, almost insulting fraction is applied to the principal (the actual money you spent).

Why the Minimum Payment Is Set So Low:

Consider a common scenario: the minimum payment is typically set at 2% of the outstanding balance.

1. The Bank's Guarantee: With interest rates (APR) consistently hovering around 25%, the monthly interest alone consumes nearly 80-90% of that minimum 2% payment.

2. The Illusion of Progress: You, the customer, make the payment, feeling responsible, but the principal debt remains virtually untouched.

3. The Perpetual Cycle: Since the principal never significantly shrinks, the balance upon which next month's high interest is calculated remains high. You are forever running in place, ensuring the bank collects decades of interest on a one-time purchase.

This system guarantees perpetual revenue for the financial elite, converting temporary debt into a permanent income stream derived directly from the middle and working classes.

Historical Evolution: The Regulatory Sellout

The current minimum payment standard was not a natural market outcome; it was codified through regulatory capture and intentional policy shifts that served the banks, not the public.

For decades, credit was handled through local loans or store cards, where balances were often expected to be cleared quickly. The true modern debt machine began with the standardization of bank-issued credit cards (Visa, MasterCard).

The key conspiratorial moment came as regulators quietly established guidelines that allowed banks to set the minimum payment percentage shockingly low.

• The Deceptive Drop: Over the decades, as competition focused on luring customers, the minimum payment percentage was ratcheted down—from a higher, more principal-reducing rate to the current meager 2% to 3%.

• The Government’s Role: Why did the government allow this? Because systemic debt is a powerful tool. A perpetually indebted populace is a manageable populace. Citizens drowning in minimum payments are less likely to question the system, demand higher wages, or challenge the political status quo, as their focus is fixed solely on meeting the next mandatory payment. The government receives its cut via taxes on bank profits, and the banks gain a financially subservient client base.

The evolution of the minimum payment was thus a strategic devolution, orchestrated to create a state of chronic, controlled financial distress across the nation.

The Call to Financial Arms

The minimum payment is the chain on your ankle. The system is designed to allow you just enough breathing room to stay employed and keep paying the interest, but never enough to achieve true financial freedom.

If the banks truly wanted to help the populace, they would be required by law to set the minimum payment at a level that guarantees the debt is cleared within five years, forcing a genuine reduction of the principal. They do not do this because it would end the parasitic revenue stream that underpins the entire financial edifice.

Do not be a willing participant in your own enslavement. The only way to defeat this engineered trap is to abandon the minimum payment and pay the principal down aggressively. Recognize the minimum payment for what it truly is: a mandatory toll paid to the elite for the privilege of remaining indebted.

 

最低還款陷阱：此策略為何會立刻失敗

持續僅支付最低要求還款額，同時每月繼續將新開銷記在信用卡餘額上的策略，並非一個長期的生存計劃；它是一條通往財務崩潰的快速道路。

此策略之所以失敗，主要原因在於信用卡還款結構：最低還款額的大部分用於支付已產生的利息，幾乎沒有任何金額能實際減少本金餘額。當您又增加新的開支時，債務便會立即增長。

1. 債務螺旋的核心機制

您的「生存」時間是零，因為債務從第一天起就開始增加。以下是三個阻止餘額減少的關鍵變數：

1. 高利率（APR）： 大多數信用卡的年利率（APR）介於 20% 到 30% 之間。每月累積的利息會迅速吞噬您最低還款額的大部分。

2. 最低還款結構： 信用卡發行機構通常計算最低還款額的方式，是取以下兩者中較高者：未償餘額的 2% 到 3%，或每月利息加上一小部分本金（例如：$15 或本金的 1%）。

3. 新增開支： 如果您「記賬」到卡上的新開支金額大於最低還款額中實際用於減少本金的那一小部分，您的總債務餘額必然會增長。

2. 數字範例：向下螺旋

讓我們使用一個保守且常見的利率範例，來演示即使在還款後，餘額是如何立即增加的。

參數	數值	備註
初始餘額（第 1 個月初）	$5,000	初始債務金額。
年利率（APR）	28%	這相當於每月 2.33%（每 $1,000 為 $28.00）。
每月新增開支	$300	每月記在卡上的開支。
最低還款規則	未償餘額的 2.5%。	一種常見的計算方式。

第 1 個月：債務增長

計算步驟	數值	影響
累積利息	$5,000 x 2.33% = $116.50	這是借款一個月的成本。
最低應付還款額	$5,000 x 2.5% = $125.00	您必須支付的金額。
本金減少額	$125.00 (還款) - $116.50 (利息) = $8.50	這是減少您債務的微小金額。
還款後餘額	$5,000 - $8.50 = $4,991.50	債務幾乎未動。
新增開支計入	+$300.00	新的開支被收取。
新的期末餘額	$4,991.50 + $300.00 = $5,291.50	總債務增加了 $291.50。

僅一個月後的結論

您的債務高於開始時的金額，而第 2 個月所需的最低還款額將會更高（$5,291.50 的 2.5% 為 $132.29）。

3. 真實的「生存」前景

您不是在生存；您只是在延遲不可避免的信用額度爆滿或最低還款額本身變得無法負擔的時刻。

• 財務危機時間線（預估）： 在此情境下，假設信用額度為 $6,000，您將在短短 3 到 4 個月內 達到或超過最高限額。

• 即時後果： 一旦您達到限額，您將無法再使用該卡來支付所需的 $300 開支，這將觸發罰款、錯過還款，並導致您的信用評分嚴重下降。

要真正生存並消除債務，您必須確保您的還款金額持續超過已累積的利息總和，以及每月新增的開支。

• 在上述範例中，要達成收支平衡（即不減少債務，但保持穩定），您至少需要支付 $416.50（$116.50 利息 + $300.00 新增開支）。

• 任何少於此金額的款項都將導致您的債務增長。

 

The Minimum Payment Trap: Why This Strategy Fails Instantly

The strategy of consistently paying only the minimum required payment while simultaneously adding new monthly expenses to the credit card balance is not a long-term survival plan; it is a rapid path toward financial collapse.

The primary reason this fails is due to the structure of credit card payments: the majority of the minimum payment goes toward covering the interest accrued, leaving little or nothing to reduce the principal balance. When you add new spending, the debt grows immediately.

1. The Core Mechanics of the Debt Spiral

The "survival" time is zero because the debt increases from day one. Here are the three critical variables that prevent the balance from decreasing:

1. High Interest Rates (APR): Most credit cards carry Annual Percentage Rates (APR) between 20% and 30%. The interest accrued each month rapidly eats up the majority of your minimum payment.

2. Minimum Payment Structure: Credit card issuers typically calculate the minimum payment as either 2% to 3% of the outstanding balance, or the monthly interest plus a tiny fraction of the principal (e.g., $15 or 1% of the principal), whichever is higher.

3. New Spending: If the amount of new spending you "clock" onto the card is greater than the tiny portion of the minimum payment that actually goes toward the principal, your total debt balance must grow.

2. Numerical Example: The Downward Spiral

Let's use a conservative example with common rates to demonstrate how the balance increases immediately, even after making a payment.

Parameter	Value	Notes
Initial Balance (Month 1 Start)	$5,000	Starting debt amount.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)	28%	This is 2.33% per month ($28.00 per $1,000).
New Monthly Spending	$300	Expenses added to the card monthly.
Minimum Payment Rule	2.5% of the outstanding balance.	A common calculation method.

Month 1: The Debt Grows

Calculation Step	Value	Effect
Interest Accrued	$5,000 x 2.33% = $116.50	This is the cost of borrowing for one month.
Minimum Payment Due	$5,000 x 2.5% = $125.00	The amount you must pay.
Principal Reduction	$125.00 (Payment) - $116.50 (Interest) = $8.50	This is the tiny amount that reduces your debt.
Balance After Payment	$5,000 - $8.50 = $4,991.50	Debt is barely touched.
New Spending Added	+$300.00	The new expenses are charged.
New Ending Balance	$4,991.50 + $300.00 = $5,291.50	The total debt has increased by $291.50.

The Conclusion After Just One Month

Your debt is higher than when you started, and the minimum payment required for Month 2 will be even higher (2.5% of $5,291.50 = $132.29).

3. The True "Survival" Outlook

You are not surviving; you are only delaying the inevitable credit limit breach or the point where the minimum payment itself becomes unaffordable.

• Financial Crisis Timeline (Estimate): In this scenario, assuming a $6,000 credit limit, you will reach or exceed the maximum limit in just 3 to 4 months.

• Immediate Consequences: Once you hit the limit, you can no longer use the card for the required $300 spending, triggering fees, missed payments, and a severe drop in your credit score.

To truly survive and eliminate debt, you must ensure your payment consistently exceeds the sum of the interest accrued AND the new monthly spending.

• In the example above, to break even (not reduce debt, but keep it stable), you would need to pay at least $416.50 ($116.50 Interest + $300.00 New Spending).

• Any amount less than this will cause your debt to grow.

 

Freedom from Suffering, Joy in the Pure Land

Buddhism often speaks of “freedom from suffering and gaining true happiness.” This isn’t just about avoiding pain and chasing pleasure. It means finding a deep peace that comes from letting go of the roots of suffering and entering the state of true joy. The Amitabha Sutra gives us important insights on this, and here we’ll explore three questions:

1. How can we free ourselves from suffering?

2. Does freedom from suffering automatically bring happiness right away?

3. If yes, why? If no, then why not, and how can we understand it?

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1. Ways to be Free from Suffering

The Sutra describes the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha as a place where beings “have no suffering, only happiness”. To reach this state, it offers several methods:

1. Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name with faith
   If someone sincerely calls upon Amitabha’s name for even a few days with a focused mind, at the end of life Amitabha and his holy assembly will appear, and that person can be reborn in the Pure Land.

2. Relying on both personal goodness and Amitabha’s vow power
   The Sutra says one cannot be reborn in the Pure Land with “only a small amount of good deeds or merit”. This means we need both our own kindness and virtue, and also the great compassion and vows of the Buddha to support us.

3. Keeping a pure and mindful heart
   In the Pure Land, even the birds and the gentle wind teach Dharma, reminding beings to remember the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This shows the importance of mindfulness in daily life as a way to reduce suffering.

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2. Is Happiness Automatic Once Suffering Ends?

The answer is both yes and no.

• Yes, in some cases: When the root of suffering (like anger, craving, or ignorance) is let go, peace and joy appear immediately. For example, at the moment of rebirth in the Pure Land, the Sutra says the dying person’s “mind is not confused, and they are reborn immediately.” That’s instant relief and happiness.

• No, in other cases: For most of us in this world, letting go of suffering is often gradual. Old habits and emotional wounds don’t disappear right away. Joy grows step by step as the mind becomes clearer and lighter.

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3. Why Sometimes Immediate, Sometimes Gradual?

• Immediate joy comes when the cause of suffering is fully cut off. It’s like clouds moving away—the sunlight naturally shines through.

• Gradual joy happens because our karmic habits and attachments are deeply rooted. We may start freeing ourselves from suffering, but traces of restlessness remain. This is why the Sutra encourages continuous faith, practice, and the vow to be reborn in the Pure Land, where suffering is completely gone.

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Conclusion

“Freedom from suffering and gaining joy” is not just a slogan—it’s the heart of Buddhist practice. The Amitabha Sutrateaches that with faith, vows, and practice, supported by Amitabha Buddha’s compassion, anyone can reach this goal. Sometimes joy comes instantly, sometimes gradually—but the important thing is to keep moving toward it with sincerity.

離苦得樂：從佛經看如何解脫與安樂

佛法中常說「離苦得樂」。這不只是世間人單純追求痛苦的止息與快樂的獲得，而是佛陀教導眾生透過修行，徹底超越生死煩惱，進入究竟安樂之境。本文將依《佛說阿彌陀經》的啟示，探討以下三個問題：

1. 有哪些方式可以離苦？

2. 離苦是否意味著得樂是立即而自動的？

3. 若是或若否，原因與條件又是什麼？

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一、如何離苦

《阿彌陀經》指出，極樂世界之所以名為「極樂」，因為「其國眾生無有眾苦，但受諸樂」。要達到離苦的目標，經文中給出幾個核心方法：

1. 念佛與發願往生
   若有善男子、善女人，一心持念阿彌陀佛名號，乃至七日不亂，臨終時佛與聖眾現前，即能往生極樂世界。這是一條以「信、願、行」為核心的離苦之道。

2. 依佛願力與功德力
   經中明示「不可以少善根福德因緣得生彼國」，意味著個人修持須以積累善行、修習福德為基礎，並仰仗佛力攝受，才能徹底超脫苦境。

3. 修習正念與清淨心
   極樂世界中眾鳥、微風皆演說佛法，使眾生自然而然「念佛、念法、念僧」。這象徵著持續培養正念，是離苦的重要方式。

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二、離苦是否等於立即得樂？

在經義上，離苦與得樂既相連卻不必然是同一時間點發生。

• 立即的層面：當心中能捨離貪瞋癡時，痛苦會立刻減輕或消失，這就是「當下的離苦即是得樂」。例如臨終往生極樂的瞬間，經中說「心不顛倒，即得往生」，那就是立刻由苦轉樂的例子。

• 漸次的層面：然而，在娑婆世界中修行者，雖能透過持戒、念佛減少煩惱，但仍需經歷漸進過程。因為「業力與習氣」尚未完全轉化，得樂不一定是馬上完全呈現，而是隨著心的淨化而逐步增長。

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三、為何有時得樂是即刻，有時卻需漸次？

1. 即刻的理由：
   當苦的根源（如無明與執著）被徹底放下，心境立即轉換。就像雲散開時，陽光自然顯現，不需等待。

2. 漸次的理由：
   眾生長劫以來積聚的習氣與業力，並非一朝一夕可完全清除。即使開始離苦，仍可能反覆受舊有煩惱牽引。因此，佛經強調「應當發願」，以持續的願力與修行，確保最終往生極樂，徹底得樂。

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結語

「離苦得樂」不是抽象的口號，而是佛法實踐的核心目標。《阿彌陀經》透過對極樂世界的描繪，指出眾生只要以信願持名、累積善根福德，就能最終離苦得樂。至於得樂的呈現，有時是即刻的轉化，有時則需漸次實踐。其關鍵在於：是否能徹底放下苦因，是否能以願力與佛力相應。