Elite Lifestyle Magazine : Issue 63

E L I TE 時 尚 精 英

精英故事 聚焦名畫 冬季養生 節日風格

A Shen Yun Artist’s Insights The Art and Wisdom of Classical Chinese Dance 聚焦神韻藝術家潘克岐

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023

Nic Roldan American Polo Star on What It Takes to Succeed 馬球之星分享成功之道

From the Sky to the Ocean, Alaska's Jaw-Dropping Magnificence 壯遊美洲之最——阿拉斯加

Think Big, Dream Big ISSUE 63

Entrepreneur Nelson Wei on Turning Vision Into Reality

目錄 CONTENTS 6

High Jewelry Spotlight: Enduring Azure

7

Holiday Gift Guide: Finding the Perfect Match for Your Loved Ones

精選頂級珠寶：湛藍之頌

節日季貼心選禮指南

12

Winter Tips: Japanese Secrets to Healthy Living

18

Through Bierstadt’s Brushstrokes: A Majestic View of the American West

養生過冬 學習大和飲食哲學

偉岸的西部風光——認識風景畫家比爾施塔特

26 26

Rediscovering Cultural Heritage: A Classical Chinese Dancer's Quest for True Artistry on the World Stage 神韻藝術家聚焦：舞中追尋文化真諦

32

American Polo Star Nic Roldan: Secrets to Success in a Dangerous Game

美國知名馬球選手：從賽場到創業的成功要素

38

Wild Stone, Where an Entrepreneur Achieved His Vision and Quest for Perfection

展現頑石精神——臺裔創業家魏正宇

44

52

38 60 COVER Color Brownie, a celebrity-residence project by Wild Stone, page 38.

Photography by Nick Glimenakis

Home Editor’s Pick: A Fairytale Castle Reimagined

家居編輯精選：冬日古堡奇想

America's Last Frontier: Discover the Wild Beauty of Alaska

探險筆記：阿拉斯加深度旅遊

The Art of Writing Memorable Holiday Cards

如何獻上最棒的佳節賀卡？

源自五千年文明的天籟之音 東西方音樂的表達就如陰與陽般截然不同，但

巧妙融合時卻能演繹出完美和諧的樂章。自成 立以來，神韻交響樂團展現了全新的開創——

既有西洋管弦樂隊宏大、輝煌、精準的氣勢， 又有中國音樂的靈動、豐富的表現力，令全球 音樂家與樂評人為之驚嘆。

神韻音樂深厚的情感表達，一定會深深地觸動 您的心靈。

現在就上網體驗神韻交響樂的天籟之音 :

ShenYunSymphony.com

林肯中心 大衛格芬音樂廳

10月22日 2023 年

週日 下午 1 ＆ 5 點

僅兩場演出，訂票從速，以免向隅！票價43元起

中文熱線: 877-781-1158 官網購票: ShenYunSymphony.com

序 EDITOR’S NOTE 壯志如山

在紐約大都會博物館內，懸掛了一幅由畫家阿爾伯特 · 比爾施 塔 特（Albert Bierstadt） 繪 製 的 成 名 之 作 ——The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak（ 譯為「 洛磯山脈，蘭德峰 」）， 畫幅寬長逾120英尺，靜靜從遠處觀賞這幅油畫，感受畫作中 透過明暗手法，展現的空間遠近與光線流動。 巍峨群山與人物在畫作中和諧共處的景象，帶給時人對於西部 風光無限的想像與未知的期待。該畫作成於1863年，時值美國 西進運動，該年代民眾多未涉足美國西部地區，這些風景畫也 間接激發了人們由東向西出走的願望。讓我們觀畫入境，擁抱 比爾施塔特筆下的時空，一同回顧被永恆凝結於畫作中的壯美。 在世界各地的頂級劇院中，來自神韻藝術團的舞蹈家潘克岐 （Jason Pan），今年又完成了逾百場的演出。他曾是一名熱愛 傳統文化的青年，為了進一步體會文化的真實面貌，意外發現 一片廣闊且無盡的天地——中國古典舞。且聽他為何願意離鄉 背井，在數年的堅持與挑戰下，如願站在夢想舞臺之上。 再來到速度與分秒都需精準計算的馬球賽場上，差之毫釐，失 之千里。美國知名馬球選手尼克 · 羅爾丹（Nic Roldan）和我 們分享，他在賽場與人生致勝的關鍵。本期收錄數篇激勵人心 的人物專訪，伴您一同度過年末佳節時光。

4│

PRESIDENT

PUBLISHER

Dana Chang

Ellen Wang

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR

Channaly Philipp Annie Wu

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Crystal Shi

BEAUTY EDITOR

Ida Pink

HOME EDITOR

Sunny Lo

ART AND CULTURE EDITORS

華麗地毯 窗簾墻紙中心

Astrid Wang

PROFILE EDITOR

Sharon Kilarski Jennifer Schneider

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

QUEENS CARPETONE CORP.

Cora Wang Jennifer Tseng

CONTRIBUTORS

Yusi Bai

全美最大的家庭裝飾連鎖公司 Carpet One Floor & Home 唯一華人成員

Bob Kirchman Tara Dos Santos Tim Johnson Matthew Little TRANSLATORS

Wandi Zhu Ling Lin

COPY EDITORS

Louise Rothman Huixuan Yang

CREATIVE LEAD DESIGNER

Karen Tang

DESIGNER

Hsinyu Lo

SALES SALES DIRECTOR

Jo Yang

ADDRESS 229 W 28th Street, 7FL, New York, NY 10001

地毯 | 窗簾 | 牆紙 | 地板 華麗地毯窗簾牆紙中心 是您的最佳選擇

PHONE 646-862-9930 EMAIL editor@elite-magazine.com

QUEENS CARPETONE CORP. for your perfect FLOOR & HOME

advertising@elite-magazine.com subscription@elite-magazine.com www.elite-magazine.com

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Boston

Seattle

Ke Bian 510-299-4392

Yan Lieser 818-836-2937

Timothy Pi 617-388-1688

Echo Liu 425-877-5121

大量現貨 歡迎設計師洽談合作

電話： 718-460-1161 電郵： qcarpetone@gmail.com 地址： 18-13 128th Street ,College Point , NY 11356 www.queenscarpetonecollegepoint.com

TIFFANY & CO. Blue Book 2023 collection, Coral Reimagined pendant in platinum and 18K yellow gold with an unenhanced esteemed Sri Lankan sapphire, sapphires, and diamonds.

HARRY WINSTON High jewelry earrings featuring cushioncut blue sapphires and diamonds set in platinum.

ONE OF A KIND

Enduring Azure Sapphire blue has been cherished for centuries for its visual splendor and symbolism. Reminiscent of the sky and ocean, this iconic hue is associated with honesty, purity, loyalty, and trust. It is the reigning favorite among the world’s top jewelry brands. Look for its presence in simple, minimalistic designs as well as elaborate statement pieces.

Always keep a little something blue close for an extra dash of love and serenity. 寶藍色是高貴與神聖莊嚴的色彩，是歷史上皇家與貴族 的珠寶愛用色，其優雅與大氣，不言而喻。當代，在所有 知名珠寶品牌的頂級珠寶系列中，更是處處可見以寶藍 為主色調的作品。在各品牌與其不同主題的詮釋下，將 這份藍，大放異彩——可以是單純的幾何組合，也可訴諸 自然萬物，可以搭配如服飾般的弧度與線條，也可以作為

BUCCELLATI Capri bangle bracelet in yellow gold, "rigato" engraved, covered with blue enamel. The body of the bracelet is in yellow and white gold set with round brilliant-cut diamonds and pink sapphires.

背景主色來襯托其他鑲嵌其中的寶石。這份深邃而鮮豔 的藍，就像是一種無限的藍。 6│

Prices available upon request

PHOTOS BY TIFFANY & CO., BUCCELLATI AND HARRY WINSTON.

湛藍之頌

ELITE BEAUTY

The Holiday Gift Hunt 節日鉅獻！精選貼心好禮

By Ida Pink

These excellent products combine luxury and practicality. Who on your gift list would they be best-suited for and what do they do?

LUXURIOUS GO-TO’S To satisfy those dear, very discriminating people in your life, try some luxury skin care. This powerhouse anti-aging duo never disappoints.

La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Liquid Lift is an age-defying serum that provides an immediate lifting sensation while enhancing the skin’s firmness and elasticity. The reformulated Skin Caviar Luxe Cream seamlessly fuses La Prairie’s Caviar Premier with Caviar micronutrients (an ultra-rich source of more than 300 different natural nutrients) to revive the skin’s metabolism and restore its youthful structure, leaving skin firmed, smoothed, and nourished.

This liquid lift is now offered in two textures: Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is rich and velvety, while Skin Caviar Luxe Cream Sheer is “oh, so light.” Why not try both?

LA PRAIRIE: Skin Caviar Liquid Lift, $785; Skin Caviar Luxe Cream, $595, lapraire.com

│7

A TREAT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY HAIR

TIME-SAVING SKIN CARE FOR BUSY BEES

Know someone who’s concerned about thinning or graying hair? Even if they’re simply looking for fuller and healthier locks, this is a great gift option.

DefenAge’s award-winning hair treatment promotes healthy hair growth by nourishing the tens of thousands of hair follicles on your scalp with 48 revitalizing ingredients that reduce hair loss and the appearance of gray hairs. This is all done without drugs or hormones!

Try it today for better hair health, volume, and texture. It is nonirritating and gentle on the scalp.

Try a dollop on your eyebrows too.

Wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life and don’t have time for skin care? We hear you! This easy kit comes highly recommended for busy individuals with more important things to do than fuss over myriad bottles.

BioNova's all-in-one anti-aging kit can be customized for all genders and skin types.

Give your skin its daily boost of vitamins with this simple set. It contains a nonfoaming cleanser that removes impurities without damaging your skin's natural barrier, the Bioactive Cream Activator that primes the skin and enhances the efficacy of your serums, and an Anti-Aging Treatment Cream with UV Chromophores. The latteruses award-winning technology that delivers bio-identical ingredients to activate your skin’s self-healing process. It’s great for correcting uneven skin tones, reducing lines, and preventing further aging.

DEFENAGE: 150K Hair Follicle Serum, $197 for a pack of three bottles, defenage.com

BIONOVA: Anti-Aging Discovery Collection for Normal-to-Dry Skin, $82, shopbnscience.com

8│

AN UNEXPECTED UPGRADE TO YOUR SELF-CARE

FOR THE INSPIRED HAIR STYLIST: ONE TOOL, ENDLESS LOOKS

Check out this thoughtful gift idea that would benefit the whole family. You can enhance everyone’s skin and hair routine within minutes. Just install this showerhead.

Did you know shower water plays an important role in our beauty and well-being? Unfiltered water contains chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants that can contribute to skin problems such as dryness and rashes. It can even cause damage and undesirable color change to our locks.

Jolie's high-pressure shower head is a fabulous solution. Not only does it offer the perfect water intensity, but it also filters out these damaging contaminants to improve skin and hair health. The best part: It’s easy to install and fits all U.S. showerheads.

This is the hairdryer of every girl’s dream. It’s great for fending off frizz even on a rainy day to keep your luscious mane smooth 24/7.

With four adjustable heads all packed snuggly into a travel case, this four-in-one hairdryer has everything a girl needs for the ultimate blowout.

The Oval Nozzle provides concentrated airflow for a quick dry before styling. The Diffuser mimics your hair’s natural drying process to reduce frizz, define curls, and increase bounce and volume. Finally, use the Round Brush head to tuck in the ends, or choose the Smoothing Brush Attachment to detangle and straighten.

BEACHWAVER: Blow Brush, $189, beachwaver.com

JOLIE: The Filtered Showerhead, $165, jolieskinco.com

│9

FOR THOSE 30 AND UP: ESSENTIAL FOR YOUTHFULNESS This doctor-recommended collagen formula is great for anybody over 30.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body.

Yet starting as early as our 30s, our body’s production of collagen declines at a rate of 1.5% every year. According to experts, signs of aging often have less to do with getting old and more to do with collagen deficiency.

NativePath's Collagen Peptides helps to restore your body's levels with its premium grass-fed bovine collagen powder. Simply add one to two scoops (10 to 20 g) daily to beverages, hot cereal, or baked goods to revive your hair, skin, and joint health.

Lightly sweetened with antioxidant-rich monk fruit (low in calories), this product can be purchased in both unflavored and flavored varieties.

NATIVEPATH: Collagen Peptides, $37.99–$67.99, nativepath.com

10│

DREAMING OF A HOME SAUNA? This alternative is beyond your imagination. The Sauna

by HeatHealer is space-saving and portable. It can even fit in your luggage.

The infrared sauna has long been lauded for its health benefits. It’s gold for improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and accelerating lymphatic drainage. With regular use, it can reduce muscle and joint pain, alleviate stress and fatigue, and even help with your weight-loss regimen.

The blanket resembles a luxe sleeping bag but equipped with carbon fiber heating technology. It is fortified with 96 jade and tourmaline stones to allow for even heat distribution and the emission of negative ions. This tiny sauna is easy to use, clean, and store—just roll it up in the portable travel bag. It even comes with its own cozy pillow and remote.

HEATHEALER: Infrared Sauna Blanket, $598, heathealer.com

A MASSAGER FOR WELLNESS-LOVERS No more puffy face in the morning! Gua Sha Lymphatic Drainage Tool is a boon for those seeking to reduce facial swelling.

For thousands of years, the Sibin Bian Stone has been considered a sacred, medical-grade tool in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the go-to choice for devotees of relaxing massages. This paddle activates your lymphatic system to decrease water-retention, facilitate toxin removal, boost circulation, and much more.

The stone has been cut and polished into six unique shapes to fit every curve of your body. It is also exceptionally good at retaining temperatures. Simply run the paddle under hot or cold water for a perfectly satisfying massage.

HEATHEALER: Gua Sha Lymphatic Drainage Tool, $89, heathealer.com

│11

ELITE HEALTH

Staying Healthy During Winter Learning from nature and ‘shindofuji’ 冬季養生很簡單 熟記日式飲食兩要訣

IMAGE BY IMAGENAVI/GETTY IMAGES

By Yusi Bai

J

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE CHINESE-LANGUAGE EDITION OF THE EPOCH TIMES.

apanese cuisine is full of distinctive flavors and seasonal appeal, a trait that many people mistakenly believe is due to the Japanese people’s reverence for nature and their desire to enjoy the beauty and flavors of the seasons to the fullest.

Actually, the Japanese are pursuing two ancient methods of staying healthy: learning from nature and “shindofuji,”which means to become one with the soil.

People nowadays have more faith in modern science than in traditional wisdom, thus they have abandoned the custom (and often necessity) of eating locally grown foods that are in season. Moreover, modern transportation enables us to enjoy produce from all over the world at any time. However, eating foods that are not acclimatized to our own environment is the cause for many modern health issues of both mind and body.

HARMONIZING WITH THE SEASONS Japanese cuisine, from its ingredients to its cooked dishes, changes with the seasons. Even the bento boxes sold throughout Japanese cities showcase seasonal elements. For example, during the late autumn, the kuri gohan (chestnut rice) might be decorated with two red leaves; the red, white, and yellow colors symbolize the colors of autumn. Come winter, the steaming hot pots and assortments of root vegetables evoke cozy memories of spending the evening chatting around a fire. These thoughtfully decorated dishes are thus a feast for both the eyes and the soul.

As winter ensues, elementary and middle schools across Japan send out reminders to parents through the monthly school menus to serve their children the right seasonal vegetables as the seasons change.

Turnips, spinach (eaten with the root), taro, and other root vegetables are always recommended in early winter. The schools emphasize that it is best to eat locally grown produce because local vegetables do not need to be transported, which requires time and manpower.

It's healthy to eat with the seasons because freshly harvested produce retains the most nutrients. _unsplash

日本飲食充滿四季風情，不僅只是崇尚大自然、享受時 令美感與季節美食。更重要的是，他們奉行著古老養生 之道——效法自然、身土不二。 現代人因科技發達，而打亂了季節飲食；因交通發 達，而吃 遍世界各地美味。殊不知，吃得水土不服，現 代病由此而生，令身心處於不安狀態。 注重季節感 兼顧美感與養生 日本飲食，從食材到餐點造型，隨著季節變換。即便是 超 市賣的 飯 盒，也 呈現 鮮 明 時 節感。比如：秋 季 來 臨 時，會用兩片紅葉點綴在板栗米飯中，紅、白、黃色，寓 意著紅葉金秋的自然畫卷；到了冬天，熱騰騰的火鍋和 各種根菜煮物，也讓人浮現圍爐夜話的天倫溫情之感。 一飽眼福，心情也隨之滿足，幸福感油然而生。 當深秋已過，冬天來臨。節氣變換之際，日本中、 小學會在學校菜單表裡，特別提醒家長：該讓孩子吃時 令蔬菜了——立冬後推薦根菜類蔬菜，如：蘿蔔、菠菜 （ 連根食用）、芋頭等。同時不斷強調，最好吃當地產銷 食材，在減少輾轉運輸過程中，不僅經濟實惠，更能吃 到食物的鮮美與營養。吃得美味、吃得滿足，身心必然 感到踏實且健康，進而讓學習與工作都能順心如意。 │13

Braised daikon radish is a popular Japanese side dish. _Ivan/Gettyimages

An abundance of seasonal ingredients can be added to dress up miso soup. _Promo_Link/Gettyimages

這就是日本人崇尚自然的傳統飲食文化——講究吃 時令和地產地銷的當地食材。一方水土養一方人，背後 蘊含著古老的養生觀。

Not only is eating local produce economical and practical, but it also means that the vegetables taste better because they are consumed close to the day they are harvested and still retain their nutrients. By eating foods that are delectable, satisfying, and nutritious, minds and bodies are sure to be healthy, free from anxiety, and joyful.

The reverence for nature in traditional Japanese food culture is based on ancient concepts of health and methods for maintaining it.

師法自然 《道德經》有言:「 人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。」 人活在世，若未能深入研究學問，無法得到名師的指導， 不知道該如何生存，最好、也最簡單的方法就是：效法大 自然的運行法則。透過觀察，效法周遭大地的一切，例 如：體察四季的變化。 為何人們要跟隨四季節奏來生活呢？為何吃時令蔬 菜就是效法自然？為何效法自然，就能使身體健康？讓 我們綜觀冬季期間，地球之變化。 當時序由春生、夏長、秋收，進入「 冬藏 」，冰天雪

LEARNING FROM NATURE The classic Chinese text Dao De Jing, written by Lao Zi, the founder of Daoism, states that “Humans follow the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao (the Way), and the Dao follows nature.” It does not take a Daoist scholar to understand what these words mean. If one is unable to study ancient knowledge in depth or have the guidance of a great teacher, the best and easiest solution would be to learn from the patterns of nature. One can follow what one observes in nature with the changing of the seasons.

14│

地、萬物凋零，大地一片寂寥，被陰寒覆蓋，失去生機。 是故，冬天必然陽氣內收，藏於地下，此即外陰而內陽， 讓生命繁茂的生機，被緊收在地球內部。大家會發現， 夏天冰涼的井水，到了冬天便感覺暖和。這是因為夏季 陽在外、陰在內，所以地上生機盎然，草木繁茂，寒涼 的地下水能消暑氣。冬天正好與夏天相反，陰在外、陽 在內，大地不見生機，所以此時綠葉蔬菜不多，但地下 水反而保持溫暖。 生 長 於 地下的 根 莖 蔬 菜，如蘿 蔔，因 地下 陽 氣 旺 盛，自然長得肥美。因此，吃當季食材，是最好的自然養 生法。中國民間俗語云： 「 冬吃蘿蔔，夏吃薑，不用醫生 開藥方。」所以冬季要多吃蘿蔔。

Thoughtfully decorated with seasonal elements, Japanese dishes are a feast for both the eyes and the soul. _unsplash

Why do we benefit by living according to seasonal patterns? How is the consumption of seasonal produce a way of learning from nature? How can we remain healthy by learning from nature?

For example, observe what changes winter brings to the earth. When winter comes around, much of nature appears to have withered away. The world, encased in frost and snow, looks frigid and desolate.

What life and warmth remains is concealed deep beneath the earth. During summertime, well water is cold, yet it becomes warmer during wintertime.

One can come to a better understanding of this through the Daoist teaching of yin and yang: Yin is associated with coolness and yang with warmth and life.

日本人喜歡在冬季吃煮燉的根菜雜煮，或者根菜湯 「 豚汁」，蘿蔔即是代表食材，然後是各種芋頭、馬鈴 薯（ 土豆 ）、地瓜等根類食物，不僅美味營養，還能吃 出身心安寧。冰封大地的中國北方冬季，蘿蔔、馬鈴薯， 加上大白菜，同樣讓這一方的世世代代賴以維生。食當 季、吃在地的養生概念，並不在於吃得多麼豐富。 冬季進補 中國自古講，人體是個小宇宙，「 天人相應 」，宇宙自然 法則同樣在人體內展現。冬季，人體陽氣收藏於內，亦 即，冬天時末梢與體表溫度低，但內部的臟腑卻充滿陽 熱；夏天則相反，體表溫度高，但臟腑卻積聚著陰寒之 氣。此時，吃些蘿蔔，有助疏散臟腑的陽熱，同時將內 部陽熱疏散到體表之外，能幫助抵禦寒冷。（ 與夏天吃

│15

During summertime, yang energy rises to the earth’s surface and yin energy sinks below, which is why life flourishes in the summer, and the water underground is cold. In winter, yin energy rises to the earth’s surface and yang energy sinks below. There are little to no signs of life above ground, yet the water underground is warm. Thus, it is only natural that root vegetables grow well during colder seasons.

This is why radishes and other such root vegetables produced in winter, when warm energy is trapped beneath the earth, are healthier and larger in size, and therefore taste better and are more nutritious.

Eating seasonal produce is the best way to provide one’s body with natural nourishment.

In winter, the Japanese enjoy eating boiled and stewed root vegetables, or root vegetable tonkatsu soup, in which daikon radish is the main and most important ingredient. Additional ingredients include various kinds of other root vegetables such as taro, potatoes, and yam. Such a hearty diet brings comfort to the mind and body.

THE BODY MIRRORS THE EARTH Chinese medicine views the human body as a small universe. To embrace this concept, one only needs to observe the earth to discover how the patterns and laws of the natural world are mirrored in the human body. During winter, the earth’s warm yang energy is absorbed below the surface. The human body does the same; in order to keep out the cold, the pores on the surface of the skin shrink and no longer release heat. Instead, they preserve one’s yang energy within one’s body, ensuring that the inner body remains warm when the days are cold.

This means that one’s abdomen and intestines are kept warm; it is why winter is when the body is most able to digest and absorb any supplements that are taken, and the best time to consume tonic foods. According to traditional Chinese medicine,

薑，藉由薑的溫辛之氣去驅散臟腑的陰寒到體表，抵抗 夏季炎熱，道理相同。）當身體陰陽平 衡，變感到通體 舒暢。 此外，冬季身體為了抵禦寒冷，會吃較多的肉類， 增加身體能量。此時，若搭配富含酵素、維生素 C、促 進消化、減肥美容和防治感冒的根類蔬菜，如：蘿蔔、 芋頭或山藥等，則有助潤燥降火。

Top: Seasonal eating is not only economical and nutritious, it is an ode to the Japanese people’s reverence for nature. _unsplash

16│

中國自古即流傳「 冬天進補 」的概念。《黃帝內經》 提到「 冬至一陽生 」（ 冬至開始，陰氣盛極而衰，人體 內的陽氣開始回升了），因此「 春夏養陽、秋冬養陰 」

seafood and aquatic products are considered a yin, and therefore a “cold,” type of food. Winter is the best time to consume these foods because the body absorbs their nutrients better, and one is less likely to develop digestive or intestinal issues.

In the summer, yang energy is released to the surface, and one’s inner body is cooler. Although the weather may be very warm, it is not the best time for eating seafood, which may easily lead to diarrhea or stomach pains. The body is also weaker at absorbing nutrients, which is why summer is not the best season for consuming tonic foods. Those with weaker bodies should seize the opportunity winter brings to eat the correct supplements and reset one’s body, thus laying a good foundation for a healthy year ahead.

Winter is best for eating meats paired with root vegetables that are high in enzymes and vitamin C, stimulate digestion, and strengthen the immune system. Such vegetables include radishes, taro, and yams. There is much joy to be found in learning from nature and eating the appropriate foods for each season, which is both easy to do and beneficial to one’s health.

unfamiliar, and thus react aberrantly, causing discomfort in the digestive tract and triggering intense reactions such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, or even vomiting and fever. This is a form of allergic reaction the body uses to protect itself.

However, today’s advanced means of transportation make it very easy to eat produce and delicacies from all over the world. Many unexplainable symptoms of discomfort, allergies, anxiety, and other mental issues are actually connected to this kind of eating. The body’s well-being directly affects one’s emotions, which in turn affect one’s body.

（ 春天養生、夏天養長，養陽氣也；秋天養收、冬天養藏， 養陰氣也。）因此，在時節寒冷的冬天進補，吃溫熱 溫 補的食材，來年比較不易生病。 食在當地益處多 日本飲食養生除了「 一物全體 」 （ 指將食材所有部位都吃 下），還有「 身土不二」的說法，意思就是身體不輕易離 開自己生活的地方，所以要吃在地食材，喝當地的水，呼 吸當地的空氣。據說江戶時代，還有更加具體的說法：最 好選擇在方圓四、五里（ 約三公里）以內出產的食材，否 則對身體不利。可謂「 一方水土養一方人 」的日式版本。

THE BENEFITS OF EATING LOCALLY “Shindofuji” is a term that is sometimes brought up when the Japanese speak of diet and health. It means “the body and the land cannot be separated,” specifically the land in which one lives. Therefore, one must eat local produce, drink local water, and breathe local air. It is said that during the Edo period, there were more specific customs. For example, it was considered best to use produce sourced within a vicinity of four to five miles, as produce sourced from further away is not good for one’s health. This is the Japanese way of saying that the land nurtures the people.

Human beings are part of nature, and wherever we live, we must adapt to the local land and be in harmony with the local environment. When one travels far from home and eats foreign foods, it is natural for one’s body to react negatively. The body will likely find foreign foods dangerous and

人是自然的一部分，在順應自然與萬物相通相息過 程中，自然便融入當地氣候和飲食習慣，包含身體臟腑 也適應著當地的外在環境。一旦去到異地，身體機制與 自然防護作用下，便出現對不同地域的不適反應，如腹 痛、腹瀉，甚至嘔吐、發燒等各種排斥反應，實為「 水土 不服 」。 所以在古時中國，人們出門遠行，必然帶上一包鄉 土，聞其氣息或者煮水喝下，可專治水土不服的患者。 （ 編按：僅在解釋被記載的處方，並非適用於今日。）時 至今日，因交通便捷，人們可以隨時享用外鄉的名產， 還能吃遍世界各地的美味，也就是說，很多原因不明的 症狀、過敏反應、焦慮等精神上的負擔，或多或少都與 「 水土不服 」有關，只是有程度上的差異。身體狀態會 影響七情，七情再作用於五臟六腑，當身心俱疲，焦慮 自生。 本文僅在提供冬日養生觀點，或許下次進超市購物 時，比起外地名產，不妨首先考慮當季以及當地食材， 讓一家人吃得更加踏實，吃出強健的身心。

│17

ELITE ARTS

THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST Albert Bierstadt captured the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains

仰歎美西之壯麗 畫家比爾施塔特筆下的洛磯山脈風光

By Bob Kirchman

I

n “The Coming American,” Sam Walter Foss, an American poet, wrote: Bring me men to match my mountains, Bring me men to match my plains, Men with empires in their purpose, And new eras in their brains,

美國詩人山姆．沃爾特．福斯（Sam Walter Foss） 於他的詩作《有望成功的美國人》（The Coming American）中寫道： 帶著與高山匹配的人來到這裡 他們目標中有帝國大業 他們腦中描繪著新紀元 美 國宏偉 的西部山 脈，對 19 世 紀中期 的人們 而 言，是相對未知的領域。那曾是被自然景色占據之地， 而非今日橋高路直的城市，那時的景色狂野又純粹，深 深吸引著美國的浪漫主義者與超驗主義者。 1869 年以 前，在橫貫美國的鐵路還未完工前，要到達這片土地的 人必須穿過惡劣的荒野，騎馬涉水渡河——在城市與 荒野之間，這是一段充滿困阻且無法避開的路程。 Right: Rocky Mountain Landscape by Albert Bierstadt, 1870.

Oil on canvas. White House, Washington, D.C. _PD-US

18│

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN AMERICAN ESSENCE MAGAZINE.

領著與平原相配的人來到此地

│19

The great Western mountains of America were relatively uncharted in the mid 1800s. Far from the cities that paved over the natural world, the virgin landscapes—wild and pure—attracted the American romanticists and transcendentalists. Before the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, one would have to traverse the unforgiving landscapes and swim horseback through rivers— such a journey being the necessary and often miserable path between the cities and the wilderness.

American landscape painter Albert Bierstadt bridged the gap between the East and West. With a sense of the land’s raw beauty, promise, and power, he captured the spirit of the American West and offered a window into the majesty of the Rocky Mountains for those who would never peril the westward journey.

SCULPTING AN ARTIST Albert Bierstadt was born on January 7, 1830, in the Westphalia town of Solingen (now a part of Germany). His parents immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts, when he was 1 year old. As a young boy, he was known for his fine drawing skills. In 1851, Bierstadt took up painting in oils, and just two years later, he returned to Europe, hoping to study at the Dusseldorf Academy.

Bierstadt applied to the school, but he didn’t get in. Undaunted, he became an apprentice of his friend Worthington Whittredge. Bierstadt studied informally with the Dusseldorf painters and honed his skills painting Alpine landscapes. Growing out of the German romantic movement, the school greatly influenced the painters of the Hudson River School.

The school emphasized highly detailed landscapes, and many of the members were strong advocates of plein air painting, that is, working outside in the natural environment.

Returning to New Bedford in 1857, Bierstadt become a teacher of drawing and painting. That year, the Boston Athenaeum bought his painting The Portico of Octavia, Rome (1855), giving him funds to begin painting full time.

20│

Albert Bierstadt by Napoleon Sarony, circa 1870. Albumen print. National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, D.C. Inspired by the unspoiled wilderness in the West, Albert Bierstadt’s luminous, atmospheric landscapes earned him his reputation as one of America’s most distinguished artists in the mid-19th century. _PD-US

美 國 風 景 畫 家 阿 爾 伯 特． 比 爾 施 塔 特（Albert Bierstadt）藉著繪畫，消弭了東西兩岸間的差距。對於 大自然原始之美、潛力，與其中蘊含的力量，他有獨到的 觀點，完美捕捉美國西部的精神，並且為那些不願冒險 前進西部的人們打開了一扇窗，帶領他們一同走進雄偉 的洛磯山脈之中。 形塑一名藝術家 1830年1月7日，比爾施塔特出生於西伐利亞（Westphalia） 的索林 根（Solingen，現今德國西部的一座城鎮 ），一 歲時，隨著雙親移民至美國麻薩諸塞州的新伯福（New Bedford） 地 區。 還 是 個 小 男 孩 時， 他 就 以 卓 越 的 繪 畫 技 巧 出 名。 21歲 那 年（1851年）， 比 爾 施 塔 特 開 始 畫油 畫，兩年 後 回 到 歐 洲，希望 進 入德 國杜 塞 爾 多夫 （Dusseldorf）藝術學院就讀。 然 而， 比 爾 施 塔 特 卻 沒 被 那 間 學 校 錄 取。 意 志 堅 定 的 他，轉 而擔 任 就 讀 該 校 的 朋友沃 辛 頓．魏 特 吉 （Worthington Whittredge）之徒 弟。在 這 非正 式 的 教學下，他經常練習描繪阿爾卑斯山的景色，打磨其繪

In 1858, he displayed an immense painting of a scene in Switzerland at the National Academy of Design (an honorary association of American artists). This painting earned him some acclaim as well as recognition by the National Academy. Bierstadt began his career as an American painter rendering scenes in New England and upstate New York, many in the Hudson River Valley, firmly establishing himself as a painter of the Hudson River school.

畫技巧。這間藝術學院是由德國浪漫 主義運動發展而 成，對哈德遜河畫派有深遠的影響。該校著重於刻畫細 節豐富的自然風景，多數學員提倡戶外作畫（plein air painting，又稱外光派、露天派 ），即畫家於自然環境 中作畫。 1857 年，比爾施塔特返回美國新伯福，成為一名繪 畫老師。那年，波士頓圖書館（Boston Athenaeum） 買下他的一幅畫作，名為《羅馬屋大薇紀念門》（ 暫譯， The Portico of Octavia, Rome，1855 年繪），為他 提供資金，於是他開始了全職作畫的生涯。 翌年，他在國家設計學院（ 由美國藝術家組成的榮

Top: Lake in the Sierra Nevada by Albert Bierstadt, 1867.

Oil on canvas. After seeing Lake Tahoe during an 1863 expedition through California, Fitz Ludlow wrote, “Just across the boundary, we sat down on the brink of glorious Lake Tahoe … [with its] crystal sheet of water fresh distilled from the snow-peaks, its granite bottom visible at the depth of a hundred feet.” _PD-US

譽協會）展覽了一幅巨型畫作，內容是瑞士風景。這幅 作品為他贏得了一些好評，也讓他在協會中獲得一些人 的賞識。比爾施塔特開啟了作為美國風景畫家的職業生 涯，描繪新英格蘭和紐約上州地區的景緻，還有許多哈 德遜河谷風景，這鞏固了其作為一名哈德遜河派畫家的 地位。

│21

The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak by Albert Bierstadt, 1863. Oil on canvas.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. _PD-US

WESTWARD EXPEDITIONS In 1859, drawn by the Alpine scenery of the American West, Bierstadt joined the survey party of Frederick W. Lander, who was working for the United States government. He made extensive studies on the trip, which would become source material for his grand paintings, executed in his studio at the 10th Street Studio Building in New York.

In 1860, he was formally elected a member of the National Academy. His skills, honed in the mountains of Europe, would serve him well as he became the man many would consider “the preeminent painter of the western American landscape.”

In 1863, he headed west again. This time, he traveled with Fitz Hugh Ludlow, a colorful American author, journalist, and explorer. Ludlow was a man who lived large and died young (at age 34). It was Ludlow, acting in his capacity as art critic for the New York Evening Post, who established Bierstadt’s reputation as an American landscape artist.

Bierstadt was 33 when he set out with Ludlow and two other men on their journey. Ludlow wanted to document the journey. Bierstadt wanted to do studies for further paintings, and the others—two gentlemen named Hall and Durfee—came along just for the adventure. They arrived in Denver, Colorado, on June 8, 1863, and visited Pike’s Peak and the Garden of the Gods before setting out for Salt Lake City, Utah.

They traveled to California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. It was in Colorado that Albert Bierstadt climbed a mountain that would later bear his name. Today, the 14,065-foot Mount Bierstadt is a popular destination for hikers. Bierstadt made the first documented ascent to the summit on that trip.

He also went to the summit of Mount Evans, then unnamed, which he suggested be named Mount Rosalie after his future wife. His painting A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mount Rosalie, completed in 1866, hangs at the staggering size of nearly 7 feet by

22│

壯遊西部 美國西部的高山，有著與阿爾卑斯山相似的景致，使比 爾施 塔特 深深為此 著迷。 1859年，他 加入了一 個土 地 勘 測 團 隊，該團 隊由為 美國政 府效力的Frederick W. Lander所組織。旅途中，比爾施塔特做了全面的調查， 這是他此後創作的題材來源，待他回到位於紐約第十街 藝術大樓的工作室後，成為他筆下的一幅幅巨作。 1860 年，他正式獲選為國家設計學院的成員。他 成為眾人認為的「 傑出美國西部風景畫家 」，而在歐洲 群山中磨練出的繪畫技巧，也恰好派上了用場。 1863 年，他再度前往西部。這次與他同行的是費 茲．休．盧德洛（Fitz Hugh Ludlow），一名文采豐富 的美國作家、新聞撰稿人與探險家。盧德洛的人生，精

12 feet and features an intense mass of clouds over the exaggerated peak. The mountain itself would be officially named Mount Evans, in honor of a Colorado governor.

采而短暫（ 享年 34 歲），正是他以《紐約晚郵報》 （New York Evening Post）撰寫藝術評論的身分，替作為美 國風景畫家的比爾施塔特建立了聲譽。 當年 與盧德洛及另外兩名同伴踏上 旅程時，比爾 施 塔特 33 歲。 盧德洛 想 將 這 趟 旅行做 詳實的 記 錄；

A LUMINOUS PAINTER The grand landscapes Bierstadt depicted were vast on a scale that needed large canvases. The plains, waterways, and mountains in the West required nothing less.

As a luminist painter, Bierstadt used dramatic lighting in his compositions to accentuate the energy of the soaring landscapes. The exquisite use of light,

比爾施 塔特則是想為 接下來的作品做更多研 究；另外 兩 人——Hall 與 Durfee 兩 位 紳 士 ——只 是 為了探 險 而結伴同行。 1863 年 6 月 8 日，一行人抵達科羅拉多 州的丹 佛（Denver），走 訪了派克 峰與眾神 花 園（the Garden of the Gods），隨後動身前往猶他州鹽湖城 （Salt Lake City, Utah）。 這次的旅程，他們足跡遍及加州、俄勒岡州、華盛 頓州與英屬哥倫比亞。此外，有一座位於科羅拉多州，

│23

A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie by Albert Bierstadt, 1866.

Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum, New York. _PD-US

the attention to detail, and the aerial perspective all work to convey a true sense of the wonder that is Western America.

His 1867 painting Emigrants Crossing the Plains captures well the spirit of that new land. In the painting, a group of settlers are moving toward a blazing evening sky. In the distance are towering cliffs bathed in evening light, and the land that lies before them is vast and flat. Trees frame the setting sun and delineate a water course where the settlers’ livestock can drink.

In his life, Bierstadt achieved great success and recognition. Napoleon III of France awarded him the Legion of Honor, which is the highest French order of merit. Although the artwork of American landscape

24│

高度為 14,065 英尺（ 約 4,280 公尺）的高山，因比爾 施塔特為首位被記錄下的攻頂者，後來，此山便被命名 為比爾施 塔特山（Mount Bierstadt），如今是 一 個受 健行客歡迎的登山地點。 他也曾登 上埃 文 斯山（Mount Evans）的頂 峰， 卻 沒有 記 錄下來，當 時 他 提 議，要以 未來 的 妻子之名 為 這 座 山 命 名 叫 作 羅 薩 莉 山（Mount Rosalie）。 他 在 1866 年完 成 的 畫 作《羅 薩 莉 山， 洛 磯 山 中 的 暴 風 雨》（A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mount Rosalie），描 繪 的就 是該座山，將 近 7 英尺高、12 英 尺寬（ 約 210 公分高、360 公分寬 ），尺寸 驚人。畫面 中，高度似乎有些誇大的山頂上，出現一大片來勢洶洶 的烏雲，暗示著即將到來的風暴。然而，這座山後來被 正式命名為埃文斯山，以紀念一位科羅拉多州州長。

Emigrants Crossing the Plains by Albert Bierstadt, 1869. Oil on canvas. Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio. _PD-US

painters fell out of favor during the rise of impressionism in the 20th century, Bierstadt’s paintings were preserved in museums and private collections following his death on February 18, 1902.

《穿越平原的移居者》（Emigrants Crossing the Plains），是他 1867 年的作品，巧妙捕捉了人們尋覓新 天地的精神。畫面中，一群移民正向著耀眼的夕陽行進 著，遠 處，高聳的懸 崖峭壁沐 浴在傍 晚 金黃色的陽光 中，而前方等待著他們的，是一片廣闊無比的平原。高

帶來光明的畫家

大的樹木框出了夕陽的位置，映照出地面的溪流，移民

比爾施塔特筆下描繪的壯麗風景，規模洪大，所以往往

養的牲畜，有的正低頭喝著水。

需要尺寸龐大的畫布。西部平原、河流、山脈之壯闊，氣 吞山河，豈是一般畫布大小能容納得下的？

比爾施塔特在他的人生中，獲得了偉大的成就與識 別度。拿破崙三世曾授予他法國榮譽軍團勳章（Legion

身為一名透光主義畫家（luminism，又稱光亮派、

of Honor），代表了法國的最高功績。雖然在印象派崛

光色派），比爾施塔特在構圖上使用了戲劇性的光源，

起的 20 世紀期間，一些美國風景畫家失去了他們的擁

以突顯高山景緻的力量。他對光影卓越的掌握、細節的

護者，但是比爾施塔特的作品，在他 1902 年 2 月 18 日

刻畫，還有空景的透視效果，將人們看見美國西部奇景

過世後，仍能夠被博物館或是私人收藏家收藏，得以完

的真切感受，透過這些技巧傳達出來。

善保存至今。

│25

ELITE PEOPLE

BEYOND THE SURFACE A classical Chinese dancer's quest for true artistry 從武而舞 追尋文化之本 ——神韻藝術團領舞演員潘克岐

English by Jennifer Tseng | Chinese by Astrid Wang Photography by Larry Dye

I

t was the end of another busy day of rehearsals, and dancers poured out of the practice rooms.

Only Jason Pan remained behind. Taking a deep breath to center his mind, Pan began to move.

Strength flowed through his limbs and to the tip of his sword as he brought to life the story of Li Bai, known in China as the “wine immortal.” The charismatic Tang Dynasty poet was famed for his beautiful and majestic poems often written while inebriated.

A lead dancer in New York’s Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, Pan has long learned that when your heart is calm, solitude can bring artistic transcendence.

“I took nine months to prepare this sword dance.

I studied Li Bai’s writings and spent countless hours pondering the drunken poet’s thoughts and emotions before condensing it into one dance,” Jason said of the performance that earned him a silver title at NTD’s International Classical Chinese Dance Competition.

「 我從小就對中國文化特別感興趣 」，從建築、服飾到 文學、哲學，中華五千年文明裡的各方面，無一不讓舞 蹈藝術家潘克岐充滿熱情。來自臺灣的他，母親是中文 教師，從小就浸染於傳統文化之中，自三歲識字起，遍 讀古籍經典，11 歲時，為了進一步體會中華文化，主動 向父母表明想學習武術。習武兩年後，他在全國大賽中 摘下銀牌，展露其過人的天賦。 14 年後，在 2021 年新唐人電視台舉辦的「 全世界 中國古典舞大賽」中，潘克岐以詮釋詩仙李白一舞，勇 闖決賽，並拿下人生中另一面重要的銀牌。這一名熱衷 於傳統文化的青年，從學習中國傳統武術，到成為中國 古典舞藝術家，之間的歷程與轉變，得從一場藝文演出 說起。 潘克岐談 起 2009 年時，他在臺灣觀賞來自美國 紐約神韻藝術團的演出。該藝術團以復興中華五千年文 明為宗旨，自 2006 年成立以來，每年在世界五大洲巡 演，是首屈一指的中國古典舞藝術團，以「 世界第一秀」 之名享譽全球。這是他初次接觸中國古典舞，此後數年， 他從一名觀眾，蛻變成舞臺上光采奪目的舞蹈家，現任 神韻世界藝術團的領舞演員。他說： 「 當初加入神韻， 就是因為這藝術團的最終目標——再現中華五千年傳統

PAVING THE WAY For Pan, a good dancer isn’t just someone who can execute the best jumps or master the hardest moves.

The heart of the discipline lies in thoroughly understanding the art form—its history, the culture it represents, and the people it portrays.

26│

文化——我覺得這個理念，跟我非常心靈契合。」

Right page: Jason Pan believes that in addition to having good techniques, dancers should also understand the cultural aspect of their art form.

Pan was awarded a silver title at NTD’s 9th International Classical Chinese Dance Competition for his portrayal of Li Bai.

Pan grew up in Taiwan, and his mother was very strict with his upbringing. “My mom was a Chinese teacher. When I was just 3 years old—even before I could speak in full sentences—she started teaching me to read,” Pan recounted. “She fostered my deep love for traditional Chinese culture.”

An active child, Pan took up martial arts at the age of 11. Within two years, he won the silver award at Taiwan’s national championship. Dance was the furthest thing from his mind.

“I didn’t think dance was very masculine,” Jason said. “It was only after trying it that I discovered its depth. To perform classical Chinese dance well, you have to first understand yin and yang—the idea that everything in the universe is balanced and that we should align ourselves with nature and the heavens.”

“These were concepts that I had been familiar with since childhood. I fell in love with the art form and the values it embodied.”

28│

不屈不撓 情鍾中國古典舞 潘克岐在中國古典舞之中找了他 願意花費一生實現的 夢想。然而，初學舞蹈之際，並不順遂。他不僅有相對 優勢的外型條件，具備武術基礎的他，對於傳統身法亦 有所了解，但他卻在所有中國古典舞的考試中，屢屢失 利。尤其在考取美國飛天藝術學院（ 隸屬飛天大學，是 中國古典舞的全球最高學府）的過程，更是一波三折， 「 我考了無數次，我媽甚至跟我說『 你就放棄了』。」他 回憶。 儘管失敗，他對於古典舞的熱忱並未因此被澆熄： 「 那時候已經喜歡 上舞蹈了，我當時想 就算去不了（ 美 國），也沒關係，我繼續在臺灣把舞跳好也可以，我當時 沒有放棄舞蹈。」潘克岐對於舞蹈的堅持有如敲門之磚， 「 當你真心喜歡，把全身心投入在裡面時，會忘記一切 的痛苦。」2011 年他終於如願打開了那扇夢寐以求的大 門——成功考進於飛天藝術學院。 潘克岐談及獨鍾中國古典舞原因時，談到他特別喜 歡其「 講究陰陽協調 」的理念，就像道家中相生相剋的 道理，「 沒有左，就沒有右，你沒有蹲，就沒有起，沒有

HARMONY IN OPPOSITES Movements in classical Chinese dance follow a general rule—to stretch in one direction, you must first lean toward the other; to go forward, you need first take a step back.

According to Laozi, the founder of Daoism, everything in our universe is in a reciprocal relationship: "Without ever having been fulfilled, one cannot understand emptiness. Thus, if there are no difficulties, how can there be ease?”

“This concept can be extended to the anatomy of our muscles. To stand, we must first sit; to jump, we must first squat,” Pan explained.

“Classical Chinese dancers believe the sphere to be the most beautiful and perfect shape. This again is echoed by the Daoist belief that life is an infinite cycle.”

坐，如何站？」他解釋： 「 古典舞講究自然發力，自然肌 肉運用，」這就是符合天道的展現。也因為從小接觸這 些文化，他接觸中國古典舞後，有種難以言喻的熟悉感， 「 不只是喜歡上舞蹈本身，而是喜歡其背後的內涵。」舞 蹈就像是一本永遠翻不完的書，帶給他無窮的樂趣。 品味傳統 認識真實內涵 傳統文化的內涵，非三言兩語能道盡。正是神韻，帶領他 理解文化背後的意義，「 傳統文化，不光是表面上的一些 形式，不是說穿了漢服、講中文，就是傳統文化，而是從 思想、道德品質上，思考有沒有傳統文化的規範？」 潘克岐回憶起神韻節目中一個令其印象深刻的故 事。 2018 年的舞劇《覺醒》，講述一名曾在戰場上殺敵 無數的將軍，感到自己罪業深重，決定出家成為一名和 尚。然而，要放棄過往與俗世的一切，充滿阻力。過去 的部下與戰友、親人與未婚妻，多次找他回去，但他都 一一克服這些牽絆，神佛看見他修煉的決心，展現神蹟，

AN INDOMITABLE WILL Pan is a practitioner of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong)—an ancient meditation practice whose followers uphold the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Adhering to Falun Dafa’s teachings, Pan strives on a daily basis to better his character and become a more considerate person. This laid a strong foundation for his life and career, and inspired many of his deeper insights.

In 2019, Pan injured his foot mid-performance while landing from a flip. It was right in the middle of the world tour, so he simply ignored the pain and carried on. Within a year, the injury worsened until he could no longer stand or walk without pain.

“It was a huge setback for me. There were moments I wasn’t sure if I could continue or if I should just give up,” Pan said. “It was in those seemingly hopeless days when I was reminded of a historical character I once portrayed.”

In that story, the protagonist was a valiant general who, after witnessing the bloodshed of war, decided to give up his career to become a monk. His friends and family rushed to dissuade him with talk of love, fame, and money. Though the temptations were strong, the general was steadfast in his decision. His faith was ultimately rewarded by the divine.

This story echoes closely with teachings of Falun Dafa, where practitioners are encouraged to cultivate themselves and let go of their worldly values to become morally upright people.

“That was very relatable for me because, in my career, I also faced a lot of temptations and emotional

使其他更加堅定。故事最後一幕，一名老和尚為這名將 軍剃度。

Pan performing a vertical leg hold (朝天登) as a part of his technical routine at NTD’s 2021 dance competition. │29

struggles. Rivalry, vanity, frustrations, and many times just plain anger raged in my heart,” Pan said.

“Thinking about that general and how his experience related to my own cultivation, I wondered if I, too, can let go of negativity and strengthen my determination. After I changed my attitude, everything— including my injury—took a turn for the better.

That was when I truly understood how much your thoughts can impact your physical condition.”

他對此感同身受： 「 當你想變好的同時，不會那麼的順 利，就像 主人公一樣，他想修 煉 時，會不斷受到外界干擾 ⋯⋯就像練舞時很苦，會想要不要繼續，要不要放棄？」但 是主人公的意志激勵了他，轉變其看待難關的態度。潘克岐 認為這就是展現傳統文化，因為人們能從這些故事，感受到 一名人物的品格與心境高度。 德藝雙馨 體悟文化真諦 在學習正統古典舞的歲月中，他逐漸理解到「 仁義禮智信」 或人們常說的「 溫良恭儉讓 」，這些都屬於傳統價值中相對

A WORTHY CAUSE The mission of Shen Yun is to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture. Following the violent communist takeover in 1949, traditional culture in China was forced to the brink of extinction.

Since the company’s establishment in 2006, its artists have made it their goal to bring back the beauty of precommunist China through dance and music.

Referring to this mission, Pan says it’s a monumental task greater than an individual, and he feels honored to be a part of it: “It’s wonderful to be able to rehearse together and work toward a shared goal.

Dancing is a very sweaty and tiring job, but it is also very fulfilling. All our hard work culminates in that moment when the curtain opens onstage.”

外層的體現。深究為何那些歷史知名人物的風範得以被世 代傳頌？他認為這都源於一顆「 修煉的心」。 「 我覺得最核心的理念，只能用三個字：真、善、忍來 概括。這是最高級的理念。無論是儒家、佛家、道家，還是 那些理論、知識，都是從真、善、忍，這三個最終的道理衍 生出的文化。」潘克岐篤定地說。 「 真、善、忍 」三字，從潘克其三歲起，就伴隨著他成長。 一直以來，他都是以此做為其為人處世的準則。真、善、忍 是法輪大法的修煉原則，該身心修煉法根植於華夏傳統文 化。在神韻藝術團擔任舞蹈演員的十年歲月，除了透過揣摩 各式古代人物故事，更深刻體會其中文化底蘊，他也在這藝 術家群體中，感受非比尋常的氛圍。因為這裡的藝術家，都 是遵循這種修煉方法，透過修養自身品德，達到更高的藝術 境界。 儘管潘克岐在其任職的舞蹈團內擔任領舞，但他始終 認為這位置，只是因為自己剛好合適，而不認為自己比他人

AN ALL-ROUND ARTIST During a performance, rather than thinking about how best to showcase his own abilities, Pan has always been much more interested in improving cooperation with his fellow dancers.

“The way I see it, being a lead dancer doesn’t mean I am entitled to arrogance or complacence. Rather, it’s an opportunity for greater improvement,” Pan said.

“In Shen Yun, we place more emphasis on the team than each person individually. I was given the responsibility of the lead role because I happened to be suitable at that moment. If at some point another dancer becomes more suitable and can bring the team greater success, I’m happy with that as well.”

A dancer’s career may be fleeting, but Pan is by no means troubled by that.

“There is no limit to self-improvement and internal growth. For me, a true artist is one who exudes wisdom even in his daily life and actions," he said. "I will treasure every day that I have to dance. However, if one day I cannot, I know I’ll still be an all-round artist inside and out. Nothing can change that.”

還要強。若有天有更適合的人選出現，那他也能毫不戀棧此 位。「 怎麼樣把自己放的最低，把別人抬上去？」潘克岐說這 是他在神韻學到最寶貴的一課，他相信： 「 我修好我自己， 影響身邊的人，那我不管在哪裡，都是發光的。」 擁抱有限歲月 創造無限 作為一名舞蹈藝術家的生涯，可能不過數十年，潘克岐也清 楚此現實，雖然熱愛舞蹈，但他明白總有一天，無法繼續在 舞臺上揮灑這份熱情，不過對此，他毫無畏怯，因為他有學 不完的東西： 「 自我修養是一個永無止盡的學習，不同於舞 蹈年齡，若能跳三、四十（ 歲）就差不多，身體會不靈活或 退化，可是思想這一塊、人文修養這一塊，可以不停地進步 到老，甚至到百年後，都是可以影響到後世 」。 他說，「 當一名演員，有了內心的東西，哪怕這人年紀 大了，不靈活了，他就能夠由內而外的在舉手投足展現出文 化修養。這是我對自我的期許，希望成為這樣的藝術家。」 不過現階段，他全心把握當下。每年參與神韻的巡迴演 出，對潘克岐而言就是最大的獎勵： 「 等到每年大幕一拉開 的瞬間，感覺是我一年當中最滿足的時刻。」在演出的兩個 半小時內，盡情揮灑過去一年來練就的一切，並且將美好、 純正的訊息傳遞給觀眾。他心懷感激，和藝術團一起以恢復 傳統文化為事業， 「 作為個人，我沒有想太多，我想，能夠在 臺上跳一天，我就跳一天。我覺得我還能動，我就想跳。」

30│

Classical Chinese dance emphasizes a balance of yin and yang. In contrast with the gentleness of their female counterparts, male dancers are characterized by their bold and powerful movements. _Courtesy of Shen Yun Performing Arts

│31

ELITE PEOPLE

American Polo Star Nic Roldan:

The Power of the Mind Training the mind and body to excel in a dangerous game 駕馭思考的力量 ——美國知名馬球運動員的成功心法

By Tara Dos Santos

32│

馬球是個古老的騎馬遊 戲，也是一種最傳統的團 隊運 動，最初是為了模擬戰鬥來訓練騎兵而打造的。一名馬 球選手不只要完美掌控自己的身體狀態，還要能控制坐 騎。這項運動速度極快，講求戰略，並需要選手能精準 駕馭馬匹。 比賽中，這些由馬力驅 動 的 動 作，會將 選 手 的 性 命置於難以預料的風險中。「 一般人不了解⋯⋯我們每 次踏上馬球場，隨時都可能面臨生命危險，這麼說並不 誇張。」現任美國國家馬球隊隊長，尼克．羅爾丹（Nic Roldan）說道。 他並不樂意進一步談自己目睹過的危險，或選手受 傷的情況，「 我從不想講這個，甚至連想都不願想，」他 說。他認為馬球選手與美國運動汽車競賽（NASCAR） 的選手相似——兩種賽事，都經不起「 害怕 」的情緒， 恐懼會使你動彈不得，「 一旦你開始想這些危險，並感 到害怕的那一刻起，也許就是你得放棄這項活動的時候 了。」他說。 羅爾丹表示，他會嚴格控管自己的思緒，讓自己維 持正面思考，保持感恩並專注於如何達成目標。15 歲時， 他在美國馬球公開錦標賽拔得頭籌，成為最年輕的冠軍 選手。現年 39 歲的他，除了繼續他的馬球事業，同時 也是名模特兒，展開其他副業，並創立房地產開發公司。 他說，堅持不懈是他成功的關鍵。

Right page: For Roldan, one of the most important parts of playing polo is becoming one with your horses. _Michele Cardamone

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN AMERICAN ESSENCE MAGAZINE.

A

polo player must have great control not only of his body, but also of his horse. The two must be able to turn together on a dime.

Polo is an ancient game, one of the oldest-known team sports, originally crafted as a mock battle for training cavalry. The speed is fast, the strategy is sharp, and the maneuvers are precise.

With horse power driving the action, the players’ lives are at stake. “People don’t understand … that we literally put our lives on the line every time we step out on the polo field,” said Nic Roldan, a captain of the U.S. national polo team.

He balked at discussing further the dangers or injuries he’s witnessed. “I never like to talk about it or even think about it,” he said. He compared polo players to NASCAR drivers— neither can afford to be paralyzed by fear. “The moment you start thinking about those things and having that fear, it’s probably the moment you need to quit,” he said.

Roldan keeps a tight rein on his thoughts. He directs them toward positivity, gratitude, and achieving his goals. At the age of 15, he became the youngest player to win the U.S. Polo Open. Now, at 39, he not only continues with polo, but also models, has his own apparel line, and founded a property-development company. He spoke about the perseverance that’s key to his success.

│33

Seminole Casino locked in a tight game with Hawaii Polo Life during the All-Star Challenge in Wellington, Fla., 2021. _Jacquie Porcaro Photography

“There have been challenging moments in my career—where either I’ve lost a job, or I didn’t get hired one year, or I wasn’t on a really good team. You get really frustrated. You just go through it. I’ve always dug deep and had faith and a strong belief that I could do it. The mind is a very powerful muscle.”

「 我的職業生涯中，有過一些別具挑戰的時刻—— 失業、一整年沒被球隊雇用，或是待的球隊不太好。這 非常令人沮喪，但卻是必經的過程，這些時候，我會探 尋內心深處的想法，並抱持信念，深信我做得到。思考 是個非常強大的力量。」 承襲家族美德

A FAMILY TRADITION Roldan starts his busy days with meditation and prayer. He takes an hour and a half of peaceful time to himself, and it’s his favorite part of the day. But going to the “office” is pretty good, too. “Coming to my barn every day and knowing that this is sort of like my office and being able to hang out with these incredible animals, … I’m obviously incredibly blessed,” he said.

羅爾丹忙碌的一天，從冥想與祈禱開始。他會花一個半 小時與自己相處，這樣的寧靜時光是他一日裡的最愛； 不過去「 辦公室 」也很棒，「 我每天到我的馬廄報到，那 裡 就像我的辦公室，能夠與這些美妙的動物們待在一 塊，⋯⋯我實在相當地幸運。」他說。 作為家族中的第四代職業馬球選手，羅爾丹自有記 憶以來，就一直與馬匹相處著。父親勞爾．羅爾丹（Raul Roldan）曾是汶萊蘇丹的馬球隊選手，他是阿根廷人。 羅爾丹雖出生於阿根廷，不過從小是在美國佛羅里達州 的惠靈頓（Wellington, Florida）生活長大。

34│

As a fourth-generation professional polo player, Roldan has been around horses for as far back as he can remember. His father, Raul Roldan, played polo for the Sultan of Brunei. His father is Argentinian, and Roldan was born in Argentina, though he has lived most of his life in Wellington, Florida.

“What I learned the most [from my father] was his dedication, his passion for the sport,” Roldan said.

“He was always extremely humble. I think that was a really great quality of his. He was always very kind.

I think at the end of the day, those are the most important things.”

Roldan’s account of what led to his success shows humility as well: “It’s a little bit of luck; it’s having the right team, the right organization, and the right horses under you.”

He says that the relationship with horses is one of the most important parts of playing polo. “What defines an elite polo player is being at-one with your horse, … flowing with each horse in sort of an artistic way, like a ballerina.” It’s not easy to learn that level of synchronization, Roldan said. It’s partly innate, and it also develops naturally by spending a lifetime with horses.

THE HORSES A game of polo typically lasts more than an hour, and players switch horses every several minutes. According to Roldan, a player must thoroughly understand each horse’s unique characteristics.

For example, some are light in the mouth, so the player must be mindful of how hard he pulls to have the horse respond as he needs. Some horses have more stamina than others. He must be aware of how the horse is feeling that day. “You could have your best horse, but that day he doesn’t feel that great,” he said.

He describes what it’s like taking all this into consideration in the moment: “It’s the relationship with the horse [that] you have to have: the speed and the intensity, the understanding of each horse and the control of each horse, all while you’re trying to hit a ball 25 to 30 miles an hour, [and] you’ve got four other guys trying to chase you. It’s incredible. We don’t just get out onto the polo field and run around like a bunch of chickens without heads. Every play is thought-out. … It is really like a chess game.”

「 我（ 從父親身上 ）學到最多的是他的奉獻精神， 和他對運動的熱情，」羅爾丹說，「 他一直都非常謙虛， 我覺得那是他很棒的一個優點，而且他待人接物總是溫 和大度。到頭來，我想這些才是最重要的。」是什麼引 領著羅爾丹走向成功之路，對此他謙遜表示： 「 靠著一 點點運氣；身在對的球隊、正確的組織裡，並且腳下有 合適的馬匹載著你。」 培養最佳搭擋 羅爾丹表示從事馬球運動，最重要的一部分就是人與馬 的關係。「 一名馬球精英，要能夠與你的馬合而為一， ⋯⋯要能與每一匹馬以精巧的動作移動，像芭蕾舞者一 樣。」要達到人與馬同步的境界並不容易，羅爾丹說，有 部分是靠天分，或是花上一輩子與馬匹相處，自然也會發 展出這樣的能力。 一場馬球比賽通常會持續一小時以上，比賽中選手 們每幾分鐘就會更換馬匹。根據羅爾丹的分享，我們了 解到，選手必須充分了解每一匹馬獨特的個性。 舉例來說，騎手是透過口銜（ 注）對馬兒下達指令， 有些馬比較敏感，所以 選手必須特別注意 拉韁 繩 的力 道，好讓馬匹接受並完成指令；或是有的馬耐力比其他 匹馬好等。比賽當天，選手必須格外留意馬匹的狀態， 甚至是牠們的情緒，他進一步解釋： 「 你可能有一匹最 優秀的馬，但是比賽當天，牠也有可能不在最佳狀態 」。

Polo players frequently switch horses throughout a game so it's important to stay attuned to the needs of each horse. _Nick Mele │35

Roldan is committed to keeping his mind and body in peak condition at all times. _Courtesy of Nic Roldan

HOLISTIC LIFE Polo works the mind and the whole body. “The most important thing for polo is having strong legs, strong core, and strong shoulders and upper body,” Roldan said, laughing as he admitted that he had listed pretty much every part of the body. “It’s the whole body. … If you look at most polo players, we’re not bulky.

You need to be lean, flexible.”

Roldan also exercises his creative side. His mother, Dee Roldan, is an interior designer, and Roldan began working with her on flipping houses as a side project during his 20s.

“My mom has always had an artistic palette. She’s always been very unique and very distinctive in the way she’s dressed and in her designs,” Roldan said.

He set his mind to excelling in this pursuit and started building from the ground up. He founded a development company, Roldan Homes, and became a realtor for Equestrian Sotheby’s International Realty. His equestrian experience melds with his real estate ventures. His hometown of Wellington is a large equestrian community, with many housing developments centered on equestrian facilities. One of his projects was a horse barn in the Grand Prix Village that sold for $8.8 million. The stalls are a clean, crisp white, contrasting with black wrought iron. Neat cobblestones pave the passageway through the barn.

The staff accommodations are modern and roomy, and the owner’s lounge is centered around a large fireplace.

“As an athlete, your career ends at some point.

Thankfully, in polo, you can play until your late 40s at a competitive level. As my career starts to wind down, I have to have other things to do,” Roldan said.

“I love to stay busy. I love to work hard.”

（ 注：口銜由銜環及銜鐵組成，主要以金屬材料為主，配 戴時放置在馬匹舌頭上方及沒有牙齒的齒顎間。口銜加 上手韁等配件，構成一組完整的韁繩，是馬術騎手與馬 匹間溝通的主要工具。） 比賽中，要同時把所有條件都列入考慮，他這般描 述： 「 這是你和馬必須建立的關係：對每匹馬的了解與 掌控——速度與強 度。要試 著在時 速 25~30 英里（ 約 40~50 公里 ）的速度下擊 球，而且後面還有四個人在 你身後追趕著，相當驚人。打馬球不是走進馬球場，然 後像無頭蒼蠅一樣亂竄就好，我們走的每一步都是經過

GRATITUDE He also loves to give back. Roldan has dedicated himself to philanthropy, including working regularly with the Boys and Girls Club in Wellington and Kids With Cancer.

“First and foremost, my motivation is what life has given to me. I feel deep down in my heart that 36│

思考的。⋯⋯就像下西洋棋一樣。」 馬球運動需要全身心共同運作， 「 打馬球最重要的， 是選手要有強壯的雙腿、有力的核心肌群，還有強壯的 肩膀和上半身，」羅爾丹笑著說，他差不多已經列出了人 身體的每個部分，「 就是全身的力量。⋯⋯看看大部分 的馬球選手，我們都不是大塊頭。馬球選手需要的是一 副精瘦、靈活的身體。」

because of what I was given, I should give back,” he said. “For me, anything to do with kids is really important.”

At the Boys and Girls Club, he spends time with children who are less fortunate, who need extra support as their parents struggle to provide for them. “We throw pizza parties there. I love going over there and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and playing ball with them. We do karaoke. It’s a lot of fun,” Roldan said.

Through Kids With Cancer, he spends time with children who are either going through treatment or in remission. He recalled a boy named Johnny who was in remission. “He was an entertaining little boy to be around. He was always smiling and having fun.”

Roldan keeps his mind on gratitude: “I’m obviously incredibly blessed to be where I am today, to have had such a great career. I get to travel the world, and I get to do something I love. I get to meet incredible people.”. It has taken hard work to excel to the level he has in polo. “There’s the gray times and struggles,” he said. But in the end, “it’s built me to who I am today.”

馬術聚落，很多新建住宅專以馬術設施為中心打造。其 中一個他經手的案子，是 Grand Prix Village 的馬廄， 後來以美金 880 萬元的價格售出。馬廄內，隔間亮白簡 約，有著對比鮮明的黑色鍛鐵柵門，中間的通道以鵝卵 石鋪得整整齊齊。員工住所既現代又寬敞，屋主的起居 室中間還有個巨大的壁爐。 「 作為一名運動員，你的職業生涯會在某個時刻走 向終點。幸虧馬球這項運動，能讓人保持競爭水平，一 直打到接近 40 多歲的晚期。當我不再全力參與職業馬 球運動時，必須有其他事情可做，」羅爾丹說。「 我喜歡 保持忙碌，我熱愛努力工作的感覺。」 時刻保持感恩 羅爾丹事業有成，但不忘回饋社會。「 首先最重要的，我 的動機是自人生中得到的種種。我發自內心的認為，因 為被賜予了很多，所以應該有所回報，」他說。「 對我來 說，任何跟兒童有關的事都非常重要。」 在男孩女孩俱樂部，他花時間陪伴那些生活貧困的 孩子，那些孩子的雙親為了提供他們生活所需已經相當 不容易，所以這些孩子們格外需要有人支持與陪伴。「 我 們會舉辦披薩派對，我很愛去那裡，看看孩子們臉上的 笑容，或陪他們一起打球，我們還會唱卡啦 OK，很好 玩。」而透過在兒童癌症基金會服務，他與正在接受治 療或是處於緩解期的病童們一起相處。他想起一位男孩

活出完整人生

名叫強尼，那時他正在疾病緩解期，「 他是個有趣的小

羅爾丹同時也在鍛鍊其創造能力。他的母親迪．羅爾丹

男生，臉上總是掛著微笑，玩得很開心。」

（Dee Roldan），是一名室內設計師，羅爾丹從二十幾歲

羅爾丹心懷感激： 「 我是何其的幸運，能夠達到現

起，便開始與母親一起從事翻新房子的工作，作為其業

在的成就，並擁有這麼棒的事業。讓我可以環遊世界，

餘興趣。「 我母親腦中自帶藝術家的調色盤，在其穿著打

做我所愛的事，還能認識這麼多出色的人。」他付出了相

扮與設計上，總是與眾不同，有她獨到的風格。」羅爾丹

當多的努力，在馬球界擁有一席之地。「 我也遭遇過一

說道。

些掙扎與悲傷灰暗的時期，」不過最後，他強調，「 這些

後來他決定拓展這份興趣，成立了一間房地產開發

經歷造就了如今的我。」

公司，名為 Roldan Homes，而他也將房地產事業結合 其馬術經驗，前陣子成為了蘇富比國際房地產公司的馬 術莊園房地產代理人之一。他的家鄉惠靈頓是個龐大的

A fourth-generation professional polo player, Roldan credits his father for inspiring dedication and humility in him. _Courtesy of Nic Roldan

The spirit of a living space can be defined by exquisite woodwork and craftsmanship. _Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon

Beautifying The Big Apple How one construction executive is transforming NYC one building at a time 寄情頑石 放手一搏 專訪臺裔創業家魏正宇 English by Jennifer Tseng Chinese by Ann Lin

ELITE PEOPLE

Nelson Wei’s ceaseless quest for excellence and quality laid the foundation for Wild Stone’s success. _Bill Xie

A

s visitors meander the streets of New York City, their first sight is undoubtedly the city’s wild assortment of buildings. From the history-filled red-brick houses to the towering skyscrapers, a location can, in many ways, be defined by its architecture.

From the street, a person’s field of vision is usually limited to about four stories, according to Nelson Wei, the founder of Wild Stone, a construction company based in New York. His dream is to beautify whatever falls within this field of vision.

漫步紐約街頭，有饒富歷史氣息的紅磚老宅，也有高聳 入雲的摩天大廈；有簡約雅緻的樓房，也有繁複多彩的 建築，走過短短數個街區，能看見多種建築風格。這些 建築合集，帶給人對於這座城市最直觀的感受，其美觀 與否，在某種程度上定義了一座城市。 「 一般人走在路上，視野大概是四樓以下。」頑石 （Wild Stone）建設公司的創辦人魏正宇談起當年創建 公司的理想，便是希望能在人們視野所及之處，創造更 好的環境。「 把環境變漂亮，大家都很開心，實際上這 也能提高居住品質。」他懷著這份初心，白手起家，走入 房地產建設之列，並決心在此茁壯。 │39

“If we can make the environment more beautiful, people will be happier. Their quality and standard of living will also be improved,” he said.

FROM THE GROUND UP As Nelson first stepped into the hustle-and-bustle of The Big Apple, the skyscrapers greeted him with memories of his hometown, Taipei, Taiwan. New York’s high-tech and ambitious atmosphere was no stranger to him. Little did he know that one day he would be building and shaping his own buildings.

Now, literally, he is doing just that and transforming the city in the process.

Nelson had never imagined construction as a career path for himself. He had come to the United States to study electrical engineering and biotech.

After graduating from Columbia University, he landed a highly paid job in one of the world's biggest companies. It seemed to everyone that he was on a straight path to success. Yet Nelson knew deep down that this life was not for him. He desired adventure and even breathtaking risks to spice up his life and reach his goals.

At the age of 26, he founded a consulting business.

During his journey, Nelson came across clients and data from every industry imaginable. That was when real estate caught his eye.

“No matter how human society may change, people will always need a place to live,” Nelson says.

This conviction solidified his confidence when he first entered the industry and founded Wild Stone, which is dedicated to construction, design, and development. With Nelson's keen vision and persistence in pursuing quality craftsmanship, Wild Stone has become a conspicuous rising star in metropolitan New York. “I made the right call,” Nelson said.

“Real estate is a very localized arena. In a time when everyone is trying to globalize, we feel like fish swimming upstream.” If our business cannot establish a strong bond with the local community, it’ll be hard to survive," he said. While real estate may seem to many people to be a heartless industry where everything is measured by profits and statistics, Nelson has a different view: “It is an industry full of human interactions. You need a lot of people skills, teamwork, and cooperation.” This is just the spice he needed for his journey as a young entrepreneur.

40│

Once dilapidated, the historic Greene House at Clinton Hill was brought back to its former glory through Wild Stone’s careful reconstruction. Each piece of the house's marble accents was taken down and repaired before being replaced in its rightful location. _Nick Glimenakis

從零開始的冒險 魏正宇來自臺灣，當初來到紐約的第一印象，「 覺得紐約 跟 臺北很像，高樓林立……不同的是，紐 約 街 頭 到 處是 令人讚歎的建築設計。」當時他沒想過，十多年後，自己 會留在這座國際大都會裡，成為改變都市風景的一員。 當年他從臺灣大學電機系畢業後，便赴美攻讀哥倫 比亞大學電機工程、生醫工程雙學位，主要研究大數據 資料分析。畢業後隨即被知名企業錄用，儘管坐領高薪， 但他不甘於此，年僅 26 歲，便創建了一間顧問公司，自 此接觸了各行各業。也是從這裡，開始接觸房地產，他 因此發現人生另一項可以挑戰的事業。他自稱骨子裡有 種叛逆，卻剛好找到了與他志同道合的另一半，「 我們 的個性就是比較閒不住，想不停的挑戰更大、更不一樣 的事情。」 在他 親自踏入房地產領域後，隨即察 覺一道難以 跨越的高牆。魏正宇目睹營造過程中，經年累月的弊端， 或是建設團隊對於日新月異的法規、政策、市場發展等 沒有十足的掌握，即使建設完工，也會造成投資方或業 主預料之外的失血。有鑑於此，魏正宇知道自己的機會 來了，憑著敏銳的觀察力，積極布局，另起建設公司，短 短數年間便帶領團隊在業內異軍突起。

WHERE VALUES COUNT Within just a few years, Wild Stone had earned itself an indelible reputation as part of New York City. Its ever-growing portfolio includes large-scale residential developments, corporate headquarters, a global art gallery, and a wide spectrum of commercial uses.

The team is also in charge of rebuilding many of the city's historic houses.

With its attention to detail, the company is often the choice of clients seeking customization and quality work. Its team handles everything from the initial design to construction itself.

“Our architects and engineers work closely to integrate design with construction,” Nelson said.

“By doing so, we can take charge of the project’s details and at the same time, maintain a healthy cost-to-quality ratio.”

His team does a thorough analysis of every blueprint and drawing that comes through the door.

“From the get-go, we provide our clients with feedback on their designs so they can make adjustments early on in the project and not put it off until construction is already half done,” Nelson said. “While helping them find the best solution possible, we’re also working to keep their costs down.”

Wild Stone’s quest for higher quality hasn’t always been smooth sailing. At the beginning, many of Nelson’s suppliers and engineers quit because they were unable to handle the company’s strict requirements. “The cost of our projects kept increasing, and Wild Stone’s industry reputation was that our standards were too high, and we were hard to work with. It’s a bit of a backward compliment,” Nelson said. “I felt very frustrated and started to doubt myself. In construction, it’s practically ‘mission impossible’ to maintain quality while still keeping costs within a reasonable range.”

Yet Wild Stone persevered. As the company completed more projects, word of Nelson’s commitment to excellence quickly spread. “We were soon receiving cases from every direction,” Nelson said. “Today, our client base includes elites and professionals from every industry, investors, and even Hollywood stars.”

一項建設的完成，前後要仰賴各方的配合，因此需 要大把的時間與精力尋找合作夥伴，對此團隊表示： 「在 業界流傳著我們要求太高、工程難做的傳言，有些廠商 甚至擔心工藝無法達標而不敢配合。」「 堅持施工品質 且不偷工減料，卻仍要掌控成本。」這曾經是頑石掙扎 許久的痛點，但幾經磨礪，如今反倒成了公司引以為傲 的招牌。 深耕團隊實力 短短幾年內，頑石建設成功在紐約扎根，並日益茁壯， 其業務囊括各色各樣的建案，有大型住宅開發案，也有 替企業打造總部的商用建案，甚至橫跨藝文界，打造國 際級藝廊，還有工藝門檻要求極高的百年老宅重建案等。 魏正宇談及團隊的建設成果時表示：「 會選擇我們 的客戶，大多是對於細節要求比較高的。」從設計到施 工端，其團隊都能一手包辦。透過內部建築師和工程師 的協作，將設計和建造兩端整合，不僅能控管細節，又 能在價格和品質上取得平衡。「 我們公司只要一份圖紙 來，就會仔細理解，甚至常常能找出反饋，讓他們去改 圖，再開始做，不是做到一半再改。」他們替客戶尋找 最佳方案，也省去許多溝通成本。 「 最有挑戰也最有趣的是老房重建。紐約滿街都是 上百年的老房子，讓我對這座城市的歷史深深著迷。」 魏正宇說著，眼中透出了一份感性。「 做老房子的回饋， 是心靈層次的滿足，亦或是文化方面的，會比數字方面 （ 效益）要高。」此類案件耗時較長，每一件都能檢視 團 隊高水準的工藝與完成度。重 建老屋最大的難 處在 於，要以現今的建築法規去選材與設計，重現昔日風采， 必要時，還得調閱當地圖書館那些未數位化的古老地籍 資料做研究。為此，魏正宇和團隊不計成本地嘗試，合 作工廠遍及全美，只為找到能使用新型建材客製化建模 來復刻裝潢的技術。 魏正宇笑著表示，這「 練功」場對其團隊尤其重要， 頑石藉此打下更好的實力，面對各項棘手的建案，也變 得游刃有餘。 連結生活與志業 魏正宇把目光放得長遠，想讓事業與其團隊作品走得更 加長久，他謙虛表示，「 我們真的運氣很好，還可以挑案 子來做。」他以一份使命感，來感謝這份運氣，「 這案子 如果沒有把周圍變得更好，那就不見得是我們想要的案 子。」每一樁、每一件委託一旦接下，他們全力以赴。 自創業以來，他善於分析市場，以更全面的角度去 看待周遭的一切。他想，從古至今，人人都有住房的需

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE OLD In New York, Wild Stone is often entrusted with historic building reconstructions. These projects inspire Nelson: “They are definitely the most challenging and

求，當年他以此為出發點，相信這是值得一試的方向。 如今回想，他幽默表示： 「 我賭對了！」 「 這（ 房地產）是很在地化的行業，在一切都是全球 化的年代，這是一個反全球化的行業。」這是房地產建設 │41

Left: Nelson Wei (center) and his staff in front of a Brooklyn building reconstructed by Wild Stone. Featured in the documentary In With the Old, this project was dubbed New York's most noteworthy reconstruction by Discovery Plus. (From left to right) Wild Stone's Virtual Design and Construction Director Chin-Yu Tsai, President Nelson Wei, and Construction Director Jian Wang in front of a historic building. _Francis Wu

exciting projects we handle. The streets of New York City are full of houses steeped in history.”. The number of traditions the city embodies fascinates him. The hardest part of these projects lies in accurately recreating the historical style and structure of the original building while adhering to modern-day regulations.

Both aspects are equally essential.

To ensure the quality of their work, Nelson’s team sometimes scours through local libraries to find nondigitized resources. Moreover, Wild Stone has partnered with factories across America to customize the molds necessary to replicate traditional designs. You have to invest a lot of time and money, but the satisfaction is well worth the trouble, Nelson said. “Old-house reconstructions satisfy me on a very spiritual level. It’s culture. Not everything has to be about profit.”

These projects are very time-consuming, and it can take years just to complete one project. However, Nelson believes that the more you persevere and commit to a project, the more satisfaction you will feel at the end of the journey.

42│

EYES ON THE HORIZON In this ever-changing world, filled with innovations and new ideas, drawing within the lines may not always be satisfying. The skill set of big data analysis allows Nelson to quickly gauge a situation and make corresponding decisions. His venture into real estate construction started out as a gamble, but trusting his intuition and willing to take risks, he achieved success. Even during stressful times, Nelson means it when he says, "I would not trade this for the world."

"At Wild Stone, trust is of utmost importance.

This is true within the team and with our clients," Nelson said. Ultimately, everyone is striving for the same goal—to beautify our environment and create the most efficiently working structures. Nelson Wei's persistence and aspirations are contagious within his company, with every employee willing to go above and beyond for Wild Stone's mission.

Nelson’s advice: Dream big. Try. Try harder. Do not stop until you are satisfied.

非常吸引他的一項特點，如未能與當地產生一定程度的 連結，事業也難以在此生根發展，這與其個人信念不謀 而合，他重視家庭，重視團隊，重視生活周遭的一切。 或許在一般人眼中，房地產是龐大資金與數字堆 疊的產業，但在魏正宇的眼中並非僅限於此。這終歸是 「 人跟人的互動 」——從接案到執行，有的是人情世故 與經年累月的協調與 溝通，在 此間與客戶建 立信任關 係，與團隊打造更加堅韌的情誼，而最終都是為了完成 最初的願景——「 我熱愛這座城市，我希望環境變得越 來越美。」盼能打造更多讓人願意佇足欣賞的空間，也 創造無限可能。

WILD STONE WildStoneC.com Instagram: @wildstone_sowild

From the building's structure to design, Color Brownstone exemplifies Wild Stone's craftsmanship, its attention to detail, and the company's passion for arts and culture. _Nick Glimenakis

ELITE HOME

A Fairytale Castle

Reimagined 冬日古堡奇想

By Jennifer Tseng

1

IMAGES BY 1STDIBS, AERIN, FRENCH COUNTRY FURNITURE USA, HICKORY CHAIR, NORDSTROM, SCULLY & SCULLY, SHUTTERSTOCK AND WEDGWOOD.

Inspired by Neuschwanstein, the beloved 19th-century castle commissioned by Bavaria’s King Ludwig II, this luxurious blueand-gold collection befits royalty. To create your own dream palace, select traditional pieces in rich and vibrant colors. Try wooden furniture with delicate metallic accents.

But what's a swan castle without its namesake? Add a few swan-décor pieces, and you’re there.

2

3

矗 立 於山頂 的 德 國新 天 鵝 城 堡，童 話般 的 場 景，激起無限的想像。幽邃的深藍與象徵權力 與富 裕 的金 黃相 配，在 家中也能 重現 華 麗古

4

堡風采。高貴的深藍雖帶點冷峻，透過金黃點

5

綴，襯托彼此，想像白雪上奔跑 的可愛麋鹿， 或美麗經典的天鵝圖花，這些元素能為空間增

7

添鮮活的層次卻不失優雅。 6 1 WEDGWOOD, HIBISCUS FIVE-PIECE PLACE SETTING, $265, WEDGWOOD.COM 2 MULTIFORME, ARTISTIC CHANDELIER, 12 ARMS, GOLDEN LEAF MURANO GLASS, $5104 (​​PRICE MAY FLUCTUATE), 1STDIBS.COM 3 JO MALONE LONDON, LAVENDER &

MOONFLOWER SCENTED HOME CANDLE, $80, NORDSTROM.COM 4 AERIN, OAK LEAF OBJECT, $250, AERIN.COM 5 SCULLY & SCULLY, WALNUT QUEEN ANNE TABLE CLOCK, LARGE, $9,500, SCULLYANDSCULLY.COM 6 FRENCH COUNTRY FURNITURE USA, SAVOI SOFA IN BLUE VELVET, $10,393, FRENCHCOUNTRYFURNITUREUSA.COM 7 SCULLY & SCULLY, SWAN ON LAKE TAPESTRY PILLOWS, $135, SCULLYANDSCULLY.COM 8 HICKORY CHAIR, EAST PACES SIDE TABLE WITH WOOD TOP, PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, HICKORYCHAIR.COM

8 │45

AMERICAN AUTO LUXURY, REINVENTED Packard Motors founder Scott Andrews is bringing back the legendary car

傳奇再現 創新展現優雅工藝 Packard Motors創辦人Scott Andrews首揭祕辛 Pictures courtesy of Three Driveway Media

46│

ADVERTORIAL

F

rom the time Packard Motor Car Company opened its doors in 1899 to the moment when the last Packard rolled off the line in 1958, the brand has been well-regarded in the American automotive industry as a symbol of speed, luxury, and quality. With time, the industry changed, and Packard had to shut down operations. But the company was recently revived through the singular vision of Scott Andrews, a watchmaker and inventor.

Andrews believed so deeply in the value of American manufacturing that he acquired the rights and intellectual property to the brand and jump-started the company from scratch.

帕 卡 德 汽 車 公 司（Packard Motor Car Company）， 自1899年創立起，該品牌就一直被美國汽車產業視為速 度、豪華與品質的代表。然而，隨著時間流逝，產業轉 變，1958年，該公司生產完最後一部汽車後，營運也隨 之告終。近年來，Packard的名號逐漸復甦，一名製錶商 與發明家，史考特 · 安德魯斯（Scott Andrews）深知美 國製造業的重要性，在他獨到的眼光下，取得該品牌版 權與智慧財產權，並且從零開始重振這間公司。 2019 年 創 立 的 新 興 公 司 帕 卡 德 電 機（Packard Motors），旨在立足於豪華轎車界與高級腕錶界。本次 專訪中，Packard Motors 的創辦人安德魯斯談到了他 是如何發現這間公司，並如何使品牌再次復甦的故事。

The 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich.

│47

Now Packard Motors, a new company founded in 2019, aims to become Packard Motor Car Company’s successor in the world of luxury cars and timepieces. In an interview, Packard Motors founder Scott Andrews described how he unexpectedly discovered the company’s story and revived the brand.

請問您是從什麼時候開始熱衷於腕錶與帕卡德汽車？ 史考特 · 安 德 魯 斯：我對 帕卡德汽 車的喜愛 始於2019 年，而對腕錶的喜愛則是多年以前就開始了。我的舅公 教會了我修 理時 鐘，後來我將 學到的技術應用到製 錶 上，成 為 我的 業餘愛 好。 2010年，我 決定以 製 錶、修 錶 為兼職，增 加一點收 入。 2019年 春天，當時我開車 要去參加一個活動，途中偶然看見一部1951年的帕卡德

When did your love for Packard cars and timepieces begin?

Scott Andrews: My love for Packard cars began in 2019, and timepieces long before then. My great-uncle taught me how to fix clocks. I applied my skills to watchmaking as a hobby. In 2010, I decided to do watchmaking for part-time income. In the spring of 2019, I was driving to an event and saw a 1951 Packard for sale. I stopped, studied its unique design, then called my father, who is a retired auto mechanic. He explained how Packard was the pinnacle of the U.S. auto industry for years—the one all others looked up to.

I researched the company and found Packard is an American automobile industry icon that made amazing inventions that defined exclusive American elegance and automobiles for generations. I fell in love with what the company came to represent— pure American beauty. I then learned how one of the two Packard brothers who founded the company had a watch collection and high interest in mechanical watch movements.

汽車，正在出售中，我停下車，打量起那輛車獨一無二 的造型。接著我打電話給我父親，他是一名退休的汽車 技師，他向我解釋，帕卡德是如何立足於美國汽車產業 頂峰好幾年——當時它可是受業界敬仰的一間公司。後 來我對這家公司做了一番研究，發現帕卡德有很長一段 時間都是美國汽車產業的象徵，以其令人驚豔的發明成 就，定義了美國的豪華轎車，與美國人的優雅品味。它 展現出美國純粹的美好，這使我愛上了這間公司，我還 聽說創辦人帕卡德兄弟倆的其中之一，也有收藏手錶， 而且對機械錶有濃厚的興趣。 請談談您於2019年創辦 Packard Motors的幕後故事 安德魯斯：我在帕卡德找到了我的兩項熱情所在：用驚 人的創新來展現優雅的工藝。有鑒於 帕卡德是個 絕佳 的美國象徵，我知道如果適當地協助，讓它再次活躍於 世，這個品牌會再次興盛，並且再一次受到欣賞。而且， 我不希望這間公司的故事就這樣隨著先代美國人，漸漸 消逝於時間的洪流中。我認為拯救與重振帕卡德，就是 拯救與復興美國，並給予我們的美國同胞們新希望與鼓 舞。所以我決定這麼做，看著美國當年的一流企業再次 崛起，是件相當令人欣喜的事。 對您來說，帕卡德汽車公司的歷史地位代表什麼意義？

What’s the story behind your decision to found Packard Motors in 2019?

Mr. Andrews: I found both my passions in Packard: elegant artwork expressed by stunning innovation. Given the amazing American icon Packard is, I knew that if properly nurtured back to life, it would thrive and be enjoyed once again. Also, I didn’t want its history to fade away with the passing of the prior American generation. To save and revive Packard is to save and revive America and give my fellow Americans a new hope and inspiration. I decided to go for it, and it’s been amazing to watch this American prime rise again.

48│

安德魯斯：它的歷史地位，就如同北極星，經得起時間 的磨礪與創新，與純美與優雅交織在一起，這間公司展 現出的勇氣與堅持不懈，是維護文化遺產與傳統價值不 可或缺的精神。這是一項很多人參與其中，並能感同身 受的成就。我們會和我們的主顧，還有每一位來訪的客 人一起，將這些正直的行為準則、良好的企業倫理與這 間公司的信譽好好持續下去。

Packard Motors 的 生 產 程 序 與 產 品， 有 多 大 程 度 與 昔 日 的 帕 卡 德 汽 車 公 司 相 似 呢？未 來 能 夠 見 到

Packard Motors帶給我們何種升級或是特色？ 安德魯斯：與最初的帕卡德公司類似之處，就是我們會 用心聆聽顧客的需求，並做得比任何人更完善。往後我

Packard Motors founder Scott Andrews is a watch enthusiast.

Packard cars were the first to have factory-installed air conditioning.

The 1954 Packard Clipper was the first U.S. car to use tubeless tires.

帕卡德汽車是最早安裝空調系統的汽車

美國最早使用無內胎輪胎的汽車，是1954年 的Packard Clipper

▷

▷

What does the legacy of the Packard Motor Car Company mean to you?

Mr. Andrews: The legacy means the “north star” of durable innovation seamlessly woven together with pure beauty and elegance. It represents the bravery and perseverance required to keep our heritage and traditional values, a legacy many can identify with and become a part of. We are continuing the standards of honesty, good business ethics, and goodwill within the company and with our clients and visitors.

們會加上更多絕妙的驚喜，讓收藏與使用我們的產品充

How similar is Packard Motors’s processes and products to those of Packard Motor Car Company? What kinds of upgrades or unique touches may we see from Packard Motors in the future?

Mr. Andrews: Similar to the first Packard company, we listen to what people need and want and make it better than anyone else. We then add wonderful surprises to delight and bring joy in owning and using something we make. There will always be one more thing when you think you’ve seen it all.

滿樂趣。每當你覺得已經看透我們的時候，我們會準備 更多驚喜，就等你一一去發現。 請問您對您的公司有什麼期許？ 安德魯斯：我對公司的期許就是，我們要成為引路之光： 帶領下一個世代去接納注重自由的傳統、豪華的風尚， 以及良好純粹的道德價值觀。 您在Packard Motors度過的一天是什麼樣子呢？ 安德魯斯：我覺得十分歡樂，不管是新起草一款要給零 售店販賣的創意傑作，還是與團 隊共同參與的汽 車作 業，一切都是為了讓我們的顧客感到愉快與滿足。 您對於收到來自汽車產業與豪華車界給出的意見，有何 回應？ 安德魯斯：我會以一個大微笑回應。很多人想知道我們 下一步要做什麼，有這樣的疑惑也很正常。他們知道車 壇傳奇回來了，所以大家都密切關注著，我們是否會步 上傳奇的後塵，以失敗收場，或是能夠回歸它的本質， 再次成為指路的明燈？想到更精采的帕卡德在未來等待 著大家，我就忍不住笑意。

What is your hope for your company?

Mr. Andrews: My hope for the company is to be the shining light on the hill: a liberty-focused heritage, luxurious style, and absolute good moral values for the next generation to embrace.

What does a day at Packard Motors look like for you?

Mr. Andrews: Absolute joy and fun—from drawing up a new creative masterpiece for the retail shop to the amazing work on automobiles together with

50│

Packard Motors推出了初次登場的限量版腕錶，名 為1899 年車款。在設計上有沒有採用什麼 特別之處， 使這款腕錶成為帕卡德公司首支問世的獨創腕錶？ 安 德 魯 斯：有，這 款 腕 錶 是以 第一 輛 帕卡德 汽 車為靈 感發想設計的。帕卡德 生 產的第一 輛 汽 車，是1899年 由J.W. Packard設計製 造的，當時他抱怨買到的汽 車 品質不好，後來收到別人挑戰，要他自己做一輛汽車試 試。於是他接受了挑戰，而他給出的答覆，從此改變了 世界。

The 1901 Model C Packard was the first in America to feature a steering wheel.

Packard built the world’s first V-12 engine-powered production car, the Twin Six of 1915.

帕卡德1901年的車款Model C，是美國第一 部使用方向盤的汽車

帕卡德打造出世界首款使用V12引擎的量產車， 是1915年的Twin Six

▷

▷

the entire team of people. All for the delight of our clients and visitors.

Packard Motors has released a limited-edition debut timepiece, the 1899 model. Is there anything specific that went into the design to make it special as Packard’s debut timepiece?

Mr. Andrews: Yes, it was inspired by the very first Packard car, [which] was designed by J.W. Packard in 1899. He was challenged to make his own car after complaining about the poor quality of another brand he bought. Challenge accepted, and the response changed the world forever.

What’s been your reaction to the feedback you’ve received from the automotive industry and community?

Mr. Andrews: A big smile. Many wonder what we’re going to do next, and wonder they should. They know the legend has returned and are watching closely.

Will we repeat its demise, or return to its roots and be the guiding light once again? I can’t help but smile knowing the best is yet to come from Packard.

The 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich.

│51

ELITE TRAVEL

Deep Into the Heart of

ALASK A

by Air, Road, and Rail 探索原始之美 橫行陸海空 阿拉斯加深度旅遊

By Tim Johnson

Visitors can get a bird's-eyeview of Alaska's glaciers and mountains with a spectacular helicopter tour. _Courtesy of Princess Cruises

I

t is difficult to comprehend a place like Alaska— vast in a way that’s almost indescribable. Arctic tundra and temperate rainforest. The tallest mountain on the continent, so high that its summit is coated with mighty glaciers and most of the time shrouded by cloud. Untamed rivers flowing into frigid seas. Wilderness that is big enough to swallow you whole.

The stats on the 49th state, famously known as America’s last frontier, are breathtaking. Alaska is home to more than half of the world’s glaciers, and fully 5 percent of its territory is covered by them (a total of 29,000 square miles). Of the top 20 highest mountains in the United States, 16 are in Alaska.

It is the only state to face two oceans, and it has more lakes than any other state. In some places, the sun doesn’t set for three months. With 6,640 miles of coastline, its coast is actually longer than all the other states combined. Alaska has almost 365 million acres of pristine wilderness—enough to tour through 1 million acres for every day of the year.

想充分認識阿拉斯加這個幅域廣闊之地，不是件容易的 事，就連決定從何開始探索都是個難題，其廣大難以言 喻。這裡有極地苔原和溫帶雨林；還有北美洲最高峰， 山頂常年覆蓋著冰雪，大多時候被雲層遮蔽；原始的河 川流入寒冷的海洋，荒原範圍之大，似乎足以吞噬一切。 阿拉斯加為美國第四十九州，又被稱作美國最後的 淨土。全世界半數以上的冰河發源地都位於該州內，有 百分之五的地域面積為冰河覆蓋（ 大約是 29,000 平方 英里；75,100 平方公里 ）。全美最高的 20 座山，便有 16 座位於此地。 阿拉斯加是美國唯一面向兩片海洋的州，而且州內 的湖泊數量多於其他任何一州；在某些地區，永晝會長 達三個月；海岸線長度比其餘各州的海岸線的加總還要 長，長達 6,640 英里（ 約 10,686 公里 ）。阿拉斯加的 原始荒野面積，將近三億六千五百萬英畝——倘若一天 遊歷 100 萬英畝，也足夠讓人玩上一整年。上述數據足 以充分說明其廣大的地理概念。 風格之旅 若 有計畫 造訪阿拉斯加，首要 挑戰便是決定如何探索 此地。所幸，你將發現有各種方法可以漫遊於此。經過

TRAVEL WITH STYLE The biggest challenge here is how to explore a place so wild and so huge that it can feel impenetrable and unknowable. Fortunately, you’ll find plenty of ways to spirit you through this mostly untouched land. On several visits to the state, I’ve experienced most of them. All provide spectacular views and so many stories.

The most obvious way to travel, with everything so spread out, is by air. And indeed, Anchorage, the state’s biggest city, is home to the largest, busiest seaplane base in the nation, at Lake Hood. Residents here fly—and a lot—getting behind the controls themselves to hop from place to place. They are licensed at a rate six times the national average. Lake Hood feels like a bustling regional airport. It houses some 1,100 planes, about 1,000 of them privately owned.

On a recent visit, I climbed aboard one of these remarkable machines. Skimming along to takeoff, I soared from the middle of Anchorage. It took mere minutes from lifting off from the lake’s surface to be buzzing over jagged ridgelines. Seconds later, a land of ice unfolded below, snow-capped mountains just behind. The Knik Glacier spread out below, 25 miles long and 5 miles across.

The glacier is a living, breathing thing, always on the move: crevasses big enough to swallow an entire 54│

數次的拜訪，我嘗試過各式不同的交通方式，展現不同 視角，並且各自伴隨著相當豐富的背景故事。其中最簡 單明 瞭的 旅 遊 方式，就 是 搭乘 空中交 通 工具，這 能 將

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN AMERICAN ESSENCE MAGAZINE.

vehicle, a snowy superhighway stretching to the horizon. After flying over, we skimmed to a stop on a nearby wilderness lake before heading back to the city.

While planes and helicopters provide unforgettable experiences, the two best ways to delve deep into the heart of the state, to really feel it beat, are still road and rail— watercraft, too. I sailed up Alaska’s panhandle on the Royal Princess cruise ship, calling at Skagway and Ketchikan, where we crossed wooden walkways and learned gold rush history. We also called at Juneau, the only state capital in the Union not accessible by road.

After a spin through Glacier Bay, we disembarked at the small port of Whittier, boarding a coach headed north. The mass of Maynard Mountain cuts the small town off from the rest of the state. The solution: a 2.5-mile tunnel. Access to engineering marvel Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is tightly controlled, with just one lane shared by cars, trains, trucks, and buses.

一切景 色 盡收 眼 底。而確實，阿拉 斯加最大 城 安 克拉 治（Anchorage）的胡德湖（Lake Hood），是美國最 大、最繁忙的水上飛機基地。當地居民經常搭乘或駕駛 飛機，最有效率地前往目的地。這裡持有飛行執照的人 數，是全國平均的六倍之多。胡德湖就像是座熱鬧的區 域機場，停放了1,100多架飛機，其中約有1,000架為私 人擁有。 最近一次走訪阿拉斯加，我登上一架飛機，體驗空 中之旅。當水上飛機掠過水面，助跑起飛後，從安克拉 治中心驟然升上高空。從湖面起飛，到飛過崎嶇的山陵 線上空，只需短短數分鐘。數秒後，腳下所見為一片雪 白，頂峰覆蓋著冰雪的高山在身後浮現。克尼克冰河於 下方流淌，長達 25 英里（ 約 40 公里 ） 、寬有 5 英里（ 約 8 公里 ）。冰河是一活生生且會呼吸的地理景觀，並非 靜止不動。有些會有寬大的裂隙，寬到能夠吞沒一整輛 車。它就像條白雪般的超級高速公路，向地平線延伸。 飛經克尼克冰河，返回城市前，我們的下一站是飛往鄰 近的野生湖泊。 雖然搭乘飛機（ 和直升機）能帶給你難忘的體驗， 但若想要深入探索阿拉斯加州，公路或鐵路仍是兩種最 好的方式。另外，走水路也是個好方法。我曾搭乘阿拉

INTO THE WILDERNESS Soon enough, I was rolling on a rail car into the wilderness north of Anchorage. A state as big as this one

斯加的皇家公主號郵輪，遊覽當地的狹長地帶，於史凱 威（Skagway）與克奇坎（Ketchikan）稍作停留，漫步 於木棧道，聽著嚮導講述當地淘金熱時期的歷史，還到

Left: The Sapphire Princess cruise ship and the Denali Express Train are great for tourists seeking to explore Whittier, Alaska.

Top: The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is a rustic retreat overlooking Alaska’s Denali National Park. _Courtesy of Princess Cruises │55

can be deceiving. Looking at the map, it appears that it might take just a few hours to travel as far as Fairbanks, the second-largest city, which sits right in the middle of Alaska. Instead, riding straight through, the Denali Star train takes a whole 12 hours to reach its destination, and that’s just a portion of the total 470 miles of line run by the Alaska Railroad.

The journey is absolutely breathtaking, and I had several stops to make along the way. I was riding in a special domed carriage reserved for Princess Cruise Line guests, with a guide right there to point out the highlights. And there are many.

“This ride, it really shows the vastness. You’ll really experience the size and the scale of Alaska,” the guide, Dillon, explained. “We go where the roads don’t.”

While he’s traveled this route many times, he shared that it is constantly changing, always new, especially the wildlife. He told me you just never know what you’ll spot. On one day, thousands of spawning salmon leaping out of a rushing river. On another day, a grizzly bear with one of the fish between his flashing teeth. A big bull moose, galloping down the track, just outpacing the locomotive.

My seat was on the top of a double-decker car, but I made frequent trips down the stairs to an open-air carriage to take photos. The train clickety-clacked, the landscape and f lora seeming to change at every turn. The carriages proceeded over the bridge at Hurricane Gulch, the longest and tallest on the entire line. A single steel span, it stretches 918 feet, with Hurricane Creek a dizzying 300 feet below.

We reached the high point of the line at Summit Lake, cresting above the tree line at the low point of the Alaska Range (which stretches 600 miles and includes two of the three tallest peaks in the nation).

56│

Far left: Alaska offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the world. _Courtesy of Princess Cruises Left: Visitors on a guided kayak tour near Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound on the southern coast of Alaska. _John Derting Right: A musher and his team cross the Yukon River in Galena, Alaska, during the annual Iditarod dogsled race. _Chris McLennan Photography

訪了朱諾（Juneau），那是全美國唯一沒有與公路 連接的州首府。 飽覽冰川灣（Glacier Bay）景緻後，我們於惠 蒂爾（Whittier）的小港口下船，搭上往北的長途 列車。當年，梅 納 德山（Maynard Mountain）幾 乎阻斷了這座小鎮向外連結的道路。不過後來，人 們也找到解方：建造一條長達 2.5 英里 （ 約 4 公里）

Dillon explained that this was also a watershed: water on one side rolling to the Bering Sea, the other to the Pacific. “They make me say it, folks,” he said, shaking his head: “It’s all downhill from here.”

的 隧 道，名為 Anton Anderson 紀 念 隧 道，堪 稱 工程奇蹟。該隧道有嚴格的交通管制，因為這是一 條單線隧道，與汽車、火車、卡車與公車共同使用。 進入荒野 很快地，我搭上了通往安克拉治北方荒野地區的列

AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER I spent time amid the myriad wonders of Denali National Park. On a tundra tour aboard a converted school bus, I was thrilled to spot grizzlies, dall sheep, Arctic ground squirrels, and big caribou, most of them close up to the side of the vehicle. On a flight-seeing excursion, we zoomed close to the summit of that namesake mountain.

The snowy peak, at 20,310 feet, felt like it existed in a whole different, frozen universe.

And soon enough, I arrived in Fairbanks, the end of my journey. I climbed up to the fourth deck of the R iverboat Discover y, a classic

車。這座城市之大，其幅域面積如同一州大小。從 地圖看起來，從安克拉治到阿拉斯加的第二大城， 位於州中心的費爾班克斯（Fairbanks），似乎只需 幾小時的路程。事實卻非如此，其直達鐵路——迪 納利之星（Denali Star）——得花上12小時才能抵 達目的，而這段路程總長470英里（ 約756公里）， 只是阿拉斯加鐵路網中的一小部分。這趟旅程讓我 驚歎連連，一路上停靠了數個地點；乘坐為公主郵 輪旅客安排的特 殊穹頂車廂，有一名嚮導為乘客 說明沿著名景色，十分精采。「 這趟路程，將真實 展現其廣大。您可以藉此體會阿拉斯加的規模與大 小，」導遊Dillon說道，「 我們會抵達公路到不了的 地方。」 │57

stern-wheeler. I relaxed as it rolled through the town, down two different rivers, the Chena and the Tanana, and out into the woods.

The afternoon voyage included an impressive kayak demonstration by an indigenous paddler, as well as a show flight by a sea plane. A guide on board chatted with the pilot, broadcasting the conversation for all of us to hear. Then he did the same with a fisher, who explained how she smokes and dries salmon, a true Alaskan treat. Finally, we disembarked at an Athabaskan village.

I strolled through, finding a fenced-off area with sled dogs. The adorable Alaskan huskies strode along the perimeter, hopping up, tails wagging, to greet those who came to see them. Chatting with their handler, I learned about the young woman’s passion for the canines and for racing. She gave up everything to do this, to live here, amid all this beauty, with the goal of competing in some of the state’s most iconic contests, including the Iditarod.

While sailing back to town on the Discovery, with that huge wheel on the stern churning away, the reality starts to sink in. This state, the Last Frontier— it isn’t just the massive size. It’s also the depth. A place so stunning it gets into your bones, and it stays with you afterward, drawing you back, always with more to explore.

儘管已經多次搭乘此路線，他仍分享，這趟旅程時 常發生變化，總是會遇到新事物，特別是能夠看到不同 的野生動物。他告訴我，你猜不到你會看見什麼。也許 會看見數以千計洄游產卵的鮭魚，於湍急的河流一躍而 上；另一天，看見一隻大灰熊，還見牠閃耀的牙齒中咬著 一條鮭魚。或是見到一隻巨大的駝鹿，沿著鐵路疾馳， 飛馳地速度超越了火車車頭。 我的座位在雙層車廂的頂部，但我還是數次爬下階 梯，去開放式車廂拍攝窗外風景。隨著列車行進，似乎

會注入白令海，另一側會流進太平洋， 「 各位，我必須在 這裡說一句話，」他搖搖頭說著： 「 過了這裡，全都是下 坡路了。」

每次轉彎過後，景色與植物群就會有所不同。列車駛過 Hurricane Gulch 大橋，是整條鐵路上最長也最高的路

美國最後的淨土

段。這座鋼製單孔橋，有 918 英尺長（ 約 280 公尺），

在 迪 納 利 國 家 公 園（Denali National Park），有 美 不

望向下方 300 英 尺（ 約 91 公尺）Hurricane 溪 谷，不

勝收的景色相伴。一次苔原帶之旅中，搭乘由校車改造

免令人頭暈目眩。

的巴士，我看見了大灰熊、白大角羊、北極地松鼠，還有

我 們 到 達了位 於 鐵 路 最 高 處 的 頂 峰 湖（Summit

北美馴鹿，大多數的動物都會靠近巴士，能夠親眼看見

Lake），也到了林線的頂點，位處阿拉斯加山脈的低點

這些動物，內心激動不已。某次短程的飛行觀光之旅，

（ 長約 600 英里，全國三大高峰的其中兩座就在這裡）。

我們近距離欣賞了阿拉斯加山脈的頂峰，高峰被白雪覆

Dillon 說明，這座山也是一個分水嶺，其中一側的水流

蓋，海拔高度20,310英尺（ 約6,190公尺），那像是存在

58│

The Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Alaska is a popular destination for wildlife photography. _Chris McLennan Photography

於一個截然不同的冰雪世界。接著，抵達費爾班克斯，

我在村落裡散步，找尋飼養雪橇犬的無圍欄區域，

此趟旅程的終站。我參加了河船探險之旅，搭乘經典的

可愛的阿拉斯加哈士奇在圍欄邊緣大步走著、跳著，搖

船尾 式外 輪 船，在 第四層甲板 上，愜 意 地看船 駛 過 城

著尾巴，向人們打招呼。我與牠們的訓練員聊了幾句，

鎮，前往兩條不同的河流，切納河（Chena）與塔納納河

從這位年輕女性身上感受到她對這些狗兒、對競速的熱

（Tanana），再進入森林。

情。她放棄了一切，只為了居住在此地，成天被雪橇犬

下午的航程，包含了當地槳手的滑獨木舟展示，令 人印象深刻，還有水上 飛 機 的飛 行表演。一名解 說 員

圍繞，這都是為了參加幾項阿拉斯加州最出名的賽事， 其中包括了艾迪塔羅德狗拉雪橇比賽（Iditarod）。

搭上 飛 機，與飛 行員聊 著天，並 將 他們 的 對 話廣播 給

搭乘探險號回到城鎮時，隨著船尾的大輪子滾動

現場 觀 眾 聽，接 著用一樣 的 方式，搭上漁 船與 漁 夫聊

前進，思緒被拉回了現實。該地被譽為最後的淨土，不

天，這位 漁 夫說 明如何使 用正 統 的阿拉 斯加 作法，去

僅因其幅員遼闊，也是因為它有著深厚的內涵。這些絕

煙 燻 及乾 燥 鮭魚。最後，我們於 一 個 阿 薩巴斯 卡村落

美景 致 能深刻 地 烙印在心中，並 且吸引人再 次回到這

（Athabaskan）下了船。

裡，而它也總有更多的美好等待你去發掘。 │59

The Letter by Edward Antoon Portielje, circa 1880. Oil on canvas.

From ancient times to the modern day, handwritten letters have been a powerful way to show people you care._PD-US

ELITE HOLIDAY

How to Write the Ultimate Holiday Greeting Words change our relationships and self-perception 善用文字的力量——利他利己卡片魔法

By Matthew Little

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE EPOCH TIMES.

E

ach year, we purchase and sign an untold number of greeting cards. We may spend an hour perusing the aisle, reading card after card, in search of one that expresses just the right sentiment with just the right image and tone. And while we may triumph in finding a card that captures our intent just right, it never quite connects to the recipient as meaningfully as our own words, in our own handwriting, would have.

There is a power lost amid the text-message culture of smartphones and social media. It's the power of the human face, smiling instead of sending a smiley emoji; the power of the human voice, sharing warm words instead of typing them; and the power of words written in our own hand instead of a computer’s impersonal typography.

每逢佳節，我們購買無數張賀卡，簽上名送給親朋好友； 也許會在書店花上一小時，瀏覽著一張又一張的卡片， 只為能找到最能聊表心意的設計，最好還能配上恰到好 處的圖花與色彩。然而，儘管找到了一張完美、符合需求 的卡片，但它卻不比我們親筆寫下的文字來得更有意義， 店內的卡片再美，卻未必能讓收件者與之產生連結。 當代智慧型手機與社群媒體，形塑速成又即時的傳 訊文化，使人失去了一些能力——失去了真實的微笑，取 而代之的是傳送笑臉符號；失去了真實的交談，選擇以 打字問候親友；失去了手寫書信的溫度，選擇依靠電腦 製作漂亮、好看，卻不具個性且失去溫度的印刷品。 一封親筆信的當代價值 撰 寫問 候信，不僅需要 時 間 與寫作 能力，同 時 也 是 抒 發心底感受與真實想法的 好時機。人類有種強大的能 力——能夠與他人產生共鳴、能為對方設想、理解他人， 特別是對於那些我們認識多年的人。

THE POWER OF HANDWRITTEN MESSAGES A written greeting requires more than time and penmanship. It is the opportunity to write something deeply felt and honestly held. Human beings have a profound ability to see one another, to empathize and

寶貴的個人經歷，是寫賀卡時最渾然天成的靈感， 而我們透過賀卡寫下的幾句話，能夠向對方展現他在我 們心中的重要性。比起直白地表示自己因對方的存在而 備感榮幸與感激，手寫卡片為我們提供了為數不多的機 會，既能為別人做點什麼，又能令人感到意義非凡。當我 │61

understand one another—most especially those we have had years to see and know.

This precious personal history is the raw fuel for that rare opportunity a greeting card offers: the chance to handwrite something that truly represents what that person means to us. There are few things more meaningful that human beings can do for one another than to make clear that they honor and appreciate the other person's presence in this world.

When we share our unique view of another person's singular presence, we offer our fellow beings more than recognition: We offer them a reminder of their lasting legacy of goodness in this world.

In a time when we are constantly being told we are not enough, when social media drives comparison-culture, and everywhere marketeers beckon with products that promise to complete us, there is something essential and potent in sharing our honest regards. With that in mind, here are some thoughts on how to let someone know that they are known, and needed, this holiday season.

們對特定人物吐露心聲時，不僅是給予對方認同，也是 在提醒對方，他們的善良與美德，將會永久流傳於世。 社群 媒體的盛行，使人們陷入沒有盡頭的比較之 中，因此這年頭，我們經常被說做得還不夠多、不夠好， 此外，到處都有行銷廣告，宣傳各種標榜能使我們更加 完美的產品。在這樣的時代氛圍下，分享我們真誠的關 心，才更具影響力，對人人都是不可或缺的。有鑑於此， 本文將告訴你，今年佳節期間，我們要如何讓對方明白， 有人是真心了解他們，並讓對方感受到他們是被需要的。 一封只有你能寫出來的卡片 首先要知道，一張完美的卡片，沒有什麼必要條件。你筆 下的任何想法，都能成為一道祝福。 人們有幾次會真正地去細想他人的事情呢？有多常 花時間認真考慮某人在世上的存在，甚至他們對自己的 影響呢？針對上述的問題寫下你的想法，就是首要目標。 無論是什麼內容，只要能使對方感受到你為此付出的努 力便足矣。寫下那些對你們而言重要的、令人愉悅的、 只有你與他知道的事情。 花一點時間，先淨空腦中的其他各種想法，接著在 腦海裡清楚地想像你的收件人，無須刻意美化或理想化 他們，因為你並不是為了討好對方，是在試著看清楚他

TAKE TIME TO REFLECT There is no requirement for a perfect card. The card becomes what you put into it. This is where some thought comes in.

How often does one human being truly take the time to reflect on others, to consider someone's presence in this world and their impact on our lives? The ultimate goal of whatever you write in the card is to show that you have taken this effort. You want to capture something essential, uplifting, and personal.

Take a moment to clear your mind of any other thoughts, and imagine your recipients clearly in your mind. There is no need to glorify or idealize them.

You are not trying to flatter them or ingratiate yourself. You are trying to see them—see their qualities, their struggles, their pains, and their triumphs.

Each person is an incredible tale, and all but a few of us are all-but-ignored by the world we inhabit.

But not your recipients. Not today. You know them.

You know what they have done, what their strengths are, what they value.

62│

們：看見他們的特質、他們的努力、他們經歷的苦痛，以 及他們的成就。 每個人的人生，都是一段不可思議的故事，雖然多 數人幾乎不曾被這世界注意過。不過，你的收件人不在 此列，至少今天不是如此，因為有你了解他們。你知道 他們的為人、他們的優點，還有他們所珍視的一切。 透過書信照亮彼此 寫信給他人時，以善意為出發點，專注在好的那一面。但 寫信並非為了要滿足或抬舉他人，而是找出他們帶給你 的啟發，他們身上散發出的獨特光彩，照亮了我們人生 的一部分，這是無可取代的。 也許你有一位伯母，無論何時何地，總是將自己與 生活環境打扮地光鮮亮麗，或許在旁人眼中，似乎有些 膚淺，不過你卻清楚，這是她如何自處的尊嚴，她在乎 身邊所有美麗的人事物，並樂於將此融入生活。很少有 人有機會將這背後的想法落於紙上，讓對方明白他們是 被理解的。 所以請將腦中各種思緒暫停一下，好好地想想對方 吧！問問自己，他們的存在與經歷，在這之中，哪些事能 夠傳頌於世；也問問自己，當你以他們最好的特質做為

IMAGES COURTESY OF RAWPIXEL.COM, PD_US AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

Besides putting effort into selecting just the right card, let’s give equal attention to the message we write.

HONOR THEIR BEST QUALITIES Look kindly upon others. Look beyond any perceived shortcomings. Look for their light, that unique hue they cast that illuminates a part of our reality like no other can. Maybe you have an aunt who is pristine in her decor and appearance. What may seem superficial to some, you see as a dignity of being, an attention to beauty that she brings with her everywhere she lives and breathes. There are too few opportunities to capture something like that on paper and make it known to people that they are known.

So pause, think about them, and ask yourself what lesson their presence and history can deliver to this world. Ask yourself what they have shown you about yourself when you measure your conduct against their best qualities. Then share with them whatever you have seen.

It can be as short as a sentence or as long as a paragraph. Reinforce what you consider to be some of their best attributes. Give them that encouragement we each need to strive toward our ultimate

self, not through hollow platitudes, but through affirming to them their best qualities.

Remind them of something they do that others may no longer notice. Share with them a memory that affirms your perception of their most noble self.

Offer them a reason to strengthen that best part of themselves by holding it up for them to see. And know, deep down, that you have the power to nourish the best in another person. 對照，來衡量自己的行為舉止時，寫下那些你因此而發 現的事。要告訴他們的事，可以只有簡短一句話，亦可 篇長如文，向他們強調，你認為他們最棒的特質。給予 人人都需要的那種鼓勵，並非透過堆砌老套的祝賀詞， 而在肯定他人的優點，這能使我們努力成為最棒的自己。 也談談他們仍在付出，卻 可能再也沒人注 意到的 事。與對方分享回憶，告訴他們這些回憶使你明白了他 們高尚的品格。告訴他們，為何需要牢記自我最棒的特 質的原因，使其增強信念。也別忘了，當我們用心為別人 寫下祝福，你也能深切明白，我們都擁有滋養與慰藉他 人心靈的能力。

│63

Unmoved by Loc Duong

Original artworks, canvas wraps and prints of Award-winning oil paintings now available at

InspiredOriginal.Org/Store

漢風紳士公事包 為風度和魅力而生

ShenYunCollections.com

1.800.208.2384