## The Early Years: A Musical Prodigy in Post-War China I was born to middle-class parents in post-World War II China, a time when the country was undergoing significant changes. My mother, a music teacher, was the sole breadwinner of our family at times, a rarity in traditional Chinese society where wives were often expected to be subservient. She was a strong and educated woman who had defied the norms by refusing an arranged marriage and instead marrying the man she loved. This unconventional start to our family life would later influence my own path in many ways. From a very young age, it was clear that I had a natural talent for music. My mother taught me how to play the piano, and I quickly immersed myself in the works of classical masters like Bach. By the time I was eight, I was already performing on radio and television in Beijing, and at ten, I began a rigorous course of study at the Beijing Conservatory of Music, a program designed for unusually gifted children. ## The Cultural Revolution: A Life Disrupted But my promising musical career was abruptly halted by the onset of the Cultural Revolution in 1966. I was just seventeen when Chairman Mao's vision of a classless, communist society began to take its toll on our lives. The Revolution was not just a political movement; it was an act of violence aimed at overthrowing one class by another. As Mao said, "The Revolution is not a dinner party. It is an act of violence by which one class overthrows another." My family was torn apart as one by one, my family members were scattered, sentenced to prison or labor camps. My father was sent away to a camp, and soon I followed, destined for a work camp in inner Mongolia. The conditions in the camp were unbearable – horrific living conditions and intensive brainwashing campaigns designed to erase any remnants of our past lives. Despite the harsh environment, music remained my solace. I smuggled a piano into the camp, and in secret, I would play, finding comfort in the melodies of Bach and Mozart. These moments were my escape, my way of holding onto my sanity in the face of relentless propaganda and physical hardship. ## The Struggle to Survive and Maintain Sanity Life in the camp was a constant struggle. We were forced to criticize ourselves, admit guilt for things we had not done, and participate in grueling public self-condemnation sessions. It was a time of immense psychological turmoil, and the legacy of those years has left me with a severe psychological handicap to this day. Yet, even in the midst of such chaos, music remained a beacon of hope. As I practiced in hiding, I found that music was more powerful than the might of the Revolution. It was a reminder of the beauty and humanity that the regime sought to eradicate. As Montesquieu once said, "I have never known any distress that an hour of reading did not relieve." For me, it was music that provided this relief. ## The Journey to Freedom and Musical Redemption The Cultural Revolution finally came to an end with Mao's death in 1976, but the aftermath left China dazed and disoriented. I was among the many who were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. For me, this meant leaving China and pursuing my musical dreams elsewhere. I first moved to Hong Kong, then to the United States, and eventually settled in France. Each move was a new challenge, but it was also an opportunity to rediscover myself and my music. In America and France, I encountered different musical cultures that both fascinated and intimidated me. However, with the help of many kind souls who saw my potential, I continued my musical education. It wasn't until I was past thirty that I finally graduated from a music conservatory, but my determination never wavered. My renditions of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which had been a constant companion throughout my journey, eventually gained recognition in the musical world. ## Finding Peace and Purpose The journey was not easy, but it was through music that I found the strength to survive and eventually heal. As I reflect on those tumultuous years, I realize that the search for a proper tempo is not confined to the world of music; it is a metaphor for life itself. One must seek balance and harmony in life, just as one does in music. My experiences during the Cultural Revolution taught me the importance of resilience and the power of art to transcend even the most oppressive regimes. As the Chinese philosophers say, "The best man is like water. Water is good, it benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in lowly places that all disdain. This is why it is so near to Tao." Today, as I look back on my life, I am reminded of the words of Rabindranath Tagore: "Acknowledge diversity and you will achieve unity." My journey has been one of acknowledging the diversity of human experience and finding unity in the universal language of music. ## The Legacy of the Past and the Future Ahead The Cultural Revolution scarred me for life, but it also taught me valuable lessons about the human spirit. Each morning, I still wonder how I can go on living, how I can find peace after what I have experienced. Yet, it is through my music that I find solace and a sense of purpose. As I continue to perform and teach, I am reminded that music is not just a form of entertainment but a powerful tool for healing and unity. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is always hope, always a way to find light in the darkness. In the end, my story is not just about survival; it is about the transformative power of music and the human spirit. It is a testament to the idea that no matter what life throws at us, we have the capacity to find strength, to heal, and to create something beautiful from the ashes of adversity.

Here are the key insights from the book "The Early Years: A Musical Prodigy in Post-War China": ## Early Life and Musical Talent - The author was born in post-World War II China to a middle-class family, with a mother who was a music teacher and the sole breadwinner, defying traditional Chinese societal norms. ## Musical Education and Early Success - The author showed natural talent for music from a young age, taught by his mother, and began performing on radio and television in Beijing by age eight. By ten, he was studying at the Beijing Conservatory of Music. ## Impact of the Cultural Revolution - The author's musical career was disrupted by the Cultural Revolution in 1966, leading to his family being torn apart, with family members sent to prison or labor camps. The author himself was sent to a work camp in inner Mongolia. ## Music as Solace During Hardship - Despite the harsh conditions in the labor camp, music remained a source of comfort and sanity. The author smuggled a piano into the camp and secretly played to maintain his mental well-being. ## Psychological and Emotional Struggles - Life in the camp involved intense psychological turmoil, including self-criticism and public self-condemnation sessions, leaving the author with a lasting psychological handicap. ## Journey to Freedom and Musical Redemption - After the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, the author left China and pursued his musical dreams in Hong Kong, the United States, and eventually France, encountering new musical cultures and challenges along the way. ## Determination and Late Achievement - The author graduated from a music conservatory past the age of thirty, with his renditions of Bach's Goldberg Variations eventually gaining recognition in the musical world. ## Resilience and the Power of Art - The author learned the importance of resilience and the power of art to transcend oppressive regimes through his experiences during the Cultural Revolution. ## Finding Balance and Harmony - The author reflects that finding the right tempo in music is a metaphor for finding balance and harmony in life, emphasizing the need for seeking equilibrium in all aspects of life. ## Legacy and Future - The Cultural Revolution left lasting scars but also taught valuable lessons about the human spirit. The author continues to find solace and purpose in music, using it as a tool for healing and unity. ## Transformative Power of Music - The author's story highlights the transformative power of music and the human spirit, demonstrating that even in adversity, one can find strength, heal, and create something beautiful.