Friday, December 03, 2004
The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective)welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published by Jonathanames.com. Jonathan Ames, our mentor here at this website, has a new book out called Wake Up, Sir!,which is getting some excellent notices!
http://www.jonathanames.com
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On Sa Ma Chien's Decison to be Castrated
This installment of The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) comes curtesy of Adalena, who kindly wrote in with the following email.
Dear Mr. Ames and other esteemed fellows at the Literary Dick-
This is not a mystery per se, but I feel this little bit of literary-ness is just as Lit-Dick worthy in light of the thorough examination of Mr. Henry James's testicles. There was a famed Chinese historian (who was actually known as the Grand Historian) named Si Ma Chien. He was given the task of writing the chronicles of China's even-then-illustrious history during the Han dynasty. This was quite an honor and he apparently took it as such. The only problem came when he happened to anger the emperor at the time and it was decided that he should be punished for his infractions. The unlucky Si Ma Chien was given the choice to either commit suicide (thus preventing him from completing his chronicles) or undergo castration. Now gentlemen, please brace yourselves. Yes, Si Ma Chien chose to undergo castration! He felt his life's work was more important than his testicles and ability to achieve and sustain an erection. This may be the question all aspiring and professional writers should ask themselves. Would I undergo castration for my life's work? I am female and am not sure what the female equivalent would be. Perhaps female clitorectomy? I am not a medical doctor so I do not know the correct term. It pains me to even think it. Anyway, I thought that this tale would be a neat juxtapose to Mr. Henry James's testicular problems. I was told that Si Ma Chien died before he was able to finish his life's work but before the castration he had at least one son who took up the task. What luck to have procreated before he angered the emperor.
Onward and upward with the Literary Dicking,
Adalena
http://www.jonathanames.com
____________________________________________________________________
On Sa Ma Chien's Decison to be Castrated
This installment of The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) comes curtesy of Adalena, who kindly wrote in with the following email.
Dear Mr. Ames and other esteemed fellows at the Literary Dick-
This is not a mystery per se, but I feel this little bit of literary-ness is just as Lit-Dick worthy in light of the thorough examination of Mr. Henry James's testicles. There was a famed Chinese historian (who was actually known as the Grand Historian) named Si Ma Chien. He was given the task of writing the chronicles of China's even-then-illustrious history during the Han dynasty. This was quite an honor and he apparently took it as such. The only problem came when he happened to anger the emperor at the time and it was decided that he should be punished for his infractions. The unlucky Si Ma Chien was given the choice to either commit suicide (thus preventing him from completing his chronicles) or undergo castration. Now gentlemen, please brace yourselves. Yes, Si Ma Chien chose to undergo castration! He felt his life's work was more important than his testicles and ability to achieve and sustain an erection. This may be the question all aspiring and professional writers should ask themselves. Would I undergo castration for my life's work? I am female and am not sure what the female equivalent would be. Perhaps female clitorectomy? I am not a medical doctor so I do not know the correct term. It pains me to even think it. Anyway, I thought that this tale would be a neat juxtapose to Mr. Henry James's testicular problems. I was told that Si Ma Chien died before he was able to finish his life's work but before the castration he had at least one son who took up the task. What luck to have procreated before he angered the emperor.
Onward and upward with the Literary Dicking,
Adalena
