I Can See with My Ears

I Hear This Colorful World

Wu Jing

Jiangsu Peoples Publishing House

May 2022

48.00 (CNY)

This is an autobiography of Wu Jing, a contemporary blind musician. It tells the story of how Wu Jing has grown from an ordinary child in a village in Jiangsu, who was blind since childhood, to a world-famous music performer and a cultural exchange activist.

Wu Jing

Wu Jing, a young flute player, is currently a member of Music and Art Working Committee, and China Association of Persons with Visual Disabilities, an international youth-friendly ambassador of Jiangsu Province, and the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Committee of the World Blind Union. She used to be a youth speech representative of UNESCO, a flute player specially invited by Goldener Saal Wiener Musikvereins, and the worlds first blind person to participate in the performance of a professional symphony orchestra with visual scientific and technological achievements.

Because I lived in the school where my father worked, I could hear the sound of reading when I woke up every morning. During breaks, children would come to play with me. They took me to catch ants and dragonflies. Once, I played in the street with friends and went back with a stray cat. I could also hear children singing with the piano. I cant remember what songs I learned, but I can clearly remember that I loved music from then on. I would hum the melody while groping around for things with my hands. Besides my ears, my hands are another key to the world.

I loved touching soft things like carpets, covers, toy bears, etc. Holding them could make me feel at ease. I held them in my arms and stuck them to my face, and I would feel warm. Mum took my hands and helped me to find the bears eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. After some time, Mum brought me plush toys of puppies and kittens and taught me the differences between animals and their characteristics. I often couldnt tell the difference between a puppy and a kitten. I didnt know what yellow and white meant when Mum said them. For a long time, I didnt know what colors were. Sometimes, I thought red was a sweater, black was shoes, and white was a hat.

When I had dinner at my grandparents home, I happily touched my clothes and said to Grandma, “A red sweater.” Grandma softly said, “My dear, Jingjing, you have known a sweater. But remember, this is a white sweater.” I took my mothers hand and asked, “Mum, didnt you say I had a red sweater?” Later, I knew everything has colors, and the same thing can have different colors. Slowly, I understood colors must be seen with eyes. But I cant see. I can only know the colors of everything around me from others descriptions. After I grew up, I came to learn that many colors can be felt. For example, the warm sun is red; the fragrant grass is green; and the sad music is gray. The brother and sister in the house opposite were my best friends in childhood. I used to have nightmares when I slept at home. Although I couldnt see the world, I would get frightened and worried that I couldnt find my parents and friends. After waking up, I would wave my hands and feet and cry. At this time, Xiaobing would come to me like an angel. He would stay with me whatever I wanted to do. He took my hands and taught me how to turn a hula hoop, and how to stand on my hands. When I accidentally fell down, he would pick me up and comfort me. Then he would take me to buy my favorite snacks.

At home, I like to turn on the TV set and listen to TV programs. At that time, Big Pinwheel was a famous childrens program. Xiaohui used to stay with me. She took my hands to touch my eyes, nose, and ears, following the children on TV. She taught me to jump to the rhythm and dance to the music. Xiaohui described the owl and frog characters in the program. Sometimes, she took me to the toy store and helped me touch all kinds of toy animals. Then I would find my toys. I remember the hit TV series The New Legend of White Snake at that time. When I enjoyed the TV series with Xiaohui, she explained to me with hands and words how Madame White Snake used magic. I can clearly remember it now. When we had steamed stuffed buns together, Xiaohui used to peel off the skin and give me the best meat inside. Xiaobing and Xiaohui brought me to this world with voices, love, and companionship. In this way, my childhood was not lonely, as I had partners.

At the age of five, I was sent to a nursery by my parents. I knew many kids there, and Granny Ma, the nurse. They played games with me. I often made jokes, but I never felt ashamed.

One afternoon, Mum sent me to the nursery as usual. I told Granny Ma that I wanted to watch cartoons. Granny Ma seemed to be embarrassed, “My dear, but you cant see.” I replied without hesitation, “Granny, Dad and Mum said ears can see. I can see with my ears.” All the children laughed. Only Granny Ma touched my head and sighed softly.

Perhaps with that belief, I began to “see” this world with my ears. I miss the days in the nursery when children sang and danced without any worries and sorrows. I followed them, singing and dancing. What I miss most are Granny Mas songs and laughter. Though she has been deceased for years, she played notes nobody can compare to in my life.

That day, in front of Granny Mas memorial tablet, I sang her favorite nursery rhyme for her. She has passed away, but she taught me those songs that I will never forget. I believe Granny Ma can still hear my songs for her today.