Epics Bridge Mountains and Seas, Civilizations Share the Same Spirit —Reflections on the Resonance Between Eastern and Western Ancient Civilizations after Watching The Odyssey by Lan Xin (Lanxin Samei)

Today, in a cinema in China, I revisited The Odyssey, the immortal Western classic epic.

Composed and compiled by the ancient Greek poet Homer in the 8th century B.C., The Odyssey carries the profound civilisation heritage of ancient Greece. It stands as one of the fountain‑heads of Western literature and spiritual thought. Across centuries and continents, the epic explores universal themes of wandering, tribulation, spiritual awakening, home‑coming and redemption. Its wisdom continues to shine brightly in the long river of world civilisation.

Watching the film, I was deeply moved by its grand scenes: the solemn sacrificial rituals, solemn conversations with the underworld, and trials imposed by fate. The hero endured countless hardships across vast seas. Upholding his promises, holding deep affection for his family and beloved, and staying firmly committed to his journey home, he finally returned to his homeland and attained spiritual fulfilment.

The film reveals the ancient Greek people’s reverence for heaven, earth and all living beings. It conveys the eternal law that actions bring consequences. It manifests the ancients’ commitment to promises, cherishment of deep affections, perseverance amid sufferings, devotion to family and beloved ones, and unwavering faith to return home.

As I watched, my thoughts travelled across mountains and seas to Lijiang in the East, to the profound Dongba civilisation.

What strikes me profoundly is that these spiritual themes and narrative archetypes share striking parallels and echoes with the three canonical epics of Dongba civilisation: The Genesis, The Battle of Black and White and Luban Lura. This timeless resonance, separated by thousands of kilometres and centuries, confirms that ancient human civilisations are interconnected and share a common origin.

The core spirit of redemption: to survive hardships, break through confusion, awaken the soul and return to one’s true self, alongside the dedication to loved ones, promises and the homeland, creates a perfect cross‑time‑and‑space echo with the journey of Odysseus, who wandered afar, endured trials, overcame obstacles, honoured his commitments and clung fast to what he cherished before returning to his true self and homeland.

Whether it is the three great epics passed down by the Naxi ancestors in the East or Homer’s epic inherited in ancient Greece, the ultimate pursuit of all ancient civilisations always centres on reverence for heaven and earth, respect for all living beings, perseverance through hardships, loyalty to one’s original heart, keeping promises, treasuring deep affections, striving towards light and attaining fulfilment.

Inspired by this civilisational resonance over the years, I have devoted myself to in‑depth research of Dongba ancient scriptures. I have read and verified the texts word by word, communicating with the wisdom of ancestors across time and space. It has taken me years to complete the systematic re‑translation and reconstruction of the three major Dongba epics.

Jointly translated by myself and my Dongba master, Aheng Dongta, the 17th‑generation Dongba inheritor and UN‑recognised tutor of Dongba culture, this collection of the three Dongba epics, published by the Dongba Culture Academy, is now under the editorial review of a major national‑level publishing house in China. This landmark trilingual edition presents the complete original texts in Dongba hieroglyphs, Chinese and English, faithfully restoring the panorama of this ancient Eastern epic.

Scheduled for official release in the first half of next year and presented at international book fairs, this treasure of ancient Eastern civilisation will step out of the mountains to meet the world’s ancient epics on an equal footing, conveying the unique Eastern philosophy of life and cosmic wisdom.

Watching the epic, my heart is filled with gratitude. Moved by this resonance of Eastern‑Western civilisations, I think fondly of my dear media partners far away in Greece. I sincerely thank the well‑known international journal POLIS Magazine for continuously publishing my works. My gratitude goes to Mr. Michael Goniotakis, CEO of POLIS Magazine, and Eva Lianou Petropoulou, Head of the International Edition of POLIS Magazine, as well as all Greek media friends who have shared my voice.

Thanks to your kindness, long‑term recognition and support that transcend mountains and seas, Chinese culture, Eastern spiritual philosophy and Dongba civilisation have been brought to a global audience. It is you who light up the encounter and mutual understanding between ancient Eastern wisdom and splendid Greek civilisation.

Odysseus’ voyage was the home‑coming of soul and flesh. The inheritance and exchange of civilisations, however, is an endless spiritual voyage.

May epics endure forever, civilisations thrive, and China‑Greece friendship last through the ages.

Chinese version:

今日，我在中国的电影院重温西方不朽经典——荷马史诗《奥德赛》。

作为诞生于公元前八世纪、由古希腊诗人荷马整理定型的伟大史诗，《奥德赛》承载着古希腊两千七百余年的文明厚度，是整个西方文学与精神文明的源头之一。千百年来，这部史诗跨越时代、跨越疆域，以漂泊、磨难、觉醒、归乡与救赎，叩问人类共同的生命命题，在世界文明长河中，始终闪烁着恒久不灭的智慧光芒。

在光影流转之间，我静静凝望史诗里一幕幕恢弘而深沉的画面。无论是庄严的献祭仪式、肃穆的冥界对话、命运的重重考验，还是英雄历经千难万险、穿越迷雾与沧海，始终信守心中承诺，怀揣着对亲情、爱情的深切眷恋，坚守归途的坚定信念，最终奔赴故土、完成生命圆满的结局，都让我深深震撼。

影片中处处流淌着古希腊先民敬畏天地、敬畏万物秩序的古老信仰，暗含天道守恒、因果有序的生命法则，彰显着上古人类对于诺言的恪守、情感的珍视，以及历经万般磨难依旧初心不改的执着，流露着对亲情、爱情的守护与牵挂，彰显着奔赴归途坚定不移的信念。

观影全程，我的思绪不断跨越山海，回到东方丽江大地，回到悠远厚重的东巴文明之中。

令人惊叹的是，这一幕幕精神内核、叙事母题，与东巴文明当中的三大经典史诗《创世纪》《黑白战争》以及《鲁班鲁饶》有着极多相似、彼此呼应之处。这份跨越万里地域、相隔千年时光的契合，更加证显：人类古老文明本就是互通、同根同源的。

这份“历经磨难、穿越迷茫、自我觉醒、终得归真”的救赎内核，这份对于挚爱、承诺、故土的坚守，与《奥德赛》中英雄漂泊万里、屡经试炼、破除困顿、信守本心约定、坚守心中牵挂，最终回归本心与故土的史诗之路，形成跨越东西、跨越千年的完美共鸣。

无论是东方纳西先民流传万古的东巴三大史诗，还是西方古希腊传承千载的荷马史诗，所有古老文明的终极表达，永远离不开：敬畏天地、尊重万物、历经淬炼、守住本心、信守承诺、珍视情感、向光而行、终得圆满。

正因深深扎根于这样的文明共鸣，多年来，我潜心深耕东巴古籍，逐字研读、逐卷考证、跨越时空与先民智慧对话，耗时数年完成东巴文化三大史诗的系统性重译与重构。

由我和我的东巴师父、第十七代东巴传人、联合国东巴文化导师阿恒东塔先生联合译著、由东巴文化书院重磅推出的东巴三大史诗典籍，目前正在中国国家级出版社编审出版。这是独一无二、具有里程碑开创意义的三语史诗版本，以东巴象形文字、中文、英文三种语言完整对照、原汁原味呈现东方上古史诗全貌。

这套史诗将于明年上半年正式出版，并亮相国际书展。愿这份沉睡于东方大地的古老文明瑰宝，走出群山、走向世界，与全球各地的古老史诗温柔相逢、平等对话，向世界传递东方独有的生命哲思与天地大道。

观影之时，心怀史诗，亦心怀感念。沉浸在东西方文明共振的触动之中，我不由得深深思念远在希腊的媒体合作伙伴，亦是我亲爱的朋友们。由衷感谢我和书院的媒体合作伙伴——希腊著名国际期刊Polis杂志不断发表我的作品，感谢Polis杂志CEO Michael Goniotakist先生，感谢Polis杂志国际版负责人Eva Lianou Petropoulou（伊娃·佩特罗普卢·利亚努），以及希腊众多传播我的媒体。

是你们跨越山海的善意、长久坚定的认可与扶持，一次次将中国文化、东方生命哲学、东巴文明推向国际视野。是你们让东方古老智慧与希腊璀璨文明相逢、彼此照亮。

奥德修斯的远航，是一场灵魂与肉身的归乡。而文明的传承与交流，是一场永不落幕的精神远航。

愿史诗不灭，文明永续，中希友谊天长地久。