Transcription
The world of the sky is always beautiful, no matter when you look at it, but... why is our world so filthy? Once, a priest answered this question for him. The Earth not being at the center of the world doesn't mean we are uniquely favored, but rather because the Earth is the "bottom layer" of the universe. Low in status, dirty and filthy. God wants the humans on Earth to know their own powerlessness and deep sinfulness. Looking up at the sky and finding it beautiful is because you are looking up from the filthy ground. Grass is stargazing, while Okz says he doesn't dare to look at the sky much. Today is payday for the guild, but because of added taxes, they received less wages. Grass, on the other hand, smiles, saying that being pushed to the brink is true life. Kaiji? Is that you, Kaiji! Then, to celebrate Okz's one-year anniversary at the company, Kaiji decides to treat him to drinks. But before drinking, they have to work, disguised. They are substitute fighters for a security company, fighting duels for others. Okz defeats his opponent in a few swift moves. Losing a duel means death. Before dying, the opponent says: Killing is a grave sin! You shouldn't want to do such a thing! But this is his job, so he ends the opponent's life with a single stroke. After Okz kills the opponent, he asks Kaiji: Will he go to heaven? This job has shown me countless expressions of people on the verge of death, from the poor to the nobles, no one has ever died with a satisfied look. They usually die with a look of fear, as if seeing the entrance to hell. Could it be... that very few people can go to heaven? Then, having killed so many people, will I... Kaiji asks in return: Do you have anything you like? Okz says he likes heaven. Kaiji then says: "I mean in this world." Okz believes it's inappropriate to like things in this dirty world. Kaiji disagrees, saying that if we no longer hold expectations for the world, our souls will instantly become clouded. We must never abandon "likes," "dreams," and "hopes." But Okz believes that "if you have expectations, they will ultimately be dashed." It's better to give up from the start, and the wounds won't be as deep. True happiness will never happen in life. Those who can attain happiness are only the small portion who are qualified from birth. For others, pursuing happiness is a waste of effort. Since we are people burdened with original sin, it is natural for suffering to be more than happiness. Therefore, hope can only exist in heaven. Our future and salvation exist only in the afterlife. Fantasizing about a better life in this world is just an illusion. We should give up on life. The only thing to do in this world is to pray. This way, even a useless person like me can be saved by heaven. Long live heaven! Long live heaven! Long live heaven! Kaiji hears this and feels that Okz cannot trust because there is no "eternity" and "perfection" in this world. But Kaiji says he has already found something he can absolutely trust, and suggests they talk about it over drinks. Upon entering the bar, some high-class individuals question how these two low-class people can be there. Kaiji simply says they are from the guild and are allowed in the bar. Okz is even more direct. He stands up and addresses the high-class individuals: "I'm sorry I was born! I'm sorry I was born! I'm sorry I was born!" Suddenly, their extreme humility makes the high-class individuals not want to bother them further. After the high-class people leave, Kaiji shares his discovery of "perfection": the observation records of Mars. While stargazing, Kaiji discovers that on the fixed sky, there are stars that move daily. Let me interject here, how did people distinguish between planets and stars in the past? How did we know that planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are closer, and other stars are farther away? Because at that time, we were standing on the ground looking at the sky, without even telescopes. Looking with the naked eye, it's actually difficult to distinguish which star is closer and which is farther. It's simply by looking at which star "moves." Last episode, we discussed the concept of the celestial sphere. Most of the stars in the sky don't actually "move." Not moving doesn't mean they are in the same position in the sky all the time. It's like a painting rotating in the sky. The painting moves, but the relative positions of each star remain the same. So the positions of the stars don't move, but the canvas moves, which is called "fixed stars." And a few stars don't follow the canvas's movement. Their relative positions change daily, and these are "planets." These planets are naturally between the canvas and us, closer. This is how planets and fixed stars were distinguished in the past. The sun is also a planet because its position in the sky canvas changes daily. At that time, the position of the stars in the sky was recorded before sunrise each day. After sunrise, you would have a general idea of the sun's position on the canvas. Over a year, the sun would travel a full circle on the canvas and return to its original position. This path is called the "ecliptic." The twelve zodiac signs are the constellations through which the sun's path passes. The ecliptic is the path the moon takes on the canvas. In the past, people used these records to infer how planets revolved around the Earth. The complex geocentric model we discussed last time was calculated this way. Returning to the story, Kaiji observes the position of Mars in the sky and discovers that Mars seems to draw a circle on the canvas. He observed for two years, and was just short of seeing Mars complete a circle. This is the "perfection" Kaiji discovered. Although the earth is full of filth, we can still see "perfection." Thinking this way, humans and the Earth still have redeeming qualities. But the high-class individuals on the side laugh, "Mars' orbit is a perfect circle? As expected of uncultured lower-class people." The two don't pay attention, finish their drinks, and leave the bar to go home. On the way, Okz coincidentally meets a colleague. The colleague chats with Okz, saying it's hard to team up with weirdos like Kaiji. The colleague thinks he's too "optimistic and positive." Kaiji used to complain a lot. His family all died from a plague, and he even failed at suicide. But in the last year or two, he has become cheerful, saying, "My family died to give me courage and let me see perfection." The colleagues think he's crazy and tell Okz to be careful. The next day, Okz accompanies Kaiji stargazing, and Kaiji is shocked because he discovers that Mars suddenly retrogrades on the canvas. It looks ugly and crooked. After discovering this, he starts crying: "Is this... my destiny?" Then, Kaiji and Okz's work today is to guard a heretic. Because the interrogator is a clergyman, he cannot travel in the same carriage as the heretic. Therefore, two guild mercenaries are assigned to guard the heretic's carriage, while the interrogator follows in a carriage behind. One of the accompanying interrogators is Novak. The interrogator reminds the heretic that he is connected to demons, so they should ignore anything he says during the journey. Midway through the journey, it starts raining. They can't see the sky due to the rain. The heretic asks the two: "Aren't you interested in the sky?" Okz tells him to shut up, saying he only finds people who betray the C-religion foolish. Actively giving up heaven, are they crazy? He also asks the heretic if he's considered repenting. The heretic says that those who should consider are you. Can the current C-religion truly save you? Or rather, does the heaven they speak of even exist? Isn't it because you are afraid to face the despair of this world that you place your hope in a heaven whose existence you don't even know? Kaiji believes the heretic's goal is to incite them and push them into despair. The heretic says: "No, it's you who pushed away despair. 2000 years ago, an old man in ancient Athens drank poisoned wine, giving birth to modern philosophy. 1500 years ago, a young man from Nazareth was crucified. His remorse formed the current C-religion. Humans sometimes use tragedy as nourishment to nurture new hope. Temporary solace cannot change reality. However, the struggles, torments, frustrations, or even one's own despair that arise from developing one's inner turmoil can be transformed into hope. But you cover your eyes and refuse to face despair, living on a posthumous guarantee that you don't know who provided. Such people will have no hope." Hearing this, Kaiji becomes agitated and draws his sword. Okz tells Kaiji to calm down, saying it's a heretic's trick. "Heretic? I know why you're afraid. It's not because heretics are incomprehensible, but because you yourself cannot truly believe in the existence of heaven from the bottom of your heart. Born on such a painful, chaotic earth, but in reality, there is no such thing as heaven, only an end after death. I understand your unease. Your pre-arranged afterlife is shaken. It must be painful, right? But you, all humans, should face this. A beautiful heaven, perhaps it doesn't exist at all." Hearing this, even Okz draws his sword. The heretic says again: "But this planet is more beautiful than any heaven. You want to believe it too, right? That there is something beautiful on this planet worth surviving for." Okz suddenly calms down, thinking that beauty in the world is just baseless fantasy. But the heretic says the basis is in the stone box on that mountain. You still have some time tonight. This is probably the first time in your life you have been given the right to challenge and change your destiny. Will you live a lifetime in comfortable self-denial, or abandon everything and gamble on self-affirmation? The choice is yours. Kaiji raises his sword and swings it down. He chooses to gamble. The carriage in front slows down, and someone jumps out. Novak, following behind, discovers the mercenaries have betrayed him. Novak picks up his crossbow and shoots at the carriage. The carriage overturns, and everyone inside falls out. The heretic is already severely injured. Okz pleads with Novak for help, saying he was threatened. But Novak doesn't believe him and raises his sword. Okz knows he can't win and will die. He immediately kneels and begs for mercy, saying it's all his fault. But Novak is not about to stop and stabs Okz with his sword. At this moment, the heretic shields him. Okz doesn't understand. The heretic says: "Because history needs you, please." Then he hands his necklace to Okz. Okz and Kaiji seize the opportunity to escape. Novak doesn't pursue them because people like them are completely illiterate and incapable of becoming heretics; leaving them alone won't cause any harm. Thus, Okz and Kaiji arrive at the mountain and see the stone box left by Raphael. The stone box contains two letters. One letter is left by the heretic, who recounts how he occasionally discovered this stone box while stargazing. He found that although the contents of the stone box are not yet complete, they are sufficient to change history and human destiny. Even if he dies because of this, thanks to this discovery, his life has gained happiness. The other letter was left by Raphael ten years ago, titled "Earth." The letter only states: "I offer the secret of this starry sky and hope that someone will profit from it and donate one-tenth to Potocki (adoptive father)." But the information in the stone box consists of formulas and Latin, which they cannot understand at all. So Kaiji suggests finding a monk named Badney. He was recently demoted to the countryside due to misconduct and taboo thoughts, so finding him is perfect. Kaiji hopes Okz will look at the North Star to confirm their direction because Kaiji's eyes were injured earlier. But Okz cannot. Although his eyesight is good, ever since the priest told him that the night sky is beautiful because we look up from this filthy, bottom-most Earth, whenever he looks at the sky, the stars seem to be looking down at the people living on Earth with disdain. Before that, he could look at the sky and probably liked it quite a bit. Kaiji thinks it's a shame to like the sky but then stop looking at it. He also lost his family and understands the pain of losing something deeply loved. What is truly lost is the heart's ability to feel hope from this world. He once cursed the world that took his family, but at the same time, this world is what allowed him to meet his family. He doesn't want to deny the world that allowed him to live with his family. He wants to affirm this world again. But Okz believes that only heaven holds hope. He has completely given up on this world and still considers the afterlife more practical. However, Kaiji wonders why that heretic, at the risk of his own life, would distance himself from heaven and praise this world. The next day, they reach a bridge before their target village. In the middle of the bridge, Kaiji gives Okz two choices. First, upon arrival, you will report this incident and the stone box to the C-religion. This way, you will have a chance to return and get closer to heaven. At this moment, the bridge suddenly breaks, and Kaiji falls. Okz pulls Kaiji, but Kaiji continues: Second, completely ignore the first option, embrace expectations for this world, and one day, look at the sky again with those eyes. Then Kaiji lets go. Okz hooks Kaiji's necklace with his foot. "Do you want to die?" Okz asks. "I entrust it to you." If this continues, we will both die. The reason that heretic fought so hard must be because there was someone he could entrust it to. This world is full of loss, and people will eventually die. But even if I die, this world will continue to turn. If that's the case, then there is a way to continue entrusting the world. This is the hope born from this world full of loss. You shouldn't go to heaven yet, because your expression still fears death. Kaiji tears the necklace's string. "This is my... destiny." Only Okz remains, holding Kaiji's遺物 (relics/belongings), and continues on. In the church, a monk wants to use a mathematical table to calculate. Badney simply asks for the formula. The monk says 5468 x 9315. Badney instantly calculates the answer and says he needs to use the mathematical table. Badney is very indignant about why he was demoted to the countryside. He was previously very famous in academia at a monastery, with outstanding abilities. He could solve problems that required ten people with just one person. But precisely because he was too excellent, he was punished. Because the monastery does not allow learning beyond the set content and insists on following rules. Badney wants to defend himself, but during punishment, speaking requires self-flagellation. So he whips himself thirty times because he wants to say more. He wants to exchange punishment for academic freedom. But the abbot finds it foolish and completely lacking in deep thought. However, Badney doesn't care. He is always waiting for the moment that will make him special, the moment that will turn history. "It is precisely because of your arrogance that you will never become a special person," the abbot says. He tells him to focus on theology instead. But Badney wants to use mathematics to solve the problem God gave humanity: why do planets retrograde? The heavenly realm created by God should be perfect, but planets actually move backward. God cannot have made a mistake; there must be a "reason" hidden that humans have not discovered. But the abbot says there is no reason, and humans don't need to know more about the heavenly realm. Heaven and Earth have different hierarchies, and what can be known are merely heresies. "But you must have seen it, right? The forbidden books recorded with heretical ideas, kept in the library." The abbot says not to mention it. Curiosity is a sin, and your desires are stronger than ordinary people's. Absolutely do not think of reading forbidden books; that is not something that can be dealt with by physical punishment, but will burn your eyeballs. The abbot forbids Badney from continuing theoretical research and only allows him to do observational work first. A few days later, after finishing his observations, Badney laments his lack of talent. He happens to pass by the abbot's office and sees the window is not closed. Inside, he sees a forbidden book, and it's "taboo related to the universe." Just as he is about to open the book, the abbot returns. He warns Badney not to open that book. Our monastery cannot have people with burned eyeballs. But Badney has been waiting for this special moment. He opens the book and takes a glance, and is immediately apprehended by other monks. He didn't even have time to read the contents of the book. One of his eyes is destroyed. Okz comes to the church to find Badney, who has fallen into disgrace. He says he wants to ask him to look at some information. Knowing he is a mercenary, Badney tells him to keep his distance and asks: "Do you dare to say that your information can significantly change my life?" Okz says: "From a certain perspective, it might change your life. Because the C-religion might have some problems." But he doesn't know the specific content, only that someone entrusted it to him. Then he takes out Kaiji's Mars observation records. Seeing the meticulous records, Badney looks at him with new eyes. But he asks why there are no records after the retrograde motion. Okz says: He felt pained by the retrograde motion and stopped observing. How can someone who doesn't even know about retrograde motion make such meticulous records? What is the purpose? But Okz doesn't know either. Badney feels that the person before him is ignorant. Just as he is about to dismiss him, he suddenly remembers the abbot's words: "It is precisely because of your arrogance that you will never become a special person." He suddenly stops Okz and says he can look at the information, but you must first continue recording the subsequent observations in that logbook, at least contribute something. However, Okz says he cannot look at the night sky. Badney leaves without paying attention. At night, Okz hesitates to look up at the observation point. Why do I have to do this? This should be thrown away immediately, and I should go back to town and start over. This world is inherently painful. As long as I endure this period, I will see heaven after I die. Yes, heaven... But those people, in my life, only those two people valued this world more than heaven. They will surely go to hell, right? But in my life, only those two people. Only those two people, only them. At the moment of death, their expressions looked very satisfied. Why, knowing they were going to hell, could they show such an expression? Despair can be transformed into hope, to have expectations for this world. Okz finally looks up at the starry sky. The next day, Badney is satisfied with Okz's records. So he follows him to look at the information in the stone box. After reading it, he realizes this is not just something that will change a life. This is something that will change the universe. God is indeed not wrong, and he created a universe that humans can understand. The C-religion indeed has problems. Okz is curious what the information says. "It says the Earth moves." Although there are still some doubts, strangely, the content written is quite reasonable. If the Earth moves, then Mars is not retrograde. It only appears retrograde because we observe it from Earth. This is the original orbit of the planet. Do you know the significance of this? This stone box tells us that the heavenly realm is noble, majestic, vast, and harmonious with the Earth. This Earth is as noble as that heavenly realm. The land we live on is not the ugly bottom layer; we are not cut off. In ancient times, we might have been part of this beauty. At least I believe so. Okz looks up at the sky. Today's sky looks particularly beautiful? Badney says: There is only one way to turn that "seems" into "absolute." Let the world turn. This story is from the second volume of the manga "Earth: On the Motion of the Earth." Our Brother Badney encounters the heliocentric theory for the first time. The monk is an allusion to Kepler, a famous proponent of the heliocentric theory in history. Kepler suffered from smallpox in his childhood and had vision problems as an adult, making astronomical observation difficult (telescopes were not yet available at the time). He had to rely on data left by others for his research, through which he discovered Kepler's laws, which tormented students and took a big step towards the advancement of the heliocentric theory. At the same time, Kepler supported the heliocentric theory because he believed that the world created by God must be the most beautiful. The beginning of the story mainly revolves around the concept of "heaven." I find the related discussions very meaningful, so I have kept the manga dialogue. You might find it a bit lengthy, but I think it's worth it. Often, the hope of heaven is just a person's escape from the despair of reality. Finding meaning in this world is humanity's task. Relying on meaningless heaven, the higher self, and other illusory fantasies is just a placebo for people to avoid facing reality. But today, I want to discuss not heaven, but Copernicus. Everyone knows that the important starting point of the heliocentric theory is Copernicus's "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres." But why did it take a hundred years for the heliocentric theory to become widespread? One important reason, which I didn't mention last time, is inertia. In the last episode, Raphael asked: If the Earth moves, why do we land in the same spot when we jump, instead of in the opposite direction of motion? The reason people 500 years ago didn't believe in the heliocentric theory was that they believed in a completely different physical system. At that time, people believed in the physics left by Aristotle. Aristotle believed that for an object to move, it requires "force." Without force, objects remain stationary. Imagine you push a car and then let go; the car stops. So when you jump, there is no force, and the Earth is moving, so you shouldn't land in the same spot. But inertia tells us the opposite is true. Once an object is in motion, unless a "force" stops it, it will continue to move. Galileo had a similar thought experiment. Imagine you push a car. If the ground is infinitely smooth and there is no friction, will it stop midway after you push it? Galileo thought not. Galileo thus concluded that motion does not require "force" to be maintained. Once motion begins, unless other forces stop it, the object will continue to move. Therefore, when we jump, maintaining our "rotation" with the Earth does not require additional force. We just need no force to stop us from maintaining our original motion. This is why when we jump on a high-speed train, we land in the same spot because there is no force preventing us from continuing our original forward motion. Thus, the heliocentric theory was destined to be explained only after the system of inertia. Also, Copernicus's "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres" had another problem: the orbits of the planets were not that simple. Copernicus also had to add many epicycles to adjust them to match observations. That is, even ordinary circular orbits of planets did not match the observational results. So "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres" did not reduce much complexity. It still required other concepts to adjust the results. Furthermore, Copernicus believed that celestial bodies moved at a uniform speed, but this is not the case. So why didn't "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres" make a splash? Because many technical problems were not solved. This is also what Kepler and Brother Badney will solve in the next episode.