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Utilizing The Human Body for Memory Palaces-Japanese Mono Obo

Grandpa Bill

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Silly Mandarin Memory System-based on Japanese- Mono oboe no hiden.

That basically translate as Secret Memory Techniques.

Michael Gurner has produced translations in two volumes under that title in English, Book 1 and Book 2. They're on Amazon.

"The way that is bright seems dull;

The way that leads forward seems to lead backward;

The way that is even seems rough.

The highest virtue is like the valley;

The sheerest whiteness seems sullied;

Ample virtue seems defective;

Vigorous virtue seems indolent;

Plain virtue seems soiled;

The great square has no corners.

The great vessel takes long to complete;

The great note is rarefied in sound;

The great image has no shape."

That's from the Tao Te Ching.

  1. Body Part "Palaces" with Silly Mandarin Associations:
    • 1. Head (Forehead): 脑门 (nǎo mén) - "Brain Door" - Imagine a door on your forehead leading to a disco party in your brain! (nǎo [3rd tone]: brain; mén [2nd tone]: door)
    • 2. Eyes: 眼睛 (yǎn jing) - "Eye Wells" - Picture your eyes as deep, shimmering wells filled with tiny, singing goldfish. (yǎn [3rd tone]: eye; jing [1st tone]: well)
    • 3. Nose: 鼻子 (bí zi) - "Nose Child" - A tiny, mischievous child with a giant, wiggling nose, sliding down your own nose like a slide. (bí [2nd tone]: nose; zi [neutral tone]: child)
    • 4. Mouth: 嘴巴 (zuǐ ba) - "Mouth Tail" - Your mouth has grown a fluffy, wagging tail that wags whenever you speak, and it's covered in lipstick marks. (zuǐ [3rd tone]: mouth; ba [neutral tone]: tail)
    • 5. Neck: 脖子 (bó zi) - "Neck Son" - A little boy, your "neck son," is swinging from your neck like a monkey, wearing a tiny silk scarf. (bó [2nd tone]: neck; zi [neutral tone]: son)
    • 6. Shoulders: 肩膀 (jiān bǎng) - "Shoulder Boards" - Your shoulders have turned into miniature surfboards, and tiny cartoon characters are surfing on them. (jiān [1st tone]: shoulder; bǎng [3rd tone]: board)
    • 7. Elbows: 胳膊肘 (gē bo zhǒu) - "Arm Bend" - Your elbows are bending backward and forward like crazy, like they're doing the chicken dance. (gē bo [1st tone, neutral tone]: arm; zhǒu [3rd tone]: bend)
    • 8. Hands: 手 (shǒu) - "Hand" - Your hands have become giant, inflatable gloves, and they're trying to high-five everyone they see. (shǒu [3rd tone]: hand)
    • 9. Stomach: 肚子 (dù zi) - "Belly Child" - Your belly is a giant, transparent bubble, and inside, a tiny baby is bouncing around on a trampoline. (dù [4th tone]: belly; zi [neutral tone]: child)
    • 10. Knees: 膝盖 (xī gài) - "Knee Lid" - Your kneecaps are now tiny, ornate treasure chests, with little golden lids that open and close. (xī [1st tone]: knee; gài [4th tone]: lid)
    • #language,#memorypalaces,#mnemonic,

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