top of page
YINGLING LIN
Ceramic Artist

Story

/Ceramic/ 2025/ 20 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft/

After the storm, finding a rainbow feels both unexpected and magical. Like tears, the rain pours relentlessly, but even the heaviest downpour eventually ends. When it does, some see the mud, others feel their soaked shoes, but I always search for the rainbow.

 

As a child, during a school trip to an indigenous village, I listened to an elder share a story about the rainbow. In Amis mythology, the archer Adig used a seven-colored fishing rod to capture the sun. That rod remained in the sky, becoming the rainbow we see today. The story left a deep impression on me, teaching me to treasure every opportunity life presents.  

 

To me, the rainbow is a profound and beautiful symbol, visible only after enduring the fiercest storms. Life’s storms may feel overwhelming, but they, too, pass. My storm arrived 900 days ago. In 2022, my father faced a relapse of liver cancer and required a transplant. I donated part of my liver to save him, and the surgery was successful. But six months later, he contracted COVID-19, which attacked his liver. Despite our efforts, he passed away. That moment shattered me. I felt suffocated, unable to accept such a cruel twist of fate.

 

In my grief, I stared at the sky daily, searching for solace. One night, I dreamed of my father. We sat together, and he told me to stay strong and not to waste his nurtured life. When I woke up, I looked out the window and saw a rainbow. It was as if he was sending me a message. I promised myself to rise again, to live fully—for myself and him. I believe he’s on the other side of the rainbow, cheering me on.  

 

Time hasn’t erased the pain but has taught me resilience, courage, and the importance of letting go. Now, whenever I miss my father, I look for the rainbow—a reminder that beauty and hope await after every storm. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me how to weather life’s storms and find the strength to move forward. May those still in the storm find their rainbow.



 

無常與永久

 

沉寂,風暴後遇見了彩虹。是偶然,也有驚喜的意外。

 

“淚水如湧泉,從眼底洶湧而上,又如同傾盆大雨般直落而下。但在大的雨也有下完的一瞬間,這時還在眼底沸騰的眼淚也將按下暫停鍵。”此時我們來想一下,滂沱大雨後會出現什麼呢?我想大家心中各自都有答案。也許有人會說,雨後帶來的泥濘;也有人會說,早已浸濕得鞋襪;或者被瓢潑大雨敲打後,淤積在樹下的花瓣雨樹葉...等,而我的答案是彩虹。到這裡,有人跟我一樣嗎?

 

記得在小的時候,校外教學去到深山裡的原住民部落,部落的長老奶奶說著彩虹的傳說,台灣原住民神話中,彩虹常與自然崇拜相關,因其壯觀現象帶來震撼與吸引力,形成彩虹信仰與多樣的神話傳說。阿美族的射日彩虹神話記載於李來旺主編的《阿美族神話故事》中,描述太陽因懶惰被月亮取代,卻不服氣,故意加劇光熱,導致生態破壞。神箭手阿德格帶著七彩釣竿征討太陽,將其勾住,使太陽受傷後變為月亮,並促成阿美族母系社會的形成。七彩釣竿則留在天上,成為今日的彩虹。此神話說明月亮的由來與母系社會的起源,並警示世人應安分守己,認真工作。深刻的打動小時候的我,鞭策著自己要做對的起上天給自己的機會。

 

對我來說,彩虹是一個極具深刻意義的美景,只有再滂沱大雨後才看得見。我們可能正在沮喪,害怕,甚至處在風暴之中,但總會過去,但經過大雨洗禮後的我們,才能看見放晴後的彩虹。

 

然而,這場大雨在900天前,落下了。這如雷震耳的消息,在2022年8月6日擊中了我與我的家人。我的爸爸從此離開了。 2022年初,我的父親肝癌復發醫生建議做換肝手術,得知消息的我,正在事業的起步,但很快的我們必須做出決定,而我捐贈了部分的肝臟給我的父親。 一切順利的我們,雖然經過一番折騰,但是手術順利,我也在康復後回到我的崗位上。但天不遂人願,就在我們都慶幸兩人都好好的活下來之後的半年,我的父親由於確診新冠肺炎,病毒攻擊肝臟,緊急送醫後卻搶救無效。我曾想,這手術可以再換他多陪伴我們20年,但上天確開起了最大的玩笑。這是什麼樣的考驗嗎?甚至自責,是不是我害了他。

 

這雨下的我一蹶不振,如洪水般淹沒了我,感到窒息。我無法接受這樣的結果。 幾經崩潰的我,每天都望著窗外的天空,想哭的時候就往上看,也許看著看著就找到他了。

 

猛然有一天,在夢裡遇見了爸爸,夢裡我們促膝長談,他是來跟我道別的。 與我說要好好加油,要振作起來,不要枉費我對你的栽培。 我從夢裡驚醒,看著窗外正好有一道彩虹。我告訴自己,要振作起來,為自己,為你雙倍的努力下去,而我相信你也在彩虹的另一端為我加油。至於傷痛,就交給時間來撫平吧。時過境遷,我努力的從傷痛走出來,但這也許是你教會我的最後一件事。要勇敢,堅強,戰勝困難,也要懂得釋懷。 也提醒我想你的時候就找找看彩虹吧。 謝謝你,我的爸爸。但願還在風暴中的人們,能找到屬於自己的彩虹。

  • Instagram

 © 2025 YINGLING LIN

bottom of page