The following is a translation (with some small liberties taken) of Yue Zhu (朱岳）‘s  short-story, “消失术“访谈录。 On the word ‘fadecraft’: the phrase “the art of vanishing” was a little too clunky, although it sounded pretty, and a neologism is appropriate as the author uses one in Chinese, but I’m still not quite satisfied. Using -ology makes it too scientific and less of an art form. “fadecraft” sounds a little too silly, but that might be a good thing. Let me know if you think of something better. 

Foreword

Ayr:

“Fadecraft” is to most people an unfamiliar word. It is actually a very unique popular art form. In the course of preparing for this interview, I have begun to have some slight understanding of this art’s core substance, but if you wanted me to describe it, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Today, we are fortunate to have fadecraft master Mr. Drayton join us; and I’m confident that in talking to him, the mysterious fog enveloping this subject can be dispersed.

Discussion

Ayr:

Mr. Drayton, would you please explain to us what is meant by “Fadecraft”?

Drayton:

Excuse me, first I must correct a small slip that you made. I’m really not a fadecraft master, I’m only an enthusiast,  an insider. Fadecraft isn’t really mysterious, it’s just that it’s true meaning naturally evades peoples’ line of sight. Now, let me attempt to introduce the basic feel of fadecraft. Many of us, when we were students, have had an experience like this: the teacher has assigned homework to prepare for class, but you haven’t done it.  As the teacher looks for a student to answer his questions; his eyes sweep over the classroom. You’re nervous that the teacher will choose you, but what can you do to put yourself outside his notice? If you appear jittery, it’s very likely that the teacher will call on you, but if give him a little smile, he might also take a shine to you. In this kind of situation, what on earth can you do? This is the problem that fadecraft seeks to resolve.

Ayr:

So can we say that fadecraft a technique for helping us stay out of others’ sight?

Drayton:

That’s not precise enough, fadecraft isn’t what we normally mean by ‘evasion’. It isn’t stage magic; there’s a fundamental difference between fadecraft techniques and stage magic’s sleight of hand. It also isn’t camouflage; it doesn’t use props，coloration or the like. Fadecraft afficianados look down upon obfuscation and sleight of hand, because they are methods contrary to the natural state. Relying on equipment etc., is even more vulgar. That sort of thing is often mocked by my colleagues as the “bionic fadecraft.” In competitive fadecraft, these two methods are prohibited.

Ayr:

You just mentioned “competitive fadecraft”, how are competitions held?

Drayton:

Fadecraft competitions are held amongst the crafts’ enthusiasts, and the contests’ structure really is a bit special. Usually, twenty fadecraft devotees form a group, then spread out and stand in a broad open area, after which an outsider will carry their photographs (drawings in ancient times) and approach them to identify them. The later a person is identified, the higher their place in the rankings. The photos are all provided to the contest organization committee by the participants themselves, and the committee members carry out strict appraisal of each picture.  The contestant and the image must be sufficiently identical. When the pictures are placed in the seeker’s hands, they are just like a deck of cards placed in a random order, and moreover, every time a person is identified, the ‘cards’ must be newly shuffled.

Ayr:

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this type of contest, but the feeling I get is that winning or losing would be based entirely on luck.

Drayton:

That’s not an unreasonable thought. Every contest has an element of luck. Contests not only test skill, but also test luck; and fadecraft competitions are no exception. Yet, as the finalists are always the same few people, we must conceded that winning fadecraft competitions isn’t entirely a matter of luck. For example,  fadecraft master Shirle once won 61 consecutive contests, and this streak was only broken when he came across another international level master, the Dane Finsen.  As Schirle recollects, that contest was truly gut-wrenching. At the final stage, only he and Finsen had yet to be identified. Finally, he was defeated, but wholeheartedly conceded defeat, as even he hadn’t noticed Finsen’s presence, even though he had been looking forward to meeting him.

Ayr:

But how is this done? How can you stay out of other’s sight without relying on any camouflage or sleight of hand at all? Can you reveal a few of the secrets to our audience?

Drayton:

The skills of fadecraft are very difficult to put into words, and must be implicitly understood. My own trick is to pretend I never existed. When you think like this, you become a bystander to the whole affair, and the posture of a bystander is the most transcendent. The central premise of fadecraft is to let your mind and body melt into nature. Normally, people first notice what is irregular, so the more natural something is, the harder it is to discover. However, I must say, all the techniques and methods are secondary, as fadecraft isn’t really a competitive activity, but a state of mind. This spirit permeates the lives of the fadecraft masters.  For accepting the invitation to participate in this interview, I will presumably by scoffed at by some of the old poseurs in our field. One can hardly blame them; to a fadecraft devotee, appearing on television is a ridiculous thing. However, I have my reasons. In today’s society, putting one’s face out there is actually the most natural thing there is; the purest fadecraft isn’t to use vanishing to promote oneself, but rather to strive to totally disappear. Not only to vanish from the public, but also to strive to vanish from one’s own group. I think, my fellow practitioners, must reflect on this point.

Ayr:

When you say “vanish”, I really feel like you might just suddenly disappear .  Finally, I’d like to ask, what does fadecraft mean for ordinary people? Does it have any practical use?

Drayton:

Haha, as I already said, fadecraft is a form of spiritual cultivation, and it can lead one to a deeper understanding of nature, life, others and oneself. So, I tend to view it as a type of practical philosophy. But in everyday life, it is of course very useful. There are always moments when you must “hide in plain sight” from superiors, police, creditors, or one’s own wife. I even hope that I might rely on my skill to “hide in plain sight” and avoid Death himself.

Ayr:

Maybe you can even avoid the final judgment at the end of days?

Drayton:

That, I’m afraid, is impossible, but I can strive to be the last person judged.