From Matching to Transcendence: How Vector Math Mirrors Life’s Standards

I believe we spend our lives solving a "matching and transcending" problem.

Matching is aligning oneself with a standard, the process and result of approaching it.

Transcending is discarding the existing standard, establishing a new one, and liberating oneself.

To illustrate, I use mathematical language.

1. Matching: Striving Toward the Standard

We can view a standard as a vector with preset values on each dimension, and we as another vector. By calculating the distance or angle between vectors we judge matching.

For example, an ideal young person's standard might include:

Good job

High income

Marriage

Children

Health

Broad friendships

…

We represent this as a standard vector and compute the distance or cosine similarity with a specific person's vector. A smaller distance indicates better matching.

Sometimes matching is unsolvable because standards conflict, leading to hypocrisy or beautiful lies.

2. Transcending: Are Standards Meaningful?

We question whether these standards truly matter. In Chinese culture, many important norms are called “heaven”. Yet life is short; why not enjoy each day?

When we realize standards may be flawed, we aim to transcend them, creating new, more suitable standards.

Mathematically, transcending is a vector transformation rather than simple matching. We introduce a transformation matrix that reshapes the standard space, redefining direction, scale, or even dimensions.

Possible transformation matrices include:

Rotation matrix : adjusting the direction of values.

Scaling matrix : changing the weight of certain standards.

Non‑linear transformation : completely overturning the original paradigm.

3. Nezha: Defying the Heavenly Standards

The film “Nezha 2: The Chaos in the Sea” illustrates the same theme. Characters initially strive to match the standard of becoming a deity, but later question and transcend that standard, asserting personal destiny.

I shoulder my parents' lives, the town's safety—what does this crime mean? I will change fate.

Immortals aren't necessarily good; demons aren't necessarily bad; demons can be righteous.

Who defines what is a demon? What is an immortal?

To the heavens, I say: my fate is my own; I decide whether I'm a demon or an immortal.

The story shows that while matching is common, transcending becomes crucial at key moments.

Ultimately, we should recognize the standards that guide us, then decide at crossroads whether to continue matching or bravely transcend.

References to linear algebra articles are provided for readers interested in the underlying mathematics.