Capítulo 896: Chapter 894: The Universe in My Mind
The Memory Palace is a kind of memory technique, as well as a book.
This book is also known as “Lima’s Memory Palace,” and it describes a rational memory method that has existed for a long time.
As for the origins of this memory method, there are many opinions. In fact, one says it comes from Ancient Rome, being a secret technique not passed down among a few great scholars. Precisely by mastering this method, the great scholars can acquire wisdom far beyond ordinary people.
Another theory says it comes from Ancient Greece, supposedly originating from the Greek poet Simonides. One day, Simonides recited a hymn in the grand banquet hall and left for some reason. Then the hall suddenly collapsed, and all guests inside perished, their bodies blurred and indistinguishable. Simonides, who survived, calmly analyzed based on the guests’ positions in the hall, identifying the bodies one by one. His ability shocked many, and eventually, under pressure, he revealed the secret of his memory.
An additional theory claims it originated in the European Middle Ages, existing as secret techniques among certain mysterious groups. Because printing was not widespread at that time, many books needed to be remembered by human brains, so these secret techniques emerged. Consequently, those who mastered these techniques were considered wicked wizards, many of whom were burned to death on the fire rack.
And the person who popularized this memory method was Lima after the Medieval period.
Lima was an Italian, born on October 6, 1552. His original name was Matteo Ricci. In 1571, he joined the Jesuits, and in 1577, he began his missionary work.
He initially went to India, and then traveled to China, living there for many years before dying in Beijing on May 11, 1610, at the age of 58.
It is said that during his life, he mastered several languages including Italian, Latin, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese, made significant achievements in theology, philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy, and authored works.
He was able to do all this because he mastered a special memory technique. This enabled him not only to quickly learn Chinese but also to memorize Chinese classics such as the Four Books and Five Classics, and even quickly retain articles, reciting them horizontally, vertically, and backward.
Later, he specifically wrote a book called “Western Country Memory Method” to document his memory technique.
Slowly, this memory method spread and continued to develop, reaching astonishing levels in certain unknown fields.
For instance, in the World Memory Championships, some contestants could memorize a completely shuffled deck in just over ten seconds, recall hundreds of numbers in a few minutes, or remember thousands of numbers within an hour.
To achieve this level, the memory technique is naturally not merely pure memorization or rote learning; its core lies in logic and association. Use relatively easy-to-remember concrete things, such as images and sounds, to memorize relatively harder-to-remember abstract things, like numbers.
Here’s an example: memorizing a string of 11 numbers from a phone number, 13754718495, in a few seconds.
Normal memorization poses difficulties, but you can break it down into 137547 and 18495, further turning them into homophonic phrases “Evil Mountain Flag, Samurai Flag,” “One Tyrant is Emperor,” and finally into a sentence—Evil Mountain Flag and Samurai Flag flutter, the sole emperor is the Nine Five Supreme.
Thus, the numbers turn into relatively logical words and acquire a certain imagery, making them easier to remember. With some optimization, they can even become permanently unforgettable. Even if they are abruptly forgotten, recalling the imagery will bring back the numbers without error.
The most orthodox Memory Palace method, based on this technique, typically requires establishing a personal memory location, that is, a palace.
The palace can be something existing in reality, like a familiar bedroom, or it can be virtual, but it must be something the memorizer can hold firmly in memory.
In this way, the memorizer can place certain markers in the palace to memorize some abstract things.
For example, at the entrance of the Memory Palace, place a loaf of bread; at the center of the Memory Palace’s ground, place a book; in the corner of the Memory Palace’s wall, put a seductively naked beauty.
Therefore, whenever they think of this room, the memory helps recall the three tasks for today—buy food, buy a book, and buy… well, wash underwear.
Of course, this is just the most basic demonstration of the Memory Palace technique. If willing to study, the Memory Palace can develop step by step from a small room to an exceptionally large extent, thus temporarily or permanently remembering anything one wishes to remember.
It can even undergo changes unimaginable to others, for after all, the Memory Palace is entirely created by personal imagination, encompassing all possibilities.
But back to the point, though the Memory Palace is a skill anyone can learn, appearing very cool, in reality, it serves no practical purpose.
The main reason is that in the real world, most people are ordinary, after all.
Therefore, when using a car, they do not need to know how every part of the car works. If the car breaks down, they simply go to a repair shop.
When buying something, they do not need to know how the raw materials for the thing are obtained, nor do they need to painstakingly make it themselves; they can simply buy it by paying money.
When falling ill, they do not need to understand what changes are happening in their bodies, do not need to perform risky operations, nor need to perform surgery on themselves; they simply go to the hospital.
In the impulse to revenge when angry, they equally do not need to know how to do it; just suppress the urge.
Otherwise, when preparing to make nuclear weapons, if you attempt to obtain some materials, you will be invited for a tea; when preparing to make poisons, if you try to get some materials, you will be invited for a tea; when preparing to make a hot weapon, if you try to get some materials, you will be invited for a tea.
After drinking enough tea, preparing to use some simpler cold weapons for revenge is also an option.
However, the ultimate outcome often is, winning gets them to the execution ground for gunpowder and peanuts, losing leads them to the underworld for hot spicy Mengpo soup.
Therefore, the skill of the Memory Palace, like some seemingly reasonable principles, sounds good, but in reality, it lacks practical use.
Really of no use. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel※fire.net
Nonetheless, things of no use are always mastered by some people.
Like Richard, he is a real-life master of the Memory Palace.
Moreover, he is an exceptionally adept master of the Memory Palace, adept to a degree far beyond ordinary people’s imagination.
Just like what’s demonstrated here, while other people’s palaces are just a room, a loft, a building, or a small town, his palace is… a universe.
So he can memorize innumerable knowledge that others cannot imagine, just like an encyclopedia, and showcase all sorts of incredible abilities.
All because he has a universe in his mind.