Little Window of Quiet Reflection: Conversations by the Warm Hearth

Author: Zhong Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Solitary Window, written by Chen Meigong of the late Ming Dynasty, is divided into four sections: Awakening, Affection, Sharpness, and Spirit, comprising 194 life reflections and maxims on how to conduct oneself. It emphasizes that one must always keep one eye open in life, never be foolish; humans are not without emotions, so how can one live freely; to achieve something significant, one must transcend the ordinary; and where in life is there no sorrow? Only by being detached and ethereal can one enjoy the refined taste and grace that a literary figure possesses. Evening Talks by the Hearth, written by Wang Yongbin of the Qing Dynasty, contains 184 philosophical insights and standards of conduct. Although it is a cold winter, it is precisely the right time to gather around a warm hearth and discuss what humans are and how to live, not only to stay clear-headed but also to savor the kind of philosophical contemplation and enlightenment that a sage possesses.