Retreat Recording

Author: Jin Xingyao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Record of Seclusion is another collection of essays by Mr. Jin Xingyao, following Record of Unmourned and Record of a Lantern. It includes 75 essays covering topics such as discussions on ancient texts, historical research, prefaces and postfaces to works, as well as general lyrical pieces. The style is simple yet deeply emotional, holding both reference and aesthetic value. I published three annotated selections with Shanghai Publishing House: Three Hundred Poems of the Tang Dynasty (New Annotation), Three Hundred Poems of the Song Dynasty, and Three Hundred Poems of the Ming Dynasty. I originally intended to publish Three Hundred Poems of the Qing Dynasty, but due to limited energy, I had to give up. However, essays are still books. The advantage of essays is their flexibility—whether grand or trivial, from the vast universe to the tiny fly, all can be captured in my brush. The drawback is their clutter, as seen in this book, especially in recent years when my energy has declined. Writing a short essay often brings me the sigh of "writing in the air." The title Record of Seclusion can be interpreted as "writing or reading in seclusion," but for me, it also means "books closed behind me." While I will continue to write occasional essays, publishing books is no longer possible. This is both a rule and perhaps fate. Due to exhausted inspiration, what I can say in the postface is limited.