"Bookland Ramblings"

Author: Cao Peigen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Each volume in the "Book Forest Whispering Series" has its own focus, but the spirit of exploring ancient and modern books, book culture, and the essence of the rise and fall of classics is deeply connected. Their articles are both scholarly and engaging, allowing readers to enjoy the subtle conversations while feeling the cultural vicissitudes. The "Book Forest Whispering Series" covers refined topics such as reading, hunting for books, writing books, reviewing books, collecting books, and selling books. It is a series that caters to the needs of readers and is highly readable, favored by scholars.
With the extensive digitization of information, traditional books face challenges, and the exploration of modern lifestyles has somewhat dimmed traditional cultural reception forms. Books, once the dominant cultural products, now stand somewhat precarious under the impact of modern commodities. However, those who believe in them will continue to believe. Regardless of how humans use high-tech devices to live, paper books will still play a vital role in human culture. The editing and publication of this series aim to stand up in the clamor of the secular tide, waving a flag for the glorious history of paper books, honoring the great minds who rose from the world of paper books, and comforting those who continue to immerse themselves in paper books and will carry on their legacy. Naturally, publishing giants like Sanlian Bookstore have made similar efforts before. We hope to join all fellow enthusiasts in preserving our spiritual homeland—the world of books, simple yet ancient, resilient yet noble, filled with the scent of ink.
This series is meticulously edited and simply bound, embodying harmony between form and content, making it rare among its kind. Rambles in the Bookland by scholar Cao Peigen records the history of book collecting in Changshu, a renowned book culture hub in China. It contains four chapters: "Scholars of Yu Mountain," "Book Abundance in the County," "Book Affairs of Qin River," and "Scholarly Taste of Books." Each chapter focuses on different aspects, yet all delve into deep research with no empty words, reflecting the scholarly spirit of the author. The Changshu depicted in the book can be considered a cultural center in Southeast China, aligning with its historical reputation. Anyone seeking to understand why Changshu holds such importance throughout history will find answers in this book.
Cao Peigen's Rambles in the Bookland is a comprehensive exploration of Changshu's book culture, also touching on the book world of surrounding regions. The author is a researcher at Changshu Institute of Technology and an expert in the history of book culture in Changshu. Moreover, Changshu, located in the heart of Wu Province, boasts a rich cultural heritage, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties when it produced numerous scholars such as Qian Qianyi, Mao Jin, Qu Shaoji, Chen Kui, Zhang Jinwu, Gu Zuyu, Pan Zuyin, Huang Moxi, Zeng Pu, Wu Shuangre, and Yao Mingai, among others. There are also government libraries, numerous academies, and temples with extensive collections. Thus, the book is not only accessible to ordinary readers but also highly valued by professionals in Changshu literature, historical materials, archives, and genealogy.