Reading reading

Author: Chen Pingyuan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Reading, buying books, collecting books—this is undoubtedly a refined pursuit shared by readers throughout history, not just among intellectuals in the 20th century. Yet in an era where it's often difficult to find a quiet desk, there are still some readers who remain true to their habits, not only reading but also writing and discussing about reading. This is enough to prove that "the world may change, but nature is hard to alter." Perhaps it is precisely these decades of wind and rain that have given articles about reading a touch of the mundane, far beyond mere textual criticism. Thus, apart from elegance, there is also a bitterness that is worth savoring. However, the relentless pressures of the times have led many writers to focus directly on political opinions, with good intentions but resulting in inferior articles. Of course, this discussion is about articles on reading; political essays have their own value. I do not wish to advocate for "refinement" or "charm," merely that the selected articles at least convey a sense of the joy of reading.
I
Since one knows a few characters, it is natural to flip through books—this is human nature, and it is not necessarily refined or unrefined. But since reading has become a professional preparation and a means to advance in society, the "refined pursuits" of readers have turned into pure "matters of the mundane." For thousands of years, the arduous study of "hanging the head from the beam and piercing the thigh with a needle" has become the right path for readers, while reading for interest has become a wrong path—least of all, misleading others. Thus, generations of ordinary people have emerged, treating books as mere tools without understanding the true meaning of "reading." Naturally, the image of readers has become one of suffering,ness, and poverty.
Yet "reading" is one of life's great joys. As Lin Yutang said, "All those who read and achieve fame take great pleasure in reading" (On Reading). Whether one can appreciate the joy of reading is the mark of whether one has truly entered the world of reading. Many people read books their entire lives yet never truly enter this world, precisely because they engage in "arduous reading," tasting only the bitterness of books—"There is gold in books and jade in books"—is a typical example of this ideal. Relying on "gold" or "jade" to prove the value of reading is like giving children candy after medicine; it only proves that reading itself is indeed a bitter task. The "art of reading" must first transform the "bitter task" into a "pleasant one."
It is said that "true reading" is "picking up a book when the mood strikes" (The Art of Reading). Lin Yutang teaches how to read, while Lao She teaches what to read: "Put down what you don’t understand, what confuses you, what bores you, without hesitation" (On Reading). In reality, it is impossible not to read "boring" books; otherwise, you would never know what books are "interesting." Moreover, there are always some books that one must read. Lu Xun once distinguished between two methods of reading: one is "reading books that must be read," which requires effort; the other is "leisurely reading—just flipping through" (Just Flipping Through). The former aims to gain knowledge and requires one to sit upright; the latter is for leisure and allows one to fully appreciate the joy of reading. As for the benefits, it is hard to say which is greater. For the overly serious Chinese reading world, advocating for reading for interest or "just flipping through" for leisure may be beneficial.
This method of reading is no match for exams, but is reading solely for the endless exams in life? In life, one may shine in exams, first being tested and then testing others—"those who survive exams are divine." Yet this has little to do with reading, though it is not entirely unrelated. A good reader is not necessarily a good test-taker. Lao She called the examination system "the best of all systems, it makes people so busy that their brains are strictly divided into small pieces—one for history, one for chemistry, one" (Exams Are Not Death). While there is some truth to using exams as motivation and guidance in primary and secondary education, university education should fundamentally reject this form of reading guidance. In addition to advocating for "finding writers with similar thoughts and literary soulmates" as guides for reading (On Reading), Lin Yutang also expressed great indignation against the modern Chinese university education system centered on exams, believing that the ideal university education should be "nurturing." Using the words of an Oxford professor: "If he has extraordinary talent, his tutor pays special attention to him, and he keeps smoking until his genius ignites" (Smoking and Education). Nowadays, smoking is fashionable, but I wonder if Oxford professors still smoke for their students? However, "a night of conversation with you is better than ten years of reading" and "hanging the head from the beam, piercing the thigh with a needle" are indeed two entirely different realms of reading. The former also speaks of "seeking knowledge," but it does not forget the joy, which is the essence of "reading."
As the saying goes, "Let your ears not hear the affairs outside the window, and let your heart focus only on the books of sages." Yet to truly understand and master the "books of sages," one must care about "the affairs outside the window." Not by abandoning books to focus only on "the affairs outside the window," but by reading beyond the books or using "the affairs outside the window" to interpret the books. "Opening old books and comparing them with living people turns dead books into living ones" (Zhou Zuoren's "On Reading with Closed Doors"). Knowing characters does not necessarily mean reading good books. Reading dead books or reading in a dead manner is not the proper mindset of a modern reader. "The sound of the wind, the sound of the rain, the sound of reading—every sound enters the ear; the affairs of the family, the affairs of the country, and the affairs of the world—every affair concerns the heart"—this also reflects the true state of Chinese readers. Not all are like the Donglin Party members, directly involved in political struggles, but caring about the times and understanding human nature are key to transforming dead books into living ones and turning arduous reading into a great joy in life.
In fact, even if you are not interested in the times, the trends of the era will still affect your taste in reading. The several articles selected here, discussing whether or not to read or how to read bound books (ancient books) in different eras, serve as clear evidence. In the May Fourth era, discussions about how not to read or read fewer ancient books, and in the 1980s, advocating for reading major ancient classics from a young age, are all responses to the issues of their respective times.
II
Reading is a joy, and precisely because it is endlessly enjoyable, it has drawn generations of readers into a state of obsession. Such obsessed readers were called "book lovers" in ancient times, a refined term; today, they are called "bookworms," with a hint of disdain. Bookworms "enjoy reading and writing, but are unwilling to sacrifice their interests or meaningful pursuits for comfort and status" (Wang Yi's "Bookworms"). In a modern society increasingly driven by the market economy, this is truly outdated. Yet "bookworms have their own joys, perhaps even an endless joy" (ibid). A bookworm with a perpetually mournful face must be an imposter. During the War of Resistance, when professors' incomes were not as high as barbers', Wang Yi said, "In these times, bookworms are even harder to make a living." These words fit today's genuine and fake bookworms perfectly. But may the bookworms who uphold Chinese culture not become extinct despite the hardships of the times.
A bookworm’s hands never part with books, not for the sake of appearances, especially in times when knowledge is devalued, there is no need for appearances. "He treats books as friends and reading as a joy as great as talking with friends" (Ye Lingfeng's "Book Lovers"). In "The Pleasures of the Study," Ye Lingfeng depicts a scene that many readers yearn for:
In the depths of winter, with curtains drawn and the stove extinguished, under the quiet light, leaning on a chair, flipping through the new book I bought that day—the mood is like searching for a new companion on the lonely journey of life.
Perhaps every true reader has a similar mood and understanding. The famous saying of the Song Dynasty poet You Mao, passed down through the ages, about book collecting goes: "Read when hungry as if eating meat, read when cold as if wearing a coat, read in solitude as if with friends, read in sorrow as if playing musical instruments and zithers." This conveys the same idea. This explains why throughout history, so many brilliant minds, with ample money, chose to "regret not even nine deaths" in buying, collecting, and reading books.
Almost every book-loving bookworm also loves "books" as a "thing," perhaps out of love for the whole. It is not just for the desire for knowledge, but more for an aesthetic perspective. This is why readers demand not only clear and correct calligraphy but also demand editions, layout design, and even binding and illustrations. Moreover, stamping book seals or pasting book labels on books is mainly for aesthetic pleasure. It is precisely these trivial embellishments that clearly show that reading should be a high-level spiritual enjoyment, not a bitter "labor."
What better illustrates the recreational nature of reading than the "habit" of buying and collecting books? True readers do not fantasize about getting rich from book collecting. In other words, for readers, visiting bookstores is a completely loss-making business. Who would willingly suffer for the sake of money? Unless in the act of browsing bookstores and handling books, one gains a special spiritual pleasure, mere curiosity cannot drive collectors to spend so much—especially in modern society with accessible libraries. Like stamp collecting, it is difficult to argue that one gains great benefits from it; it simply makes those who enjoy it feel their lives are and their spirits joyful. And is this not enough? Let a reader dream of "ignoring everything and rushing straight to the bookstore" (Sun Li's "The Dream of Books"), showing the allure of visiting bookstores. Zheng Zhenduo’s feelings are genuine: "It is too enjoyable" (Ye Shengtao's Preface to "West Ding Book Talk"). Precisely because this "enjoyment" is free of utilitarian motives and purely based on interest, it reveals true character and truly deserves the word "refined."
In daily life, this is merely a scholar’s leisurely pursuit. Yet in the war-torn era, preserving ancient and modern classics at the expense of personal life and death has a heroic quality. Zheng Zhenduo said: "Preserving the nation’s cultural heritage is no less arduous than fighting on the front lines, yet in this era of solitude, competing with merchants, I have truly endured hardships to obtain these thousands of books" (Preface to "Records of Books Obtained in Hardship"). Collecting books is extremely difficult, while dispersing them is extremely easy; the "calamities of books" are primarily caused by war. For thousands of years, generations of bookworms who loved books have poured their hearts into preserving and passing on the classics of Chinese culture. The bitterness and joy of this can be glimpsed in the two prefaces to Zheng’s "Records of Books Obtained in Hardship." As for "Notes on Visiting Bookstores" and "Records of Visiting Suzhou Bookstores," though ordinary visits to bookstores without dramatic events, their elegant writing and engaging narration contrast nicely with the urgent and explosive tone of the previous two pieces. Moreover, they are even more readable because they involve more knowledge of printing and the evolution of books.
Of course, we must not overlook the educational aspect of reading. Like Huang Yongyu, who "relied on books to support his beliefs in turbulent times" (Books and Memories), there are countless examples. However, the articles selected from this perspective in this book are very few. The reason is that once the topic shifts to "books and people," the focus naturally shifts to "people," with "books" becoming merely a starting point. Moreover, such articles are not easy to write, perhaps because this experience is too common, and everyone can say a few words, making it difficult to create something truly outstanding.
III
The last six essays in this section introduce bookstores in four major cities around the world: Tokyo in Japan, London in the UK, Beijing in China, and Shanghai in China. Each essay has a different perspective, but the main focus is remarkably consistent: highlighting the spiritual connection between bookstores and intellectuals. Bookstores are, of course, places of commerce, and owners naturally prioritize profits. Yet operating a bookstore is different from operating other businesses; it is also a quasi-spiritual activity that spreads culture. This is why good bookstore owners, in addition to "business acumen," also have a touch of "culture." It is precisely this quality that makes the relationship between readers and bookstores not just a simple business transaction but one of mutual dependence—prosperity and decline are intertwined. The boom or bust of the book industry not only affects bookstore business but also reflects, from a specific angle, the mindset and value pursuits of contemporary readers. The decline of the book industry is not just a cause for sorrow for bookstore owners but also for readers who frequently visit bookstores, as it indicates signs of cultural decline (A Ying's "City God Temple Book Market").
While there are scholars who are also book merchants, they are not many. The cultural essence of bookstores mainly comes from their respect for readers and their efforts to provide convenience for their reading activities. Zhou Zuoren praised Tokyo’s Maruzen Company for its "pleasant attitude of not closely monitoring customers," while he criticized bookstores that "treat customers half as thieves and half as pigs" (On Bookstores in Tokyo). In comparison, the old bookstores in Liulichang described by Huang Chang are even more enchanting:
In the past, people would come to the bookstores in Liulichang and sit down to chat with the shopkeepers for half a day, even if they didn’t buy a book. The shopkeepers were not just merchants but also friends, some of whom were knowledgeable experts in editions and catalogs. They were excellent disseminators of knowledge and consultants, offering valuable clues, traces, and academic trends. Naturally, their ultimate goal was still business, but this was not the only aspect. At least, their business methods were flexible and culturally rich. (Liulichang)
And Zhu Ziqing introduced bookstores in London, not only those that occasionally held art exhibitions to expand their influence but even those that organized poetry readings, such as "poetry bookstores" run by poets who influenced literary trends at the time (Three Bookstores). Bookstores becoming organizers of literary activities or humanities research is no easy feat! However, well-run bookstores can indeed play a positive role in the cultural construction of society.
For readers, having the opportunity to frequently visit such refined and relaxed bookstores is a great joy, with benefits no less than visiting libraries. This is why Zhou Zuoren cherished Tokyo’s "Maruzen," A Ying cherished the old book stalls in Shanghai’s City God Temple, and Huang Chang cherished the numerous bookstores in Beijing’s Liulichang. Yet every reader has a few bookstores or bookshops worth deeply cherishing. They may not be as famous as Liulichang, hence less written about.