Voyaging in the Sea of Learning: An Autobiography by Ji Xianlin

Author: Ji Xianlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: "I have devoted my entire life to teaching and research, and now I am approaching my ninetieth year. Over such a long period, to say that I have had no experience or lessons is impossible. To say that I have had many experiences, both direct and indirect, is also not true. I am indeed an old horse, and it is only natural for me to know a little of the path. However, whether the path I know is correct, I have no certainty. I have never liked lying in my life. Now that I must write, I will speak the truth—I will not exaggerate, nor will I pretend to be humble. If there are any shortcomings, it is due to the limitations of my ability, not intentional." Professor Ji Xianlin is a towering figure in China's academic world and is now in his advanced years. His prose, known for its simplicity and sincerity, has been widely read and loved by readers. However, as a scholar, the field he specialized in remains relatively unknown to many. This book was first published by Shanxi People's Publishing House in 2000. This reissue by our press aims to introduce readers who admire Professor Ji to his academic journey and career. This edition also specially includes two articles by Professor Ji Xianlin that were published in the journal Wen Shi Zhe but have not yet appeared in his collected works: "My Primary and Secondary Schools" and "My High School" (which are combined into one chapter titled "My Schooling and High School" in this book) to provide readers with a systematic understanding of Professor Ji's growth. Here, we would like to extend our special thanks to Li Yujie, the secretary of Professor Ji, and Zhao Yu of Shanxi People's Publishing House. They have devoted significant effort to the publication of this book, and we are deeply moved by their dedication. Finally, we hope this book will be well-received by readers and serve as a guide and roadmap, especially for young friends. We believe this is also what Professor Ji Xianlin would have hoped for."