Xu Xiake

Author: Jin Tao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Reading an excellent biography can have a lifelong impact on you. Xu Xiake (1587-1641) loved reading extraordinary books from a young age and was determined to explore the magnificent landscapes of his motherland. With his mother's support, he broke free from the feudal constraint of "parents should not travel far while they are alive" and devoted himself to the embrace of nature. He braved difficulties and hardships, climbed the highest peaks, descended into the deepest valleys, explored rock caves, and navigated turbulent waters, using a scientific perspective to explore the vast land of China and wrote the timeless masterpiece "Travel Notes of Xu Xiake" with magnificent words. Reading a good biography can influence a person's entire life. The "World Great Figures Series" edited and published by China Youth and Children's Publishing House is a large-scale biography series specially prepared for young readers. The great figures introduced in this series are those who have made significant impacts and contributions in politics, military, economy, science, thought, literature, and art in world history. They have exerted tremendous influence on the course of world history. It can be said that the life of a "great figure" is history, and it is knowledge. Through this series, readers can broaden their horizons, enrich their knowledge, enhance their confidence, and move away from immaturity toward maturity. The "World Great Figures Series" has already published over 50 titles, with more to be released in the future. Compared to other biographical reading materials, it has the following unique features. In the selection of subjects, this series differs from general celebrity biographies. All the selected figures have had a significant impact on the course of world history. Among them are not only well-known figures from developed countries but also those from developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as great figures from Chinese history who have had a significant global impact. The selected figures are primarily positive, with a few exceptions who were influential in a negative way. In terms of content, this series provides a relatively complete account of the subjects' lives, from birth to death. Unlike some biographies that only record a few anecdotes of famous people, the "World Great Figures Series" presents the extraordinary life experiences of the subjects in a comprehensive, three-dimensional, and colorful manner. Compared to those massive biographies that often run into hundreds of thousands of words, each volume of the "World Great Figures Series" is only about 120,000 words, with a modest price, easy-to-understand language, and vivid plots, making it suitable for young readers and those with general cultural levels. Readers can quickly gain an understanding of the main life events and contributions of the subjects without spending too much time, drawing rich nourishment from them. It can be said that among the many biographical reading materials, the "World Great Figures Series" is a well-organized, appropriately weighted, and engagingly written biography series. Therefore, it has always been popular with readers. In the evaluation of the subjects, the "World Great Figures Series" remains faithful to the true nature of history, objectively introducing the achievements and contributions of the subjects and honestly addressing their shortcomings. This allows readers not only to learn about the subjects' life stories but also to develop a historical materialist perspective. In today's increasingly fierce book market competition, the editors of the "World Great Figures Series" have not compromised on quality for economic benefits. Many manuscripts have been revised multiple times before being presented to readers. As a result, this series stands out as a high-quality work among biographical reading materials. This book vividly recounts the life of our great geographer Xu Xiake. Xu Xiake lived during the late Ming Dynasty and loved extraordinary books like the "Notes on the Waterways of China" and the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" from a young age, determined to explore the mysteries of nature. At the age of 22, he began his travels for exploration, and his life's journey covered half of China. During his scientific explorations, he braved difficulties and overcame countless challenges that most people could not imagine. He made detailed observations of high mountains, rivers, karst caves, geothermal phenomena, and geological and topographical features, as well as flora and fauna, recording everything he saw along the way. He wrote "Travel Notes of Xu Xiake," a work of both high scientific and literary value. Xu Xiake made outstanding contributions to understanding our great motherland, uncovering the mysteries of nature, and enriching the treasure trove of geographical science, earning him the title of "Eternal Wonder of the Ages."