On Poetry

Author: Zhu Guangqian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: "The Great Masters' Small Books," a playful name. This term "great masters" has two meanings: First, the author of the book is a great master; second, the book is written for everyone, serving as reading material for the general public. The term "small book" simply refers to its length, as it is relatively short in size. However, in terms of academic rigor, it is not light but rather quite substantial. In reality, the size of a book is also relative. A book with 100,000 words might seem small in today's printing conditions, but in the era of Laozi and Confucius, it would not have been considered small either. One of the purposes of compiling this series is to save readers' time, allowing them to gain more knowledge in a shorter period. In the age of information explosion, there is too much to learn. Supplementary reading has become a frequent necessity. If one is not skilled at supplementary reading, grabbing a little here and a little there, patching up this today and that tomorrow, the results may not be very effective. If reading is treated like taking medicine, one may also lose the (cóng róng - ease and joy) and enjoyment that should come with reading. Each book in this series is short in length, so even if readers read it carefully and savor it slowly, it won’t take much time, allowing them to fully enjoy the pleasure of reading. If they choose to treat it as medicine, it is small in dosage, easy to take, and easy to digest. We also have another purpose, which is to contribute to cultural accumulation. We collect and publish works that have stood the test of time and have been recognized by readers, ensuring they are not lost. Some books were once bestsellers but are now hard to find; others may not have attracted much attention at the time but have proven to be of great value over time. Both types of books need to be unearthed and given a second chance to shine. Books on science and technology focus more on practicality, and once outdated, they won’t attract many readers anymore, except for those studying the history of science and technology. However, humanistic and social sciences are different; many books in these fields are always fresh and relevant. Nevertheless, this series is not just a reprint of old books. We also want to invite renowned scholars to write new small books that combine academic rigor with accessibility to meet the growing needs of readers. The "Great Masters' Small Books" have a small format, and readers can tuck them into their pockets and read a few pages anytime, anywhere. Waiting by the roadside, queuing for theater tickets, on the bus, or in the park—anywhere, they can read. If more readers engage in this, it will add a touch of culture and learning to society. Isn’t that a good thing?