Open the book and chat aimlessly

Author: ZiCong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: On the same day, writer Han Shishan wrote from Taiyuan, "Nanjing is truly a land of talent and virtue. A hotel has even launched a publication, and it is being managed by a group of outstanding scholars. Though small, from its layout to its articles, it shows meticulous attention to detail. In my opinion, this is the right path for a publication. Luxurious-style publications are natural for women's fashion magazines, but for literature and culture, they are an affront. Cultural publications should be like a 'subtle makeup, natural appearance.'"
On October 16, "Jinling Evening News" published an article titled "Beautiful Scenery: Books Swallowing into Star-Rated Hotels," which stated, "Opening book cafes in star-rated hotels has become a rising hotel culture in Nanjing, attracting countless fashionable scholars and literati for leisure and recreation."
On October 17, Mei Zhi wrote from Beijing, "I have received several issues of 'Open Volume' and your letter and have read them with great appreciation. Due to my limited energy, it has taken me so long to reply, and I sincerely apologize. Please forgive me. The small journal is of high quality and engaging, truly a great achievement. However, 'bestowing contributions' is difficult, as I have found it challenging to write in recent years and even rarely pick up my pen to write letters. Therefore, I still ask for your understanding. I sincerely hope that this small 'Open Volume' will continue to thrive, allowing everyone to fully enjoy the benefits of 'reading is beneficial.'"
On October 18, Huang Zongying wrote to a friend in Nanjing from Beijing, discussing her impressions of Nanjing and her recent updates with Mr. Feng Yidai. She wrote, "I still remember visiting Nanjing in the early 1950s as a member of the Shanghai delegation to comfort the East China Liberation Army, led by General Pan Hanian. I have never forgotten the high steps of the Zhongshan Memorial Hall and the last cave of the Qixia Mountain Luohao. Later, some former friends from Beijing and Xuzhou who retired and returned to Nanjing passed away there. Talking about Nanjing moves me emotionally. After the Cultural Revolution, I also visited quickly—it was a gathering of writers in the Nanjing Library. In short, Nanjing has been very kind to me, but I haven’t been able to do much for it. Ming Hong’s 'Heaven’s Mercy for Sorrowful Grass, Bright Late Years in the World' is deeply moving. But since January 1, 1998, when Mr. Feng suffered his fourth cerebral infarction, he has beened four times in two and a half years and cannot write. I have also been exhausted. For over two years, I have rarely written, but we are still able to read, reading extensively and watching newspapers. Recently, we have finally found peace. Thank you! And ask everyone to be well."
On October 19, Professor Lin Songxi, President of the Korean Painting Association and Dean of the East Asian Painting Department at Deokseong Women’s University, stayed at Fenghuang Hotel. Professor Lin has extensive research on Chinese culture and a strong interest in Nanjing’s cultural history. He mentioned multiple times the "Jiezi Garden Painting Collection" edited and published by Li Yu. He said, "If Nanjing could restore and rebuild Jiezi Garden, painters both at home and abroad would surely contribute, donating calligraphy and paintings, making Jiezi Garden another scenic spot in Nanjing. Professor Lin praised Fenghuang Hotel’s cultural atmosphere and scholarly charm and donated one of his paintings to Fenghuang Art Museum as a. His paintings have been presented as state gifts by the President of South Korea to dignitaries in the United States, France, India, and other countries. Following the establishment of the Fenghuang Reading Club, English Salon, and Hollywood Cinema, Fenghuang Hotel has recently founded the "Fenghuang International Chinese Writing Center," with renowned writer Huang Chang providing the name. It is reported that the center’s director has invited the famous American-Chinese writer Nie Hualing to serve as an advisor to the center and as a resident writer to honor her contributions to the establishment of the Iowa International Writing Center in the United States and the development of Chinese writing worldwide. The Fenghuang International Chinese Writing Center will officially open to Chinese writers and scholars from around the world starting January 1 next year, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity, as long as they write in Chinese. Writers can apply for admission and submit writing plans, which will be reviewed by the center’s expert committee. The final selection will be made by a secret ballot. Once admitted, writers’ living and working conditions will be guaranteed. The center will provide free accommodation, meals, and access to resources. The library, computers, internet, fax, typing, and cars will all be available to writers at no cost. The works created by writers at the center will be fully owned by them, with all rights to publication and distribution preserved. Writers can also entrust the center to contact publishing houses on their behalf, with no impact on copyright, royalties, or other rights.
On the same day, the globally renowned cultural exchange envoy—the "Faithful Servant," the world’s oldest cruise ship still in operation—made its first visit to Nanjing, docking at Xinsheng Port. On the "Faithful Servant," there is the world’s largest floating library, located on the uppermost deck (with the book storage located on the lowest deck), covering about one-third of the ship. The library houses over 6,000 varieties of books, totaling over 500,000 volumes from around the world, covering fields such as science, technology, sports, cooking, and art. Whenever the "Faithful Servant" visits a port, it engages in cultural and academic exchanges with the local community and opens its library to the public, selling books at extremely low prices to promote education and cultural development. Since 1977, the "Faithful Servant" has visited 85 countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. To date, over 15 million people have boarded the ship for visits. In 1996, the "Faithful Servant" made its first visit to Shanghai. This time, it returned to China, visiting both Shanghai and Nanjing. The next day after arriving in Nanjing, over 100 crew members attended the "International Coffee House Student Exchange" at Nanjing Normal University. On the 21st, they visited the Jiangdongmen Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders; on the 22nd, they visited a church and held a family reunion with Nanjing residents; on the 23rd, they visited universities and donated books to schools and libraries in Nanjing; and on the 24th, they left Nanjing and headed to Japan.
On October 23, "Qianjiang Evening News" published an article titled "Entering the Door, You Are a Book Lover," written by Wen Min, which stated, "Fenghuang Hotel has also launched its own reading journal, titled 'Open Volume.' It is a small publication covering literature, history, philosophy, and economics, book reviews, book lover networking, and book information, available for hotel guests to take freely."
On October 28, "Friendship Newspaper" published an article titled "Jinling Reads 'Open Volume'" by Cheng Fang, which wrote, "'Open Volume' has a unique and delicate layout with an elegant cover design, exuding a strong cultural flavor. Each cover features a bookplate, with a row of ancient Chinese character origins on the right, complementing the two characters 'Open Volume' in Lu Xun’s handwriting in the center, creating a harmonious and subtle effect. Unlike some magazines with aggressive cover designs, this one maintains a calm and reserved tone. The inside cover features photographs of cultural figures such as Qian Zhongshu, Ke Ling, Shi Tiesun, and Cheng Qianfan, capturing the wisdom and radiance of the masters as if they are offering earnest advice to the younger generation. The inner pages are richly illustrated with book lovers’ handwriting, calligraphy, cartoons, and book covers, as well as carefully selected engravings and small illustrations, such as a seal of "Reading Joy" and Huang Yongyu’s "Owl" and Ding Cong’s "Hedgehog," bringing readers great pleasure. In short, the entire journal’s style aligns with its founding purpose, brimming with thought-provoking scholarly charm. Truly, 'reading is beneficial,' and it is easy to finish this small publication in one breath."