Table and mountains

Author: Yan Jingming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This series of books primarily focuses on the inner world of travelers' observations and reflections, rather than the external landscapes and skylines. In these books, readers can see the author's disciplined philosophical thoughts, a generally sound historical knowledge, as well as the ingenuity and sensitivity in the author's writing. History and landscapes, landscapes and the indigenous people who built them, undergo a relatively complete historical and cultural transformation in each book. Readers can immerse themselves in this cultural emotion, either flowing with it or jumping between it, giving rise to an alternative, lingering, and continuous experience that can be further pondered. This alternative, lingering, and continuous experience is both speculative and emotional; it is both exhilarating and indescribable. It is a cultural emotion that can no longer be newly created, replicated, or reconstructed, a sentiment that touches upon deeper emotions or psychological aspects when one sees historical relics that live up to their reputation. Such as the understanding of ancient architecture, the novel feelings for another regional culture, the genuine experience of the residential complexes of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Shanxi—"Confucian Merchant Family—Chang Family Courtyard," "Trustworthiness in the Middle Hall—Qiao Family Courtyard," "Red Six Great Houses—Wang Family Courtyard," and "Rural Imperial City"—the awe-inspiring order, regulations, beauty, tranquility, and preservation of world cultural heritage and historical cities like "Northern Wei Yungang," "Detailed Pingyao," and "Riding Through Yanmenguan"; the immersive yet unaware experience of "Wutai Mountain Awaiting the Top," "Jinci Dreaming," and "Hengshan Divine Craft"; and the silent yet profound of the root culture, "Hongtong Ancestral Roots," which is as invisible as untouched snow, and so on. Experiencing these above-ground cultural relics on the Shanxi Plateau nourishes the soul of the ancient civilization that we have gradually forgotten, and preserves the image of the continuity of history and culture. The "People Say Shanxi" series of books is an extremely authentic and reliable read. Its deeper meaning lies in all aspects of culture, especially in the ability to interpret beauty, ancient architectural art, and traditional culture. Each book tells readers where the value of these beautiful and instructive landscapes comes from. In fact, each book also allows for a mental journey through the landscapes. Shanxi is abbreviated as Jin, also known as Sanjin, Shanyou, and Hedong, names that people are very familiar with. However, "Table and Mountain River" is also a refined appellation for Shanxi, and it is not widely known. The collection "Table and Mountain River" includes 20 articles, whether in narrative, character portrayal, analysis, personal experiences, or revealing Shanxi's contributions to the development of Chinese civilization through modern perspectives, all are insightful and filled with the author's unique tone, reflecting the compiler's broad vision in surveying Shanxi's historical geography, cultural heritage, scenic spots, and commercial civilization, and in disseminating, elevating, and integrating them into mainstream world culture.