Wang Jia's Prefaces and Postfaces: Book People's Anthology · A Series of Prefaces and Postfaces

Author: Wang Jiaju
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: "The Pen as Oar" carries no profound meaning. Literally interpreted, it means using a pen as an oar, just drifting through the world of words. Generally, those who use wooden oars to row boats are often in small rivers or shallow ponds, with gentle breezes and clear scenery, undisturbed waves, and a leisurely atmosphere. Especially in late spring, the view is filled with white clouds, blue skies, purple swallows, and green grass, making the world so warm and tranquil. Holding a wooden oar, one can slowly row. Small ripples rise on the water, and one feels lazy enough to take a brief rest. Drifting through the world of words may not always be for leisure and self-entertainment, or it may also reflect the mindset of an amateur writer. By the end of the day, one feels quite weary, so they turn to reading books and picking up a pen, which can be considered a form of "art of life," serving as a small break before diving back into the hustle and bustle of earning a living tomorrow. Since this is the case, what books to read and what to write about are entirely driven by the need to satisfy oneself, with no grand purpose or deeper meaning. Therefore, these simple essays are not pretentious or deliberately obscure, nor are they written out of a desire to gain sympathy or seek attention. The value of such things lies solely in oneself—either revealing the humble path of one's heart or marking the ordinary footprints of life. For others, there is likely little more.