Siqi Pavilion: Remembering the Past

Author: He Baoshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book is a revised and edited version of the Hong Kong edition of "Siqi Ge Ji Shi." It is divided into two sections: "Biographies" and "Essays," totaling fifty-two topics. The main content revolves around reminiscing about old friends and recounting past events, covering dozens of modern celebrities such as Qi Rushan, Mei Lanfang, Qi Baishi, Li Shicheng,, Luo Dagon, Li Chongdao, Wang An, Han Xu, etc. Most of them were either close relatives or friends of the author, with whom she had deep connections. Due to her personal interactions and firsthand experiences, the six decades of memories and stories she recounts can be considered reliable accounts, unlike those derived from secondhand information or hearsay, which are often difficult to verify. The author was nurtured by her family's scholarly traditions and had a solid foundation in classical literature. Later, she attended Peking University, where she was exposed to modern education, achieving expertise in both Eastern and Western studies. "Siqi Ge" was the name of her study, symbolizing the idea of "learning from the virtuous" and commemorating her maternal grandfather, Mr. Qi Rushan. In her writings, the inner lives and struggles of several generations of intellectuals from the Qiyang Qi family are portrayed, though scattered across various chapters, they collectively offer a glimpse into the historical context and turbulent times of the 20th century, leaving readers with nostalgia and reflection.