"Come back to the root of the dish"

Author: Feng Lei Li Bingshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: "The Root of Vegetables" was written by Hong Yingming during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, consisting of two volumes. Hong Yingming, styled Zi Cheng, also known as Huai Chu Dao Ren, has an unclear biography. The "Four Treasuries" also includes his "Strange Traces of Immortals and Buddhists" in four volumes. From the content of "The Root of Vegetables" and records by Hong's friends such as Yu Zai Jian, we can learn that Hong Yingming was an early enthusiast of worldly affairs, later embracing Buddhism, engaging in extensive social interactions, and moving between Confucianism and Buddhism. "The Root of Vegetables" builds upon and refines the Ming Dynasty's small essays, categorizing and editing similar aphorisms and passages from China's thousands of years of historical literature, concentrating the essence of human wisdom over millennia for you to savor and reflect upon slowly.
The philosophy of Chinese people in dealing with life is marked by resilience—the ability to endure hardship and overcome obstacles with gentleness. The attitude of Chinese people toward life is optimistic, always believing that the radiance of human goodness will conceal one's own faults. The wisdom of Chinese people in navigating the world is sincere—food, drink, and sexuality are part of life; even light drinking and singing do not deviate from the true nature of existence.
"The Root of Vegetables" has much to teach us. Today, the hustle and bustle of modern cities have drowned out ancient charm, bringing us increasing anxiety, restlessness, and even insomnia and indulgence. In such times, "The Root of Vegetables" is like a clear stream, capable of washing away the dust of our anxieties and dissolving the accumulated frustrations in our hearts.