Travel Notes of Xu Xiake

Author: Xu Gongchi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The Journey of Xu Xiake is a remarkable book that describes the self-exile of a refined scholar in the midst of famous mountains and scenic waters. It is a record of a scholar engaging in a spiritual dialogue with nature, and a history of emotional exchange between humans and the natural world. In terms of its writing style, The Journey of Xu Xiake also exhibits distinct literary qualities. From a young age, Xu Xiake was known for his exceptional memory and literary talent, able to recite poetry and compose prose effortlessly. His writing style, drawing inspiration from Zhuangzi, Liu Zongyuan, and Su Shi, is both elegant and profound, with a smooth and flowing narrative. His brushwork is fresh, classical, unrestrained, and transcendent, standing out in the trend of late Ming prose while maintaining a noble and independent style. The book is filled with brilliant passages, such as his description of the Jianping Ridge in Nan'an, Guangnan, Guizhou: "This is Jianping Ridge: its rocks are extremely towering, its trees are extremely dense, its path is extremely rugged." The parallel structure of these three sentences is powerful and striking. The words "towering," "dense," and "rugged" either share the same rhyme or are alliterative, demonstrating exquisite word choice that is far from being haphazard.