Life's Realm: Philosophical Musings from Changgang Mountain

Author: Yuanzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Our nation is not philosophically impoverished; it is merely that we often lack the courage to confront philosophy. From ancient times to the present—Laozi, Confucius, Mencius, and Mao Zedong—the philosophical peaks of our Chinese land have risen, inspiring the world, yet we ourselves are often lost in the mists of Lu Mountain. Our philosophical expressions differ greatly from the West: Western philosophy is extensive, while in the hands of Chinese philosophers, it may be condensed into just a few words. It is concise, ethereal, clear, and profound, filled with the light of wisdom in its artistic language. For this reason, the (5,000-character) Tao Te Ching has captivated the world. Life's Realm follows the fine tradition of our nation's classical thinkers, reading like a beautiful prose poem; when reflected upon, it allows us to contemplate the heavens and earth, observe society, and reflect on history, revealing the boundless flavors of life. Under the illumination of literary light, the depth of philosophy guides us step by step into the depths of humanity.
Everyone arrives in this world crying—it is no coincidence. Over millions of years of human history, there has been too much helplessness and suffering. Whether you accept the world or not, no one can choose or control it. And suffering also brings us enlightenment from the heavens. For five thousand years, we have immersed ourselves in the vast river of human culture. We have floated in the waves of survival and competition, struggled in the tides of reality and ideals, and experienced the (vortex) of desire, reason, and confusion. In the river of life, we come to understand the river, experience our roles, and tirelessly search for the shore.
This is a philosophical work about life and existence, a dialogue between us and the world. The author uses a literary approach to elucidate the philosophy of life. Reading this book will help us open the door to the universe and interpret the truths of life!
Our nation is not philosophically impoverished; it is merely that we often lack the courage to confront philosophy. From ancient times to the present—from Laozi, Confucius, Mencius to Mao Zedong—the philosophical peaks of our Chinese land have risen, inspiring the world, yet we ourselves are often lost in the mists of Lu Mountain. Our philosophical expressions differ greatly from the West: Western philosophy is extensive, while in the hands of Chinese philosophers, it may be condensed into just a few words. It is concise, ethereal, clear, and profound, filled with the light of wisdom in its artistic language. For this reason, the (5,000-character) Tao Te Ching has captivated the world. Life's Realm follows the fine tradition of our nation's classical thinkers, reading like a beautiful prose poem; when reflected upon, it allows us to contemplate the heavens and earth, observe society, and reflect on history, revealing the boundless flavors of life. Under the illumination of literary light, the depth of philosophy guides us step by step into the profound. (From the universe and all things to the world of life, the author progresses layer by layer, writing vividly. Nearly ten thousand words cover a series of major philosophical propositions, almost unparalleled in the nearly century-long cultural history of our nation.)
Author Biography: Yuanzhi, originally named Zhao Guohua, began professional writing in 1977. In 1986, he joined the Changchun Writers' Association. In 1992, he became the deputy editor-in-chief of China Brand at Xinhua News Agency. In 1994, he moved to Shenzhen and worked at the Special Zone Enterprise Culture magazine of the Municipal Propaganda Department. In 1999, he was appointed the executive editor-in-chief of the bimonthly Dadi at People's Daily. Currently, he works at a magazine publication in Beijing. He has published over 600,000 words of fiction, essays, reportage, academic papers, and political commentaries, as well as nearly 100 photographic and calligraphy works. As the chief planner and deputy editor-in-chief, he has overseen the publication of World Expo volumes for Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas; as the chief planner and editor-in-chief, he has led the publication of Military Treasury of the Century volumes on military theory, military figures, battle cases, and weaponry; and as the chief editor, he has published the Exploration Series of Chinese Enterprise Culture. Life's Realm is a philosophical work written by the author in a literary style.