Cover the sky, cover the ghost, cover the human world

Author: Xia Yuanyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Among the various styles of essays by renowned writers in Taiwan, there is a category that is relatively unfamiliar to us—miscellaneous studies. The representatives of this genre are Tang Lujun and Xia Yuanyu. The former, whose works include The Story of Chinese Food published by Baihua Literature and Art Press, received positive feedback; however, the latter’s works are rarely seen in mainland China. Xia Yuanyu was born in 1909 in Beijing to a typical scholarly family. His father, Xia Zengyou, was a distinguished scholar and a pioneer in modern literary reform. His older brother, Xia Yuanying, was a physics professor at Peking University and was commissioned by Cai Yuanpei to teach Einstein’s theory of relativity in the early 1920s. Xia Yuanyu graduated from the Biology Department of Beijing Normal University and served as the director of the "Wanshengyuan" (now Beijing Zoo) in Beijing. Later, he devoted himself to the study of animal specimen classification. After turning 60, he put down his scalpel and focused on writing, unexpectedly gaining fame as a master of miscellaneous studies and also hailed as the "Master of Humor." He passed away in 1995. This book is a selection of Xia Yuanyu’s works, featuring his finest essays on a wide range of topics. Whether discussing the sky or the earth, or the human world, he writes with effortless grace. From folk tales to the complexities of society, from myths and legends to historical research, his writing spans the breadth of knowledge, yet it is always grounded in rigorous research, reflecting his meticulous creative approach and solid expertise. His nickname, "Lao Gai Xian," accurately reflects his writing style. In the Taiwan literary scene, there are two extraordinary figures who were also close friends, considered peerless. One is Tang Lujun, and the other is Xia Yuanyu. The former, whose The Story of Chinese Food we have already read, will not be discussed here for now; let’s focus on the latter, the esteemed elder. Xia Yuanyu, known as "Lao Gai Xian," is originally from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and was born in old Beijing in 1909 to a typical scholarly family. He graduated from Beijing Normal University’s Biology Department and served as the director of the "Wanshengyuan" (Beijing Zoo). Later, he dedicated himself to the study of animal specimen classification. When he finally put down his scalpel and became a writer at the age of 60, he unexpectedly gained fame as a master of miscellaneous studies and was revered as the "Master of Humor." As the saying goes, "A master’s skill is evident at first glance." "Lao Gai Xian" possesses profound expertise, effortlessly discussing everything from folk tales and societal phenomena to myths and historical research. His readers are captivated, their horizons broadened, and they can’t help but laugh out loud. In reality, his writing required immense effort—searching high and low for ancient texts, conducting thorough research, simplifying complexity, and making profound knowledge accessible. The "Gai" in "Gai Xian" truly speaks to his origins. Mr. Liang Shiqiu praised his writing as "flowing from the heart," "lighthearted in style," and "appreciating its solid content."