Life Force - An Interview with Renowned Scholar Professor Jing Kening

Author: Jing Kening
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Professor Jing Kening is a teacher I deeply respect in my heart. His character, knowledge, and speech have been praised by many, and have profoundly educated and inspired numerous people. His difficult and weathered life experiences, combined with his profound, incisive, and philosophically rich speaking style, are themselves a beloved epic of life. — Zhang Weiqing (Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Director of the National Family Planning Commission)
The late Bing Xin once wrote a short essay titled "How to Live Without Soil," reflecting on the contemporary China, where intellectuals with spiritual independence and personal integrity, like the noble scholars of old, are indeed scarce. Contemporary times, of course, start from after the founding of the People's Republic of China. I believe that when Bing Xin was alive, she certainly did not know of a scholar named Jing Kening, who, like the noble scholars of old, stood firmly for the great concerns of the nation, spoke with resolute conviction, criticized falsehoods, went to prison, and never yielded. If she had known, I am sure she would have felt a sense of relief when writing "How to Live Without Scholars." — Li Xiaosheng (Renowned contemporary Chinese writer)
We feel that he is truly a professor of professors, a scholar whose works are as numerous as the days of his life. He never wavered in his beliefs and never deviated from established principles. He was indeed a "stiffened bone" who "would not regret even if he died nine times." For this reason, when teaching traditional culture to young people, or when teaching ancient Chinese classics like the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching, or when introducing the biographies of historical figures who left a lasting legacy, we often mention him because he embodies the true spirit of the Chinese nation. He was a scholar-like speaker, a scholar among speakers. — Li Yanjie (Professor at Capital Normal University, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Educational Art)
This is a book that was not planned or deliberately marketed. The topics discussed are mostly those that I and the author have casually touched upon over the past two decades. The author is an accomplished journalist, and the first batch of graduates from my return to the university teaching field 25 years ago. He is exceptionally gifted, eager to learn, immersed in books, either absorbing knowledge silently or seeking guidance personally. As a result, he has remained close to me since graduation and has become a member of my family, naturally a frequent participant in my cultural salon-like living room. In our conversations, his discussions of issues are simple, natural, and unrestrained. Despite this, the arguments presented have naturally undergone the filtration of thought. What I did not expect was that the speaker's unintentional remarks would resonate with the author. My modest insights, like scattered fragments of jade, have illuminated the author's thoughts. They have fallen onto the fertile ground of the author's heart, like seeds, taking root and growing, finally blossoming into a tree of thought adorned with the flowers of knowledge. This is truly "planting willows without intention, yet they grow into shade." I am naturally deeply gratified by this. However, I dare not hope that this book will inspire those who seek knowledge in any way. That can only be judged and evaluated by the readers. Here, the author would like to emphasize that the "Reflections on the Conversation" section after each chapter's topic is indeed the essence of this book. If the conversation transcripts are the crystallization of the author's thoughts, then the "Reflections on the Conversation" are the crystallization of the author's independent thinking, and are well worth careful reading and savoring.