Rainy Day Solitude: Enlightenment of an Ordinary Person

Author: Li Qingming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: What can an artist offer to people? He is not a teacher, so he cannot impart any teachings. He is not a leader, so he may not be able to guide others toward a bright or safe path. In reality, he is also not a soul engineer, unable to transform others or even himself. They are people who have grown weary of viewing the world from conventional perspectives and naively believe that others may also be impatient. Thus, for their own sake, they seek fresh angles to view the world. I think, Li Qingming's writings are also searching for such angles.
— Renowned Writer Shi Tiesheng
These are words that shimmer with Chinese wisdom. Many ordinary yet profound truths have been completely forgotten by our era, such as gratitude for life, filial piety, and the three fears of a gentleman: fear of Heaven's will, fear of the powerful, and fear of the words of the sages. In this era, those who call themselves intellectuals must always borrow from others, making it a habit. This has created a kind of knowledge that is thought to exist only in the West. It seems that Chinese people, throughout the thousands of years of their history, have never contemplated questions like "Who are we, where do we come from, and where are we going." I have always been concerned about the quality of Chinese thought since the 20th century, especially after 1966. But often, when I encounter the writings of ordinary people, I realize that Chinese thought has not disappeared—it has merely shifted from the places where it was traditionally expected to appear to the writings of ordinary people who are too busy with practical matters to engage in idle talk. Their occasional notes on their thoughts, recorded in their spare time, are often wiser than the citations of intellectuals. I am referring to Li Qingming's essay collection Walking Alone in the Drizzle.
— Renowned Poet Yu Jian
Li Qingming is a man of business but with a philosophical heart, offering unique insights into life and society. Many of his in his writings are profound enough to be hung in high places as mottos.
— Renowned Writer Mo Yan
Hardship, vigilance, cherishing blessings, and gratitude—it is rare to see these words all appear in one book. In fact, it is not just a book. When words like the decline of morality no longer take root in our hearts, it is a sign that our progress in expression has far outpaced our conscience. The literary world often calls for a return to common sense. These great words are also a kind of common sense, the foundation and of a culture. When these words are strung together, forming a chain of cause and effect and presented in a simple manner, we feel a touch of human warmth in the midst of our survival struggles.
— Renowned Writer Aimi
A person who has personally experienced all five sectors—industry, agriculture, military, education, and commerce—and excels in each is rare. A person who, once a soldier, achieves success in unfamiliar fields one after another is also rare. A person who, amidst busy business and countless interactions—whether routine, customary, reciprocal, or unavoidable—still finds time, energy, and the inclination to write and express their thoughts about people and things is even rarer. In today's world, there are far too many activities to fill the time after work. Writing is not an easy task. It reflects a person's mindset, their style, their pursuit.
— Renowned Writer Jin Jingmai
The reality he experiences is the reality of words, and also the reality of the heart. It is a record of his life's practices and actions. His insights are born from his experiences in action, carrying a genuine and moving power. He says: "If you want to live freely, you can only live an ordinary life; if you want to live gloriously, you can only live a life of pain and complexity; if you want to live long, you can only live a simple life."