Scenery on Paper - New Collection of Poems, Calligraphy, and Paintings by Zhou Tao

Author: Zhou Tao / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: When I was young, I read Fengshen Bang and was amazed at how Bìgàn, after having his heart torn out, rushed back and encountered Su Daji, who had transformed into a peasant woman, shouting, "Selling heartless vegetables." Out of curiosity, Bìgàn asked, "Can a vegetable live without a heart?" Su Daji sneered, "There are heartless people in the world, so how can there not be heartless vegetables!" Upon hearing this, Bìgàn exclaimed and died. As a young man, I couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning of this scene, but only found the plot’s strangeness unforgettable. As I grew older and gained more worldly experience, I suddenly realized the author’s profound intent. I was astonished to understand that the world has always been filled with heartless people, not just recently. In fact, it has always been more heartless people than () ones. The saying "The heart is no longer ancient" simply means there are more heartless people and fewer () ones. Bìgàn could not survive without his heart, while Dānkē held his heart to illuminate the dark night. What does "heart" refer to? Is it ideals, spirit, conscience, kindness, simple desires, tireless pursuits, a love for beauty, a sense of compassion for life, or a selfless dedication without expecting anything in return—in short, the truth of the heavens and earth. These are the thoughts that came to me while reading Chen Xi’s manuscript. I can say that Chen Xi’s book is written by a (), and therefore it is a valuable book worth reading carefully. There are many people who write better than her, more knowledgeable than her, more accomplished than her, more insightful than her, and more talented than her. As for those who write nothing but trash, there are even more of them. But—please, readers, take note—how many books can make you see a real, beating heart? Her sincerity and genuine emotions, her unfiltered love and hatred, her innate desire to seek knowledge and connect with others, make her words deeply moving. She is not stronger than others in any way except one: she is (), and sincerity moves people. This is a less polluted world by environmental degradation, and it is also less polluted by various fashionable trends in the literary environment. Authenticity, simplicity, and naturalness have become her characteristics and landscape. This is a book of genuine human-to-human communication, truly like a letter sent from the heart. There is no relationship between the author and the reader—"There is a profound meaning here, but to explain it would only be in vain." It constantly reminds people, though not deliberately, that living and being a ( person) is not only necessary but also possible. Nowadays, everyone claims to be extraordinary, full of grand ambitions, and dreams of one day "governing the country and bringing peace." But how many of them first focus on "self-cultivation and family harmony"? In the Peking Opera Yuchen Yuchenglong performed by the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater, there is a line that says, "When everyone governs others, the country may be well-governed but will inevitably become chaotic; when everyone governs themselves, the country may be chaotic but will inevitably be well-governed." What does "governing oneself" mean? It means healing one’s own heart with beautiful things and advanced culture. If the heart is corrupted or heartless, even the most developed and prosperous society cannot save it from falling into eternal damnation. Therefore, one should read this book written by a ( person). It can help people return to their true selves, rediscover their original intentions, and live a more fulfilling and contented life. It allows people to understand and appreciate the simple beauty of life, so that they do not end up like "heartless people"—giving up on themselves. This is the preface. Written in the Great Study on the morning of January 11, 2006, with heavy snow falling that day. P24-25