Little Bucket and Little Prisoner

Author: Yan Kunyang
Publisher: Hongmayi Publishing House
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Take a step back to the 1950s! Under the melon patch, a long bench is set with five little rascals gazing intently at the bowl of braised fish on it. In that era, children faced a full table of food but frowned, pleading, "Just one more bite, okay?"
In an age where "norms" no longer exist, instead of relying on the theories of experts, it's better to discard the layers of knowledge fog and return to ourselves, to authentic life. By、 (feeling and reflecting with the heart), perhaps we can dispel the mist of current social chaos and see a glimmer of light in the distance, realizing some simple yet clear values and beliefs in life.
When the pursuit of novelty has driven society to dead ends or cliffs, as long as we are willing to turn back in time, we might be surprised to find that many "classical wisdoms" have always been "freshly" waiting for us to validate through genuine life practices.
When knowledge becomes a fog, for our lives to be beautiful, we need "subtraction" rather than "addition." Clear out the excess and irrelevant knowledge biases from the rooms of our hearts that do not align with life itself!
When the social environment has been co-conspired by politicians, merchants, educational officials, and media people into an image of "mutual pursuit of profit" where men and women regress to a state of animality, and has become an irreversible trend. This "late-dynasty syndrome" will be familiar to anyone who has studied history.
However, how can one live in chaos? How can life be beautiful? Those unwilling to be swept away by the tide may have no choice but to resolutely "return to themselves." A beautiful life requires only simple, clear, and steadfast beliefs, along with actions that do not depend on others' opinions.
The more than fifty articles in this book consistently address the question: "How can our lives be beautiful?" However, there are no profound, IQ-test-like "aesthetics theories." I simply observe and experience the genuine life of society or individuals, offering fragmented or holistic reflections. I have not provided a fixed or unique answer to the question I care about: "How can our lives be beautiful." Because I believe there is no such answer. "The beauty of life" depends on individual circumstances, with no one-size-fits-all model—only personal fulfillment matters.
However, some fog is something we all face together. Therefore, I only remind those who are willing to break free from these fog and return to themselves, to authentic life.