Rural Leisure: Records of Cultural Figures Cultivating Self-Cultivation

Author: Yang Yaowen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Lin Yutang once said, "If one truly wants to enjoy life, life is more than enough to enjoy." Most people cannot appreciate the joys of this mortal life because they do not deeply love life, making it ordinary, rigid, and boring. The saying goes, "Share with those who understand." The hectic pace of modern life can indeed make one feel exhausted, but thankfully, there are still two days of the weekend free for personal enjoyment. Thus, a card game among four people can be quickly organized. If you find playing cards with many people too noisy, you can also relax on your own. A cup of tea, a cigarette, a newspaper, a wicker chair, a portable music player, and a television. In short, six "ones" like Ou Yangxiu of the "Six Ones" (a nickname for Ou Yangxiu, who enjoyed simple pleasures). Or you can go to the water's edge, the mountain's edge, or the forest's edge to sketch, take photos, search for tree roots, practice Tai Chi, or simply walk your pet bird. In short, during leisure time, some people drink tea under a flower tree, some play the lute under a tree, some play chess in a pavilion, and some fish by the shore. From small things like raising flowers and pets to larger ones like discussing music and art, it is all about engaging with objects to cultivate one's nature and practicing self-cultivation in solitude. "To steal half a day's leisure from this floating life," a relaxed half-day is also good. But if we can record this half-day of tranquility in writing, that would be even better. However, even if we cannot record it ourselves, that's no problem. Therefore, the famous essayist's collection of classic essays, "Cultivating Virtue in Rural Leisure: The Cultural Masters' Self-Cultivation Record," brings together the finest works from 20th-century Chinese pastoral essays. It allows readers to enjoy the pleasure of classic literature while gaining a peaceful and transcendent mindset amidst the hustle and bustle of life.