Between the study and society

Author: Liang Zhiping
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Features: The preface included in this collection, except for two or three newly published works, has been previously published in various newspapers and magazines. The earliest piece was published in 1986, which is now over 11 years ago. In the meantime, I have compiled one or two collections, but the rest remained shelved, either because of their diverse and difficult-to-categorize nature or because there were not enough pieces to form a book. This time, at the invitation of the Legal Publishing House, I had to review and organize the manuscripts I had published over the years but had not been included in other collections, compiling them into one volume. Since these writings are scattered across different publications over the past decade, they are now hard to access. I believe this collection will not be criticized as "new bottles for old wine."
In terms of content, the main feature of this collection is its diversity. The writings included here are not only of varying lengths and genres but also span a long period and cover a wide range of topics. To organize them into a cohesive book was no easy task, and the most challenging part might have been finding a title that reflects the overall theme. It is truly said, "Choosing a name for a book can take weeks of hesitation." However, I eventually realized that whether or not a "theme" is found is not important. What matters is that these writings, all by the same author, document the author's journey, express their preferences, and showcase a side of their spiritual life. With this in mind, the diversity of content and style becomes less of an issue.
Since leaving the factory 20 years ago and entering university, I have lived the life of a scholar. Over the past two decades, I have never once left this life and have never wanted to change it. Deep down, I believe that being a scholar is my duty, and I cannot imagine any other life that would suit me better. However, the study is not an ivory tower; living within it means living in society. I read books from ancient and modern times, both within and beyond China, and I also read the great book of society. I engage with and discuss social issues, but always from the perspective of a scholar. In my view, the study and society are one and the same, yet they are not the same domain. Guarding from within the study is my way of participating in society. Thus, reading, observing, and thinking are merely different focuses of the same activity: reading is observing, observing is reading, and thinking permeates both. The study and society have always been interconnected. The title "Between the Study and Society" emphasizes the "between."
The articles included in this book were originally published in publications such as Dushu (Reading), Shao Wang (Look Forward), Guangming Ribao (), and Wen Hui Reading Weekly. Here, I extend my sincere gratitude to the editors who published my articles at the time. Without their efforts, many of these pieces would have been delayed or never written at all due to my own negligence. I also thank General Editor Jia Jingping of the Legal Publishing House for his kind suggestion, which gave me the resolve to compile this small book and bring it to the readers as soon as possible.