Master of the Way

Author: Zhang Jingping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Teacher's Way is a long report literature meticulously crafted by the young military writer Zhang Jingping with her heart and wisdom. With rich materials, simple prose, and clear structure, she vividly records the medical journey and life path of one of the founders of modern otolaryngology in China—Academician Jiang Sichang. The book sparked a particularly strong response on the medical front upon its publication. Recently, some medical experts in the capital gathered to discuss Teacher's Way, considering it an outstanding work reflecting the lives of intellectuals in the medical field in recent years. The author passionately praises Academician Jiang Sichang's remarkable achievements in his career with a noble tone. From his youthful fascination with traditional Chinese medicine to setting foot on the medical path in Nanjing; from his yearning for the dawn of a new China during his study abroad to choosing medicine as a lifelong career under his mentor's guidance; from his devoted service in caring for leaders to his confusion during the Cultural Revolution when he suffered humiliation; from successfully performing the stapedectomy surgery, opening the of the inner ear and establishing his status in Chinese otolaryngology to founding the Otology and Laryngology Research Institute and the Talent Building, Jiang Sichang's journey was filled with hardships and obstacles, yet more so with the joy and happiness brought by his relentless struggles and the fruits of his success. It is heartening that the author, while documenting Jiang Sichang's highly detailed and highly professional medical work, did not overshadow the character of Jiang Sichang. The protagonist remains a vivid, thinking, and well-rounded figure in the eyes of the readers. The title Teacher's Way refers to the way of medicine, the way of learning, and the way of being a teacher, but ultimately, it speaks of the way of being a person. Jiang Sichang's personal charm permeates the entire work, evident in his actions and attitudes toward others, most notably in his dedication to serving patients wholeheartedly. This means that Jiang Sichang's personal charm is rooted in the fertile soil of serving patients selflessly. Teacher's Way has a prominent feature: the author skillfully uses details to portray characters' personalities and reveal their inner emotional worlds. Details must be authentic to be engaging and believable. Author Zhang Jingping has achieved this. Jiang Sichang rarely wore a mask during his outpatient consultations—why? Jiang Sichang's answer was: "If patients see a doctor wearing a large mask, only revealing their eyes, how would they feel?" That is one reason. The other is that not wearing a mask made it easier for him to sniff the secretions from patients' ear canals. Especially for a condition called cholesteatoma otitis media, its secretions have a distinctive, peculiar odor, and the presence of this smell can often lead to a diagnosis. After describing Jiang Sichang's habit of not wearing a mask during consultations, the author includes an important "narrative": "Of course, sniffing is not the only diagnostic method, and other methods can also diagnose cholesteatoma otitis media. However, young doctors see that Jiang Sichang chose a way full of compassion and empathy for patients." The author does not push Jiang Sichang's practice of not wearing a mask to extremes but points out that other methods can also diagnose the condition. This makes it believable. Because it is believable, people develop even greater admiration for Jiang Sichang. Reading Teacher's Way, one gets the impression that the author does not deliberately pursue the kind of stories common in general report literature, but instead strives to fill her work with an irrepressible, heartfelt emotion that flows from the words. This emotion is her deep affection for the protagonist, Jiang Sichang. The author is moved by Jiang Sichang's winding medical journey and celebrates the continuous radiance in his life. As a report literature writer, this is a precious and indispensable emotion. In his youth, Jiang Sichang was more stern than talkative, and even in his later years, he could not help but exhibit the habits of an elderly person, always feeling the need to intervene in everything. His habit of "always meddling in everything" is best reflected in a speech he gave to his students: "When I die, bury my ashes at the entrance of the research institute, so I can watch over you every day." Rather than being the habit of an elderly person who always has to meddle in everything, this reflects the noble spirit of Chinese intellectuals. Here, Jiang Sichang's personal charm is elevated, and the author's deep admiration for Jiang Sichang is fully expressed.