"" translates to "Charming Old One Time Around"

Author: Lin Shi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: The texts collected in this book include reflections or musings on death by famous Chinese and foreign writers and philosophers, such as Victor Hugo, Francis Bacon, Lu Xun, and Ba Jin. They are all well-known literary and scholarly figures. Although most of the included works are short essays or, the writing is profound and evocative, enough to inspire readers to delve deeper into their own hearts. Life and death, birth and aging—throughout history, none are exempt. Ancient poets once lamented: "Life is a fleeting journey, like dust in the wind." At first glance, this seems no different from other species. But upon closer examination, there are significant differences. The difference lies in the fact that humans are thinking beings. Other species are not only ignorant of their own birth, death, and suffering but also indifferent to it, whereas humans must ask why—what is the reason, what is the purpose. Why are we here, and for what purpose? Or, what is the meaning of life? Perhaps this is an eternal mystery. All species are utterly oblivious to it and have no intention of questioning it. Only humans have relentlessly pursued the answer to this ever-unanswerable question throughout history. This pursuit is precisely what distinguishes humans from animals—the "sliver" of difference.