Voyaging in the Sea of Learning (An Autobiography by Ji Xianlin)

Author: Ji Xianlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: "I have devoted my entire life to teaching and research, and now I am approaching my nineties. Over such a long period, it is impossible to claim that I have had no experiences or lessons. But if I say I have had many, it is also not true. I am indeed an old horse, and it is only natural for me to know a little about the path. However, whether the path I know is correct, I am not certain. I have never liked lying in my life. Now that I must write, I will speak the truth—I will not exaggerate or pretend to be humble. If there are any shortcomings, it is due to my limited abilities, not intentional." Professor Ji Xianlin is a towering figure in China's academic world and is now in his advanced years. His prose, known for its simplicity and sincerity, has been widely read and loved by readers. However, as a scholar, the field he specialized in remains relatively unknown to many. This book was first published by Shanxi People's Publishing House in 2000. This time, it is being reissued and reorganized by our press, with the aim of allowing readers who admire Professor Ji to understand his academic journey and career. This edition also specially includes two articles by Professor Ji Xianlin that were published in the journal Wen Shi Zhe but have not yet appeared in his collected works: "My Primary and Middle Schools" and "My High School" (which are combined into one chapter titled "My Schooling and Middle Schools" in this book) to provide readers with a systematic understanding of Professor Ji's growth. Here, we would like to extend our special thanks to Li Yujie, the secretary of Professor Ji, and Zhao Yu of Shanxi People's Publishing House. They have devoted great effort to the publication of this book, and we are deeply moved by their dedication. Finally, we hope this book will be well-received by readers and serve as a guide and beacon for them, especially for young friends. We believe this is also what Professor Ji Xianlin would have hoped for."