Thought Huizhou

Author: Zhao Yan (Author), Zhang Dongjun (Photographer)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Thoughts on Huizhou captures the essence of Huizhou with remarkable accuracy. The author's life experiences in Huizhou make the book feel intimate and serene on an emotional level. In his childhood, he wandered along the winding and tranquil Fishliang Street, "his crisp footsteps sounded like woodpeckers pecking at tree trunks with their sharp beaks." This sound may have sparked a sense of inquisitive reflection on Huizhou; gazing at the patch of blue sky visible from the skywell of the traditional "Four Waters Return to the Hall" house likely inspired countless reveries about this land. The book offers a selective interpretation of Huizhou culture. While Zhao Yan's use of historical materials is not novel, his unique perspectives imbue the entire work with a poetic charm akin to "listening to the newly turned willow branches." In my opinion, The People of Huizhou is the most luminous chapter in the book. This land was once a paradise for those seeking refuge from hardship, where noble seeds were scattered, and over time, they grew into ordinary families amidst green mountains and clear waters. They lived in clans, farmed and traded, passed down poetry and learning, and developed a distinct personality and temperament: outwardly humble, yet inwardly proud and cautious; discreet in their dealings, always doing more than they say; deeply engaged in the world, perceptive as if they could see through it, yet lacking the grandeur of those who manipulate fate with ease. On the main wall of Zhushan Academy hangs a couplet: "Bamboo understands emptiness, learning reveals one's shortcomings; mountains advance through diligence, and action demands success." It neither boasts the boldness of "Only Chu has talent, and it is most abundant here" nor embodies the broad-mindedness of "The sounds of wind, rain, and reading fill the ears; all matters of home, country, and the world concern the heart." The life of the people of Huizhou is largely like this. Without grand life goals or ultimate concerns, restraint becomes conservatism, modesty turns into mediocrity, and frugality slides into stinginess. The author writes with a sigh: "Later generations of Huizhou people lack a light and airy spirit—they are unlikely to produce a transcendent Tao Yuanming or a world-weary Ba Da Shanren. As a whole, they become practical and." This somewhat reflects the current reality on Huizhou's land, where it is rare to see ambitious merchants riding the waves of success. The people of Huizhou must leave, even if it means "dropping them off at the age of thirteen or fourteen and letting them go." Once they step out of the mountains, they spread their wings like the mythical Kun Peng and set sail on the winds, achieving great success.