Empty valley orchid

Author: (American) Bill Porter, translated by Mingjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: The Solitary Orchid is a "journey of seeking seclusion" written by American sinologist Bill Porter about China. Through his personal visits to modern Chinese hermits living in places like Mount Zhongnanshan in the 1980s and 1990s, he explores the history of Chinese hermit culture and its traditions, contrasting them with the present reality he is interviewing. The book expresses deep admiration and longing for traditional Chinese culture, nostalgia, and writes about the hope he sees for China's future development. Although it is a "journey of seeking seclusion," the style of the book is not somber. Even when describing a withered old tree, Bill ensures the reader also sees the tender buds on its branches. The language of the book is as elegant as white writing, full of vitality and, and interspersed with American humor that often makes readers smile. Therefore, more accurately, it is a "journey of hope" about the revival of traditional Chinese culture. Among the dozens of illustrations in the book, the landscapes are exceptionally beautiful, leaving one in awe. Some were shot by the renowned American photographer Stephen R. Johnson at great personal risk.