Rereading Li Yu's Complete Works - Leisurely Notes on Enjoying Life at the Right Time

Author: (Qing) Li Yu, edited by Grand Canal, written by Ke Ping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: When it comes to Li Yu, he was initially almost a topic of conversation among men, somewhat private, about how to choose a woman, about the versions of The Golden Lotus, and so on, all thought to be secrets. But later, it was discovered that more and more people liked Li Yu—not just men, but women too admired him. Can it be said that liking Li Yu almost stems from a man's instinct? Because Li Yu was a person who loved life and lived it artistically. What made him outstanding was his ability to write about life experiences in an artistic way, which was also what set him apart from many other roguish scholars. Lin Yutang once said when talking about On Idle Pleasures: "Another important part of Li Lako's works is dedicated to the study of the joys of life—a miniature guide to the art of Chinese living, covering everything from living rooms and gardens, interior decoration, partition walls, women's dressing rooms, beauty, cooking, and a series of culinary arts. It explores how the rich and the poor seek pleasure, the ways to alleviate boredom throughout the year, the moderation of sexual life, and the prevention and treatment of diseases."