12 Days. Soul Journey: Li Ao's 365 Quotes of Wisdom

Author: Mai Nan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Li Ao was a man with an innocent heart, a learned scholar, and a skilled debater. He was a Taiwanese, a Beijinger, and a Chinese. Over fifty years ago, young Li Ao, in the midst of harsh winds and heavy rains, left the mainland on a small boat, leaving with a somber farewell. From then on, he had no chance to return to the mainland. Fifty years later, he became a "cultural rogue" known for his independent spirit, vast knowledge, mixed identity, countless banned books, endless lawsuits, numerous scandals, and his ability to dominate both the literary and political spheres. As the saying goes, "If heaven has feelings, it would grow old too." In the 1940s, many great Chinese scholars who moved from the mainland to Taiwan, such as Yu Youren, Zhang Daqian, Lin Yutang, Hu Shih, and Qian Mu, ultimately died in exile due to political barriers, leaving behind a world of life and death. Yu Youren's poem "Gazing at the Mainland" goes: "Bury me on a high mountain, oh, so I may gaze at my homeland; my homeland is unseen, yet I shall never forget." Life comes and goes, time slips away. Li Ao left home as a child and returned as an old man. After fifty years of political struggles, he could not sever the cultural bond of five thousand years. "In the vast sea of life, I can never forget that I am a native of the mainland," Li Ao said. Li Ao's words are sharp, witty, and cunning. He speaks of culture, history, politics, and scholarship, with a sharp and engaging style that leaves one spellbound, prompting repeated reflection. This book is dedicated to all who have met or have not met Li Ao, those who know or do not know him, those who have read or have not read him, those who love or do not love him.