Mountains and Rivers of China: Beijing Volume (Part 1)

Author: Duan Baolin, Jiang Rong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This series of books has two key concepts: "Mountain and Water Stories" and "Mountain and Water Sentiments." The rich variety of stories behind the mountains and waters is a primary characteristic of Chinese landscapes. Due to the long-standing civilization and historical heritage, as well as the long-term influence of agricultural life, the "stories" behind China's mountains and waters are particularly abundant, meaning that the cultural landscapes are exceptionally rich, and the accumulation of historical and cultural heritage is deeply profound. This series blends landscape aesthetics, anecdotes and legends, literary works about mountains and waters, and local customs and traditions, presenting readers with a "compendium of mountain and water stories." This sentiment, when expressed in the relationship between humans and nature, is the "heart of the forest and spring," where climbing a mountain fills one with emotion, and watching the sea overflows with feelings. This sentiment, when reflected in daily life, is the transformation of life into something artistic and refined. The Record of the Splendid Sayings records: "Zixiu Wang once temporarily rented an empty house and immediately had bamboo planted." This sentiment, when applied to one's attitude toward life and society, is the "heart of rites and music," where one does not rejoice in external success or grieve over personal misfortune. For thousands of years, this sentiment has not only enriched the lives of many individuals but has also endowed China with a culturally beautiful spirit that the world envies. In modern society, where people are alienated by instrumental rationality into biological specimens and their spiritual worlds are fragmented into scattered cultural pieces, this sentiment and this cultural spirit undoubtedly hold special significance. The title of this series, "Mountain and Water China," is intended to call back to this sentiment and this spirit. It is hoped that it can become a spiritual oasis and a clear spring for the cultural root-seeking journey of Chinese people in the new century.