Landscape, Thought, Characters

Author: Cao Juren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The author himself stated that the title of this book was inspired by the essay collection Thoughts on Mountains, Waters, and People by Yasukazu Tachibana. The works collected here are described as "texts that were relatively effortless to write in the past ten years" (said in 1956). These "texts written with my own hand and voice, unrestrained by convention," were also regarded by friends as "works destined to be passed down through generations." The book is divided into three parts: The first part consists of essays on human geography, differing from the extensive Ten Thousand Miles of Travel and Ten Thousand More Miles of Travel. In this collection, Mr. Cao Juren focuses his pen on the Jiangnan region, which he knows intimately and where the cultural heritage is profound. From Zhejiang's eastern region to Anhui's southern region, from Jiangxi's eastern region to West Lake and Shanghai, every step presents a scene. Here, there are not only the scenery as seen by scholars but also philosophical reflections and anecdotes as the scenery transforms into cultural landscapes. The second part discusses literary works and historical figures, who are either scholars or ordinary people from the streets. Yet, whenever he touches upon them, he brings them to life with vivid descriptions, allowing readers to appreciate the authentic life experiences that transcend different times and spaces. The third part collects essays with a strong personal touch from Mr. Cao. From small reflections on daily trivialities like "getting a haircut" to grand inquiries about "fate" and "the meaning of life," these thoughts and insights are worth careful reading. Although the three parts are independent, they are interwoven in the writing, blending mountains, waters, and thoughts into a unified whole.