Zhitang Shuhua (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Zhou Zuoren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Zhou Zuoren (1885–1967), self-named Zhichang, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang. He was a modern important prose writer and cultural scholar. Zhichang's Book Talk collects over thirty of his collected works and writings outside the collected works, as well as unpublished manuscripts discussing books, organizing them into four sections: Reading New Novels, Old Stories, Books on Japan, Books on the West, and Books on Ancient and Old, published in two volumes. Zhichang's Prefaces and Postfaces covers the same scope as Zhichang's Book Talk, arranged into three sections: Self-Written Prefaces and Postfaces, Prefaces and Postfaces Written for Others, and Annotations and Reading Notes. These three books form an integral whole. The 1986 edition by Yue Lu Book Society consisted of two volumes of book talk and one volume of prefaces and postfaces. The 1997 edition by Hainan Publishing House combined them into two thick volumes. This time, they are still published in three volumes because they include writings outside the collected works and unpublished manuscripts, greatly expanding the content compared to the 1986 edition.
The ancients often advised people to read, saying that it brought great pleasure... Another school of thought argued that reading was beneficial... What I discuss does not fully align with either of these perspectives. If I must summarize, it could be said that I read for the sake of my own education. There is no great benefit, nor much joy to be had, only a little knowledge, and knowledge is also a form of suffering. At the very least, knowledge always carries a bitter taste.
The ancient Hebrew prophets said, "I devoted myself to discerning wisdom, folly, and ignorance, only to realize that it is like chasing the wind. The more wisdom one has, the more sorrow one experiences; the more knowledge one gains, the more grief one feels."... However, no matter what, loneliness is inevitable. Only those who can endure solitude can truly follow this path.