Ji Xianlin's Life Sketches

Author: Ji Xianlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: This book is a collection of contemporary Chinese prose works. Ji Xianlin is a renowned Chinese writer. The book is divided into eight parts: "Recalling You Far Away in Xiaoxiang Moon," "Timeless Leaves Know Autumn," "Flowing Years, True Emotion Remains," "Evening Glow and Autumn Colors Talk of Family Life," "Old Blossoms in the Courtyard Reflect Hometown," "Light Tea and Simple Talks on Boundless Affection," "A Quiet Window Often Accompanied by Readers," and "The boundless sea of learning has no shore." It includes works such as "Recalling Mr. Chen Yinke," "I Write About Myself," "A Brief Talk on the Peking University and Tsinghua University Schools," "Tolerance," and "The Magical Cucumber."
Others were surprised, and even I was surprised: I wrote such articles recalling teachers and friends, yet I uniquely omitted Mr. Chen Yinke. Why is this? For me, there is a reason, and it is well-documented. Even today, I often read Mr. Chen's writings and assist the publisher in releasing his complete works. Naturally, I often think of Mr. Yinke. I am quite fond of writing, so it was only natural for me to want to write a reminiscence. However, I believe my recollections of Mr. Chen are exceptionally precious and transcendentally sacred. I hoped that my article would not tarnish this sanctity, hence my hesitation to start writing. Today, Peking University Press is publishing my Nostalgia Collection, making it necessary for me to write.
To discuss my relationship with Mr. Chen Yinke, it should be traced back to 65 years ago at Tsinghua University. In 1930, I enrolled at National Tsinghua University, entering the Western Literature Department (which I later learned was renamed the Department of Foreign Languages at some point).