With Kindness, You Are Not Old: A Photographic Album Celebrating Hou Renzhi's 95th Birthday

Author: Compiled by the Center for Historical Geography, Peking University
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This photo album showcases Mr. Hou's life experiences and academic journey. From his studies, teaching, research, family life, relationships with teachers and peers, to his favorite sports activities, every aspect is captured. Reading through it leaves a lingering sense of familiarity and nostalgia, as one reflects on how Mr. Hou has transitioned from a youthful scholar to an elder. With the passage of time, his knowledge, dedication, and emotions have been poured into the hearts of generations of students. Mr. Hou has walked a near-century-long path—truly embodying the ideal of being a teacher in knowledge and a role model in conduct. As the ancient proverb goes, "Honor virtue, not age." With Mr. Hou's great virtue and longevity, we ought to pay our respects to both his virtue and his age. At this moment, his numerous students, wherever they may be, whether within or beyond the seas, and regardless of the time of day, will bow their heads in reverence to Mr. Hou's residence, to Yan Nan Garden, and to Peking University, offering heartfelt blessings.
Mr. Hou engaged in historical geography research, emphasizing both documentary evidence—the traditional approach—and field investigations, advocating for stepping out of the study and away from dusty books. He gave equal weight to fieldwork and documentary research, ensuring both held equally important positions. In historical geography research, Mr. Hou stood firmly on tradition while forging his own path. He equally emphasized the importance of fieldwork, particularly in desert geography. In this photo album, we see most of Mr. Hou's images, especially those of him in the vast wilderness and deserts.