The Word of a True Man: Fan Zeng's New Essay

Author: Fan Zeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Mr. Fan Zeng is a contemporary great scholar, and this is no exaggeration. The uninformed may think of Fan Zeng merely as a painter and calligrapher, while the generally knowledgeable might also know that he is skilled in poetry and writes excellent prose. In reality, what is more important than all this, in my view, is his extraordinary erudition and scholarship. He is a scholar with a rich heritage, a clear lineage, and his own unique linguistic symbols. Just the book Zhuangzi's Spiritual Journey alone can establish his academic status. In the recent issue of Chinese Culture, the article Preface to the Fan Family's Literary and Poetic Lineage in Nantong allows us to understand his family's scholarly traditions; the article The Word of a Great Man—On Xin Jiaguan reveals his expertise in ci poetry; and the "Academician's Message" at the beginning of the issue lets us appreciate his unique linguistic symbols. The foundation of his scholarship is history, and what he pursues is the spiritual homeland of humanity. This book compiles eight essays written by Mr. Fan Zeng, ranging from Xin Jiaguan to Wang Guowei, from Ba Da Shanren to Huang Binhong, with a grand and powerful scope. As Li Cunbao said, "Fan Zeng writes essays as beautiful prose, with flowing words and majestic atmosphere, his brushwork like a mighty river rushing forward—reading it leaves one forgetful of fatigue."