Poetry, Calligraphy, and the Flame of Learning: A Collection of Commemorative Essays in Honor of the Retired Professors of the Chinese Department, Fudan University - Volume on Jiang Fan

Author: Yang Lierong (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: This collection was compiled in memory of Mr. Jiang Fan's retirement in 2004. Of course, "retirement" is not originally an academic event. To this day, the master still guides his disciples and students, imparting wisdom and resolving doubts, so it cannot be called "retired"; he remains immersed in learning and continues to write, so it cannot be called "rested." For the master, there is no "retirement" or "rest" in life and scholarship—only the continuation of a scholar's temperament and responsibility as a writer. If there truly is "retirement," it would mean escaping the world of fame and fortune to reclaim a life of freedom and ease; if there is "rest," it would mean transcending the hustle and bustle of the mortal world to seek tranquility and purity of mind. Returning to a carefree and leisurely state of mind is perhaps even more suitable for pursuing knowledge and truth. In reality, the master has always upheld this very spirit of body and mind. Therefore, he can treat the institutional "retirement" with equanimity. The first ten "prefaces" in the collection were written by the master's teachers and friends for the "commemoration." They are arranged in order of the authors' ages. Rather than "commemoration," they are more like recollections. Through these writings, the master's teachers and friends revisit the bonds of shared wisdom and mutual respect they have nurtured, as well as express their admiration for the master's scholarly character. They are not bound by a single style, free from the conventions of official documents, and better reflect the naturalness and everydayness of recollection. The collection also includes articles by the master's disciples. Most of them are selected from the theses they wrote during their doctoral studies, completed under the master's guidance, so they embody the master's dedication. These papers are generally grounded in evidence, exhibit sharp reasoning, offer original insights, and hold certain academic reference value.