Qi Gong's Oral History
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Summary
His life was not devoted to the forefront of earth-shaking political struggles or the center of the whirlwind of his age; he lived essentially a life of the study. But his unusual family background, his unusual life experiences, and his unusual talent and standing in twentieth-century Chinese cultural history made his study life all the more distinctive and remarkable. From here we can glimpse traces of much modern and contemporary history, and catch sight of the activities of famous literary and artistic salons and celebrated men of letters of the time. These are precious materials that others could hardly provide.
Editor's review
With his characteristic modesty, humor, and lucidity, Qi Gong looks back on his legendary journey from a descendant of a declining imperial clan to a professor at Beijing Normal University and director of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History. His accounts of family history, friendships with teachers and colleagues (such as Chen Yuan, Fu Zengxiang, and Jia Ximin), insights into calligraphy and painting, and scholarly research are full of affection and insight, rich in detail and delightful anecdote. Especially valuable is his plain, unvarnished account of his personal circumstances and state of mind amid historical turmoil—neither beautifying nor concealing—which reveals a traditional intellectual's steadfastness, adaptability, and wisdom amid the tides of the times, his personal charisma leaping off the page.
In terms of reading value, the book has at least three dimensions: for lovers of calligraphy, artifact appraisal, and classical literature, it is a key to understanding the threads of Qi Gong's scholarly and artistic thought; for historians and sociologists, it is a "personal narrative" of great documentary value, offering delicate micro-level footnotes to macro history; and for general readers, it is a life textbook on how to conduct oneself, pursue learning, and navigate the world. Qi Gong's philosophy of "insight into worldly affairs is learning itself, and mastery of human feeling is fine writing," together with his spiritual realm of "a heart as pure as snow," can offer deep comfort and enlightenment. The style is approachable and unhurried, entirely free of pedantry, reading like a warm spring breeze.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in modern and contemporary Chinese cultural history and the intellectual journeys of scholars
- Enthusiasts and students of calligraphy, painting, and artifact appraisal
- Young scholars hoping to draw lessons on conduct and scholarship from the life wisdom of a great predecessor
- Readers who prefer nonfiction genres such as memoirs and oral histories
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking systematic calligraphy technique tutorials or academic monographs
- Readers entirely unfamiliar with and uninterested in the social changes of modern and contemporary China
Reading tips
- Can be read alongside collections of Qi Gong's calligraphy and painting to directly experience the artistic realm in which "the writing reflects the person"
- While reading, pay attention to the effortless humor and self-deprecation in Qi Gong's narration and appreciate the life wisdom behind them
- The book involves many people and historical events; looking up background on key points yields a deeper understanding
About the publisher
SDX Joint Publishing Company is a publisher known for its humanities and social science titles, covering classics, culture, history, social fiction and politics. Its catalogue of 826 books includes Chinese and foreign literary classics such as The Scholars, Camel Xiangzi and Selected Short Stories of Chekhov, scholarly works such as Studies of Chinese Cave Temples, A Study of the Tuoba History (Revised Edition) and The Nine-Rank System: A Prehistory of the Imperial Examination, and translations such as Red Star Over China and Notes from the House of the Dead. Its authors include renowned Chinese and foreign writers such as Wu Jingzi, Lao She, Su Bai and Chekhov, as well as scholars and translators such as Chen Xiaoming, Wang Benhua, Guo Changbao and Zhu Xiansheng. Its publishing character lies in balancing the popularisation of classics with academic depth, with attention to textual quality and the transmission of knowledge.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一章 我的家族
- 一、我的姓氏和世系
- 二、我所知道的乾隆与和亲王
- 三、我的几位祖上和外祖上
- 第二章 我的童年和求学之路
- 一、童年生活
- 二、入学前后
- 三、我的几位恩师
- 第三章 我与辅仁大学
- 一、三进辅仁
- 二、循循善诱与登堂入室
- 三、辅仁逸事
- 第四章 我与师大
- 一、院系调整
- 二、反右风波
- 三、艰难岁月
- 四、老伴之死
- 五、迟到的春天
- 第五章 学艺回顾
- 一、书画创作
- 二、书画鉴定
- 三、诗词创作
- 四、学术著作
- 结语 “诗言志”
- 整理后记
FAQ
How does this book differ from Qi Gong's Lectures and Collected Drafts of Qi Gong?
As a descendant of the imperial clan, how does Qi Gong treat his origins in the book?
What is the narrative style of this book? Is it difficult to read?
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About the author
Qi Gong (1912–2005), courtesy name Yuanbai, of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was a native of Beijing. A renowned calligrapher and painter, educator, scholar of classical literature, connoisseur of cultural relics, and poet, he was a professor and doctoral supervisor at Beijing Normal University. He served as director of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, chairman of the National Cultural Relics Authentication Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He devoted himself to the study of classical literature, language, and writing, and authored works including Collected Essays of Qi Gong and On Ancient Chinese Scripts. His writing combines scholarly rigor with a lucid, refined style, discussing calligraphy and painting and tracing the origins of Chinese characters in an accessible way. Eight of his works are included here, spanning history, classical literature, art, language, and documentary writing—ranging from oral history and lecture records to essays on painting and calligraphy and reminiscences of Qi Baishi—revealing both his learning and his character.
Zhao Rengui is an author about whom limited public information is available. Three of his works are currently included in the library, touching on categories such as history, classic works, and Eastern philosophy. Judging from these works, his writing centers largely on the life and scholarship of Mr. Qi Gong, as seen in Qi Gong's Oral History and Qi Gong's Lectures, which present a scholar's life experience and academic views through compilation and narration. The Classic Poems of Wang Wei—Chinese Traditional Poetry Classics shows that he has also engaged with classical Chinese poetry. These works combine historical value with readability and suit readers interested in the anecdotes of modern scholars and traditional poetry. Since biographical details are lacking, his specific experiences and background await further verification; readers may begin with the works above to appreciate his care in compilation and narration.
Zhang Jinghuai is an author for whom only limited public information is available. What can be confirmed is that he is one of those who recorded and compiled the book Oral History of Qi Gong, which is classified as a historical reading. The book presents, in the form of oral history, the life experiences and scholarly and artistic views of the renowned Chinese scholar Qi Gong; the compilers recorded and arranged the spoken material according to the oral account, turning scattered recollections into a complete volume. As far as the available information goes, Zhang Jinghuai's name is closely associated with this work, and his role is chiefly that of organizer and presenter rather than author of independent historical monographs. Because only one work by him is included and no details of his life, birthplace, or career are recorded, this introduction can only focus on the oral-history nature and documentary value of that book, without touching on other experiences. Readers seeking an accessible and reliable entry into Qi Gong's life and scholarly world may find this volume useful.
