A Wayfarer in Heaven and Earth

Name: A Wayfarer in Heaven and Earth
ISBN: 9787573002624

Ji Xianlin / 老愚Sep 2022

3.9

Word count: 69K words
Chapters: 53
ISBN: 9787573002624

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Summary

Drawing on a thorough reading of Ji Xianlin's works, the editor has compiled this 80,000-character collection in the form of aphorisms. Its content spans traditional Chinese culture, reading and scholarship, comparisons between Chinese and Western cultures, philosophy and aesthetics, and life and the ways of the world. Every line carries deep meaning and reveals how Ji Xianlin engaged with the world.

This book is also a great book of truth-telling about life. "Great" here refers to a broad vision and a lofty realm. Though the author weathered many hardships, he never lost his childlike heart. In his later years, he saw people and affairs with remarkable clarity, and he had both the courage and the skill to express himself. Sincere, earnest, and incisive—these three words may best sum up the backbone of his writing. These pearl-like philosophical reflections spark our thinking and help us fully appreciate his personal charisma.

On this very long road, I have walked broad highways and narrow single-plank bridges. Beside the road lie deep mountains and vast marshes, but also gentle level slopes; there are apricot blossoms in spring rain, and autumn winds on the northern frontier; there are repeated mountains and winding waters, and also willows and bright flowers; there are lost paths found again, and escapes from dead ends. May everyone attain the open-hearted outlook of "drifting through great waves, neither joyful nor fearful. When it is time to end, let it end; do not brood overmuch."

Editor's review

This book collects Ji Xianlin's reflections on traditional culture, reading and scholarship, Chinese and Western cultures, philosophy and aesthetics, and the human condition in the form of aphorisms. The editor distilled 80,000 characters from a large body of work, bringing the author's scattered judgments and insights together in one place. Its value lies in short, accessible pieces that are by no means shallow: they reveal both the earnestness of his scholarship and the clarity and incisiveness of his later years' view of people and affairs. Sincere, earnest, and incisive—these three words indeed capture his style: no beating around the bush, no pretense of profundity, yet often with a power that strikes home. It suits casual dipping at one's desk and offers a broad-minded reference when life feels puzzling. Note that this is a compilation, not a systematic treatise; readers should treat it as an entry point rather than a substitute for the complete works, and return to the original books afterward for a more solid gain.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy short aphorisms and want casual inspiration
Readers interested in Ji Xianlin's thought and character who want a selected volume first
General readers facing life's confusions and seeking a broad-minded reference
Readers interested in traditional culture and comparisons between Chinese and Western cultures

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic academic treatise or a complete intellectual system
Readers who prefer long narratives and strongly plotted works
Readers who hope this book can replace Ji Xianlin's original works

Reading tips

No need to read from cover to cover; skip by theme, reading a few passages a day and pausing briefly.
When something resonates, jot down your questions and then consult Ji Xianlin's original books for deeper study.
Alternate between the sections on reading and scholarship and on the human condition to see how they echo each other.
After finishing, choose one or two themes and return to Ji Xianlin's originals so as not to stop at a selected volume.

版权信息
致读者
第一章天地一行客
四季感怀
燕园幽思
履痕处处
生命冥想
第二章怀旧净化灵魂
永远的母亲
授业恩师
大师肖像
后死者之痛
第三章谈佛论道
信仰
文化交流
智慧
天国入门券
第四章西方不亮东方亮
东方西方
天人合一
中华文化的特性
美的差异
文论有别
德国态度
第五章坏人不会改好
善与恶
厚·黑·大
可怕的遗忘
坏人的本领
地狱里的形状
劣根性种种
浮躁的文化人
第六章没有真情不动笔
我的文学观
我爱太白和东坡
文学的意味
写作者须知
第七章知识分子的阴影
教授架子
一流大学的条件
北大和清华
学术良心
文人的气节
爱国成性
第八章不完满才是人生
幻想救世主
爬格子的价值
信念所怀
一真二忍
我看我
衣食所安
人生只有一条路
面对死亡

FAQ

Is this book compiled by Ji Xianlin himself?

No. It was compiled by the editor Lao Yu on the basis of extensive reading of Ji Xianlin's works and is presented in the form of aphorisms. The content comes from Ji's various writings, but the selection framework and choices reflect the editor's work, and readers should keep this in mind.

Does the aphorism format make the book feel fragmented?

Short passages are indeed not suited to readers seeking systematic argument, but the book is organized by theme, and entries under the same topic echo one another, which makes it convenient for dipping in and for repeated reflection. For deeper study, readers can follow the themes back to the original works, and the fragments will then have roots.

What age group is this book suitable for?

There is no strict age limit. Younger readers can gain a sense of direction in reading, scholarship, and conduct in life, while older readers are more likely to resonate with the equanimity with which Ji saw through human affairs in his later years. What matters is not age but the willingness to read slowly and reflect on oneself.

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About the author

Ji Xianlin Author · China · 1911–2009

Ji Xianlin (1911–2009) was a Chinese orientalist, Indologist, Sanskrit scholar and translator, and a senior professor at Peking University. He was versed in Sanskrit, Pali and Tocharian, and served as vice president of Peking University and director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His long engagement with Indology and cultural exchange produced works such as The Track of Cultural Exchange: A History of Sugar Cane in China, which traces civilizational contact through a single commodity, while his translation of the Panchatantra brought an Indian classic to Chinese readers. He is equally noted for his essays, several selections of which appear in this catalog; they dwell on hometown scenery, old friends and teachers, and everyday reflections in a plain, unhurried style that reveals warmth and erudition in small details. His works are commonly grouped under culture, classic works, essays and miscellaneous writings, and foreign literature. The catalog currently holds seventy-four titles, appealing to both scholarly and general readers.

老愚 Author

Lao Yu: public information about this author is limited. All that is currently known is that nine of the author's works are held in the collection, with representative titles including Tian Di Yi Xing Ke (A Traveler Between Heaven and Earth) and volumes 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 of the Dongfang Juan (Eastern Volume) series. These works are commonly classified under inspirational growth, suggesting that the writing centers roughly on personal development, cultivation of character, and reflections on life. The title Tian Di Yi Xing Ke carries connotations of travel and of finding one's place, while the Dongfang Juan series unfolds its content in multiple volumes on a fairly considerable scale, suiting readers who prefer to proceed volume by volume. Because exact details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, and educational background are unavailable, the author's life story cannot yet be described in detail; readers may instead begin with the works themselves and appreciate their plain, introspective mode of expression, grasping the author's focus and overall profile through subject matter and arrangement.