Xingcang Collection cover

Xingcang Collection

Rating 3.2
Word count
158K words
Chapters
79
ISBN
9787531755715

Tags

Summary

The Analects, in the chapter "Shu Er," records a conversation between Confucius and his beloved disciple Yan Hui: "When employed, to act; when set aside, to withdraw—only you and I can do this!" To come forward and pursue one's aspirations when recognized and given responsibility; to choose retirement and keep one's talents wrapped and hidden when unrecognized—perhaps only we two, master and disciple, could manage that! This classical formulation was later condensed into the idiom "yong she xing cang" (to act when employed, to withdraw when set aside), which became a basic principle of conduct for traditional Chinese intellectuals over the centuries. Whether occupying high office at court or living far away in the rivers and lakes, one remains composed and acts in accord with the times—the gentleman's acting and withdrawing, upright and clear in spirit.

Most of the essays in this collection were first published in the "Classics Reading" column of Awakening Lion Sinology; because readers loved them, they have been gathered into a book, along with some prose and literary criticism. In terms of subject matter, there are personalized interpretations of the classics, analyses that part the clouds to reveal the sun in history, and, above all, presentations of the rich and splendid inner world of traditional Chinese intellectuals. From "seeing oneself" to "seeing heaven and earth" to "seeing all beings," until it ends with "seeing the human heart." Leafing through the snow-and-claw traces of history, one ultimately finds that calm and unhurried strength which mirrors reality.

Editor's review

Xingcang Ji is a collection of prose essays by Mr. Wang Liang, gathering pieces from recent years on life, travel, reading, and reflection. The title's two characters, "xing" and "cang," come from the Analects—"when employed, to act; when set aside, to withdraw"—and resonate with the book's poise in moving easily between motion and stillness, engagement with the world and withdrawal from it. The writing is polished and even-tempered, offering delicate sketches of travel scenes, profound observations on daily life, and no shortage of original insights into classic texts. Wang Liang combines the temperaments of scholar and literary writer, so that beneath his sensory prose there always runs a rational, reflective undercurrent. When he writes of old towns and ancient streets, he goes beyond scenery to probe the traces of time and existence; when he discusses what he has read, he does not confine himself to excerpts but focuses on the dialogue between spirit and reality. The collection has no grand narrative or intense emotion; it is more like the quiet conversation of an intellectual friend, offering a calm and abundant reading experience in a restless age. It is not a guide that provides answers but an invitation to observe and contemplate alongside the author. For readers seeking spiritual refuge and intellectual resonance, this collection deserves to be read and reread at one's desk or on a journey.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers who love calm, profound, and reflective prose
  • Readers interested in humanistic travel, local scenery, and cultural sediment
  • Those seeking a moment of quiet and spiritual comfort in a busy life
  • Readers who appreciate writing that combines personal experience with universal reflection

Not a good fit for

  • Readers seeking strong plot, fast pace, or entertaining reading
  • Readers expecting concrete methodology or practical guides

Reading tips

  1. Read in quiet, leisurely intervals, savoring the flavor and thought in the writing
  2. Use the places or books mentioned in the collection as starting points for further exploration and reading
  3. Keep a pen at hand to mark sentences and passages that resonate or provoke thought

About the publisher

Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 序一 “行”与“藏”的王亮
  3. 序二 温暖安宁的精神故乡
  4. 卷一·见自己
  5. 心若向阳 四时春风
  6. 仁为己任 任重道远
  7. 物喜己悲何足道 天下忧乐在士心
  8. 持德之本 达善之境
  9. 欲正天下 先正己身
  10. 不日新者必日退
  11. 克己明理 浩气长存
  12. 德为才之基 修己以安人
  13. 道德仁义礼 其为人之本
  14. 至诚恭俭生智 安贫闲吟泰然
  15. 东林有道 万松唱酬
  16. 开卷遇良朋 习诵清风生
  17. 得闲读书 山青水白
  18. 为己而学 知行合一
  19. 学者为人 行道利世
  20. 一口菜根苦 万世金玉言
  21. 岁月本长 忙者自促
  22. 藜口苋肠菜根香
  23. 养德寡欲 自爱自全
  24. 吾心空明 大道自至
  25. 我心阳明 轻快洒脱
  26. 俗中求雅 在俗超俗
  27. 香芽嫩茶清心骨 洗尽古今人不倦
  28. 静里乾坤大 闭门即深山
  29. 尘嚣何足道 归路在尔心
  30. 若无悠然 何见高山
  31. 卷二·见天地
  32. 拂袖名利场 纵浪大化中
  33. 凭窗幽念 万物恬然
  34. 幽梦邀风月 山水逐影来
  35. 斫心为绿绮 时时有清音
  36. 君子比德于玉
  37. 瓷心如玉 窑火千年
  38. 大美百湖城
  39. 长安珍馐美千年
  40. 卷三·见众生
  41. 天命至伟 下佑万民
  42. 求权去德 黎民咸怨
  43. 敬天保民 君之命也
  44. 莫计眼前利 知本须正心
  45. 鹖冠摇摇 圣心昭昭
  46. 立俗举贤 大同之国
  47. 修德虑祸 安身立命
  48. 恻隐发于中 此义之性也
  49. 诸葛亮的管理哲学
  50. 循天以行 天下为公
  51. 梦断天一涯 魂系国与家
  52. 愿为耕读孝友家
  53. 积善有余庆 修德可齐家
  54. 家有贤母 天下太平
  55. 行合趋同 千里相从
  56. 对人对事 公正客观
  57. 远怨之道 责己恕人
  58. 口乃心门 真恳言之
  59. 不拘虚名与常道 狼虎丛中也立身
  60. 悦纳忠言戒机心 积善成德心自安
  61. 卷四·见古今
  62. 引来“诗意”享自在
  63. 千古繁华梦 诗眼倦天涯
  64. 千古是非心 一夕渔樵话
  65. 弃名心快哉 一笑白云外
  66. 香山千载经幡动 居士一声阿弥陀
  67. 一夕挑灯看剑 千古义胆忠肝
  68. 拒权抛浮名 寻梦发梅根
  69. 打磨时间 接榫生命
  70. 北方的两棵树
  71. 向北,诗意地回归
  72. 爱路上跋涉的歌者
  73. 乡土与现代性的有机结合
  74. 现代战争的个人经验书写——读李枫的《在躲避战争的日子里》
  75. 从“走出去”到“走出来”——对文学理论研究的一点思考
  76. 增强文化认同 书写历史冷暖
  77. 凝视窗外
  78. 秋叶
  79. 代后记 我的纸质年华

FAQ

What kind of writing is mainly collected in this book?
This is a collection of prose essays covering travel writing, life reflections, reading notes, and more, leaning toward humanistic contemplation and personal insight.
What is the author's writing style?
Wang Liang's style is calm and polished, restrained and evocative, with attention to detail and atmosphere; he naturally weaves cultural and philosophical reflection into his narrative, showing the qualities of a scholar's prose.
Is this book suitable as a gift?
If the recipient is a friend who loves literature, values spiritual life, and has a quiet temperament, this is a refined and substantive gift choice.

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About the author

王亮 Author

Wang Liang is an author about whom limited public information is available. His writing and editorial work spans management, architecture, medicine, essays and miscellaneous writings, education, and finance. Nine of his works are held in the collection, including management titles such as The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning and Team Leadership, research on the energy-saving operation of university main-building air-conditioning systems and the adaptability of energy performance contracting, and a professional textbook, Engineering Surveying (Third Edition). In medicine he has compiled Wang Ke's Clinical Experience, while his essays and miscellaneous writings include Xingcang Ji. He has also contributed to a Scratch-based educational reader for interdisciplinary learning and written a finance study examining the consumer effects of online retail from a spatial spillover perspective. These works suggest an author of wide interests who combines theoretical discussion with practical application, writing in a pragmatic style that seeks to make specialized knowledge readable and useful.

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