Reading Zen, Observing the World (I)
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Literature lovers interested in Su Manshu and his era
- Readers who enjoy lyrical prose and short works
- People who hope to soothe their emotions and reflect quietly through reading
- Readers studying modern literature or Zen-inflected writing
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced, high-conflict narrative
- Readers expecting a rigorous body of Zen knowledge
- Readers unaccustomed to a lyrical, sorrowful tone
Reading tips
- Read by genre: start with short prose pieces, then move on to the fiction, and feel the differing emotional intensity of each form.
- Slow down at scenic descriptions and notice how the author uses natural imagery to mirror the characters' inner states.
- After finishing, write three to five sentences of response, recording the feelings or thoughts that moved you.
- Read alternately with the other volume to avoid the emotional heaviness of reading too much at once.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 代序一 行云流水一情僧
- 代序二 红尘过客苏曼殊
- 第一章 禅里禅外
- 儆告十方佛弟子启
- 阿输迦王表彰佛诞生处碑译文
- 燕子龛随笔（六十二则）
- 岭海幽光录
- 燕影剧谈
- 告宰官白衣启
- 呜呼广东人
- 南洋话
- 华洋义赈会观
- 讨袁宣言
- 女杰郭耳缦
- 碧伽女郎传
- 《曼殊画谱》序
- 《梵文典》自序
- 《文学因缘》自序
- 《潮音》跋
- 《双枰记》序
- 《三次革命军》题辞
- 拜伦诗选自序
- 秋瑾遗诗序
- 送邓邵二君序
- 复罗弼·庄湘（说法不劳）
- 冯春航谈
- 海哥美尔氏名画赞
- 露伊斯美索尔遗像赞
- 跋画
- 以诗并画留别汤国顿（二首）
- 住西湖白云禅院作此
- 答邓绳侯
- 忆刘三、天梅
- 花朝
- 西湖韬光庵夜闻鹃声，柬刘三
- 久欲南归罗浮不果，因望不二山有感，聊书所怀，寄二兄广州，兼呈晦闻、哲夫、秋枚三公沪上
- 过若松町有感
- 过平户延平诞生处
- 淀江道中口占
- 寄晦闻
- 题《师梨集》
- 有怀（二首）
- 为调筝人绘像（二首）
- 代柯子简少侯
- 失题
- 寄调筝人（三首）
- 本事诗（十首）
- 落日
- 过蒲田
- 过若松町有感示仲兄
- 游不忍池示仲兄
- 题《拜伦集》
- 步韵答云上人（三首）
- 别云上人
- 柬法忍
- 吴门依易生韵（十一首）
- 无题（八首）
- 为玉鸾女弟绘扇
- 南楼寺怀法忍、叶叶
- 饮席赠歌者
- 东行别仲兄
- 憩平原别邸赠玄玄
- 偶成
- 东居杂诗十九首
- 芳草
FAQ
Does this book duplicate the contents of the other volume?
The fiction is mostly tragic love—will it feel too heavy to read?
Will limited knowledge of Zen affect my understanding?
Comments
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About the author
Su Manshu (1884–1918), originally named Jian and styled Zigu, with the monastic name Manshu, was a native of Xiangshan, Guangdong, born in Yokohama, Japan. He was a modern poet, novelist, translator, and painter who took monastic vows several times and joined the Southern Society and the anti-Qing revolution. His classical-language fiction, represented by The Lone Swan and Jiangsha Ji, often depicts wandering lives and tender romances in a plaintive, refined style; poems such as Benshi Shi and Dongju are equally heartfelt, blending classical resonance with personal melancholy. He also translated works by Byron and Hugo, leaving a mark on Sino-Western literary exchange. His works in this collection number over forty, spanning fiction, poetry, and prose, and include classic works, social fiction, classical literature, and miscellaneous essays. Liu Yazi once compiled The Complete Works of Su Manshu, and his life and writing influenced later Mandarin Duck and Butterfly fiction and lyrical literature.
