Path to inner calm

Author Zhao Defa signs books for his readers at a promotional event for his culture novel trilogy, Junzi Meng, Shuangshou Heshi and Qiandao Kundao, in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Author Zhao Defa tells Liu Zhihua why he prescribes traditional ethics and values for people in present-day China.

There was a time when Zhao Defa was famous for his stories about life and politics in rural China. But these days, readers find the author more at home with his so-called "culture novels". Although fictional in nature, these tend to be nonfictional approaches to traditional Chinese values that face numerous challenges in modern society.

Last month, in Beijing, the Shandong Provincial Writers Association and Anhui Literature and Art Publishing House jointly released the revised edition of Zhao's culture novel trilogy: Junzi Meng (Dream of Chinese Gentlemen), Shuangshou Heshi (Praying Hands) and Qiandao Kundao (The Tao of Heaven and Earth).

The three books are about the survival of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in present-day China, and were earlier published in 1999, 2008 and 2012. It is the first time that the novels are being presented together in one collection.

"Many Chinese people today have no faith in religion or traditional ethics that shaped Chinese people over the past thousands of years, such as integrity and honesty, but only live for their worldly desires," Zhao tells China Daily in an exclusive interview.

"As a writer, I believe I should write something about traditional Chinese culture and ethics."

Born in 1955 in Linyi, Shandong province, the writer spent his childhood and early adulthood in poverty, much like many others from rural China in the 1950s and 60s. At 23, his life started to look up when he cleared an exam to become a public school teacher, shortly after which, he was made a local government official. But secretly he always aspired to be a writer.

In 1979, after chancing upon a literary magazine, he began to learn how to write. In the next few years, some of his writings were published in magazines and newspapers.