Classics inform conversations in author's contemporary title

Literary critic Li Jingze [Photo provided to China Daily]

From his personal perspective, Li tells us about events from The Analects of Confucius, Records of the Grand Historian and other classics. He also gives the happenings a modern context to create conversations with ancient figures, says Xie Youshun, a professor of Chinese literature at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

"We can see that ancient Chinese lived a high-spirited and vigorous life. They were brave and open-minded, unlike how we live today in a commercial society."

Li compared Chinese tradition to a big river that has continued to flow for more than 2,000 years.

In the first essay of the book, Li talks about the "key moment of the Chinese spirit" and sets the tone for the whole book that talks about the Chinese spirit throughout history.

In 489 BC, Confucius and his students had starved for seven days due to a war between two states. One student, Zai Yu, blacked out and the others became very weak. But Confucius was still playing a stringed instrument and singing loudly.

Outside the house where he was, two of his students－Zi Lu who was originally a warrior, and Zi Gong, who was originally a businessman－complained: "A lack of money, power or fame can force one to kill himself but he is still singing."

Another student, Yan Hui, heard them and told Confucius what they had said. The old master was angry. He called the two in and taught them a lesson.

Li writes that Zi Lu and Zi Gong were just like people today. Their understanding of life was: If truth taught by the master cannot be converted into earthly success, it is worthless.

"But Confucius told them solemnly and decisively: 'Truth is truth. The meaning of life is to learn about truth and act according to its requirement'," Li writes.

"This is the key moment of the Chinese spirit, the key moment of our civilization. Just like Socrates and Jesus Christ, Confucius' response to such an ordeal showed his sublime teaching."