Смак коренів

by Hong Zicheng, Хун Цзичен, Ігор Андрущенко (Translator)

Пропонована книга ознайомлює читача зі скарбницею тисячолітньої мудрості Китаю — традиційними життєвими ідеалами його мешканців, їхніми уявленнями про добро і красу, про систему цінностей і порядку, про спосіб світосприйняття. Відповідно ця збірка мудрих висловів має дуже влучну назву «Смак коренів», тобто, образно кажучи, спрямовує на осягнення сенсу людського життя. Глибина і точність думки її автора Хуна Інміна, більше відомого як Хун Цзичен, свіжість його спостережень і, найважливіше, бездоганна щирість суджень справедливо здобули їй славу найкращої збірки афоризмів у Китаї. Вислови розділені на дві частини. Сюжети першої стосуються здебільшого правил життя у світі, тоді як другу частину книги присвячено внутрішньому життю людини. Проте обидві частини об’єднує спільна ідея — таємна істина життя, яку й має пізнати небайдужий читач.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, China, Buddhism, Religion, Spirituality

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1590

Reviews

[Yann · Rating 5 out of 5]

洪自誠 (Hong Zicheng) est un chinois ayant vécu à la fin du seizième, début du dix-septième siècle. Cet ouvrage, 菜根譚 Càigēntán, ou propos sur la racine des légumes, comprend deux livres contenant chacun plus d'une centaine d'aphorismes. Souvent construits sur des parallèles et des changements de points de vue, ils expriment le plus souvent la recherche d'un juste milieu entre deux attitudes extrêmes, ce qui n'est pas sans rappeler l'esprit de l'éthique à Nicomaque d'Aristote.

C'est également un ouvrage emprunt d'un certain syncrétisme, puisqu'il flirte parfois avec le mysticisme bouddhique, mais navigue sinon entre confucianisme et taoïsme, avec une petite préférence pour ce dernier. Beaucoup d'injonction au détachement et à la métriopathie. Ce n'est pas sans rappeler les anciens romains qui pouvaient tout aussi bien trouver de l'inspiration chez les stoïciens que chez les les épicuriens.

Tout ceci pour dire qu'on serait bien en peine de réduire cet ensemble de réflexions en un système. Pour autant, je les ait toutes trouvées respirant les meilleurs sentiments, inspirées et élevées. Jamais elles ne se laissaient aller au cynisme ou à l'abattement. L'appareil critique est d'excellente qualité, et le traducteur explicite très charitablement toutes les notions bien particulières au chinois que le transport dans la langue de Molière ne peut jamais rendre qu'imparfaitement. C'était une lecture très inspirante et agréable, d'autant que j'ai toujours eu un faible pour les ouvrage traitant de morale.

[yelenska · Rating 5 out of 5]

ce fut apaisant et récomfortant.

[Steve]

The book

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

provides an English translation of another, somewhat different edition of the same Chinese text. A review may be found at that link. This book presents an English prose translation next to the original Chinese.

[Jenni]

p.35 Human relationships are fickle and the road of life is full of ups and downs. When you meet an impasse, you should understand how to retire one step. When you come to an open road, you should know how to make way for others.

p. 46 Self-cultivation requires a mind impervious to outside allurements, as if it were made of wood or stone. Tempted by profit and fame, one will fall victim to greed. One who wishes to save his people and benefit his country must have the temperament of a mendicant monk.

p.50 In an era of peace, one needs to be "square," which means being strict and upright. In an era of turmoil, on needs to be "rounded," which means being flexible and tactful. When the state is in rapid declining, one needs to be both square and round. In dealing with good people, one should be tolerant; in dealing with bad people. one should be strict. In dealing with people in general, one needs to be tolerant and strict.

p.113 When unexpected trouble break out between family members, keep calm instead of being upset. When a friend errs, be sure to give them kind advice and help them men their ways; do not let them go their own way.

p.143 When we are hungry we seek relief from others. When we have full stomachs we shun others. If there is a warm shelter, we all flock to it. If there is a freezing shanty, we all turn our backs on it. This is a common flaw in human nature.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat too cautious and too pessimistic vision of society, which stemmed undoubtably from the uncertain and prolonged, perhaps even permanently so, difficult times when the secretive Hong Zicheng lived. A book of a wise man, almost as wise as my maternal grandmother, who, with her family survived the end of the civil war, the Holodomor famine, purges, forcible scattering of the family and friends, total war of the WW2, the postwar reconstruction and the lack of recognition or perspective for her as the child of the 'enemies of the state' , death of 2 husbands, fall of the country which was supposed to last forever and many more smaller mishaps. I can tell that the life of Hong Zicheng was at least as trying as hers and his book will perhaps be incomprehensible and even revolting for the majority of the people today.

[Moushine Zahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from 17th century Chinese author Hong Zicheng. This is a Chinese classic non-fiction book, which is composed of "thoughts for food", citations, quotations, or proverbs. Each citation is concise, poetic and metaphoric with a clear message. Topics of these quotations varies from Confucianism, Boudhism, Taoism, Philosophy, Human Behavior and Personal Development. Athough written in the 17th Century by a Chinese author during the end of the troubled Ming Dinasty, these thoughts are still true today everywhere in our World. Of course, very few will apply these in his/her life even if it should. There is a message for everyone and everywhere.
It is a book to keep close on hand and to read and re-read throughout one's life.

[Yun Rou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book puts me in the mood to write and to practice Daoist exercises. Beyond the content and style, there is a cadence, a feel to the poetry and aphorisms in this little tome that are a great mood changer for anyone.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry aims at the description
In common language
Of beautiful scenery
The sublime is contained in the ordinary
The hardest in the easiest
What is self-conscious and ulterior
Is far from the truth
What is mindless
Is near

[nthhx_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5/2 ☆

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short observations from a Buddhist monk. The reader can’t rush through these pithy, deep thoughts as each needs time to be pondered.

[Audrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Le bouddhisme, ce n’est pas pour moi il semblerait 😬

[Aazib Chaudhry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work is divided into two parts or books. I enjoyed the latter more with its emphasis on more esoteric subjects pertaining to the traditions of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.

[Floriane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note à moi-même: cesser d'acheter des livres à jolies couvertures quand les chances de l'apprécier réellement sont basses.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bitesize reading of Buddhist aphorisms from 1590. This was a book I stumbled upon at an antique bookstore, and have had the pleasure of reading twice or thrice now.

Quotes:
- "When the wind blows through the scattered bamboos, they do not hold its sound after it has gone. When the wild geese fly over a cold lake, it does not retain their shadows after they have passed. So the mind of the superior man begins to work only when an event occurs; and it becomes a void again when the matter ends." (p. 8)
-"Virtue is the foundation of all achievements; no house whose foundation is not solid can be enduring. The mind is the root of all offshoots; no tree whose roots are rotten can be flourishing." (p. 47)
-"Once a man is infected with avarice, he reduces his strength to weakness, turns his wisdom into folly, converts his benevolence into malice, and changes his cleanliness to squalor." (p. 58)

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Water which is too pure has no fish.

[Ed Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

a tiny bite every day....give me something to think about.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is jam packed with excellent wisdom. a mixture of Confucius teachings and Buddhism. it has everything topic wise. written during the Ming dynasty it stands the test of time most eloquently.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much "programming" wisdom. :p