Journey to Inner Peace and Joy: Tracing Contemporary Chinese Hermits

by Jianfeng Zhang, Tony Blishen (Translation)

In China, the tradition of living as a hermit has existed for 5,000 years and is one of the mysteries of its culture.
In the age of the internet hermits still dwell in the mountain ranges south of Xi'an living life as it was thousands of years ago. Drawn to the hermetic life, the author spent three years in the depths of the Zhongnan Mountains visiting and staying with over 100 hermits. In their midst, high amongst the clouds he practiced with the hermits, achieved enlightenment and learned their secret traditions. Seated above the clouds he looked down on the mundane world below as he refined his spirit and reformed his soul in the experience of a different mode of existence.
As contemporary man busied himself with the creation of his own networks, and searched for knowledge, wealth and love, the author took the opposite route and sought out the hermits of legend. As we close the book, his efforts allow us, for a moment, to transcend the chaos of life, achieve detachment and an inner contemplation and turn and enter our own inner being.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[bibliotekker Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something comforting about the continuity of a tradition that stretches back into the age when history and myth were one. In our fast changing world focused on the acquisition of money, fame, power, love or just plain acquisition, there are still those who strive to step away from all that and seek the opposite. Zhang updates the earlier work of Bill Porter in tracing contemporary practitioners. A fascinating look at those who by withdrawing from the world help to give it the balance that it needs.