Welcome to Shanbay WriteLab. We believe in the power of real voices.
Meet the author of this submission:
My special book is The Gay Genius: The Life and Times of Su Tungpo, written by Lin Yutang in English.
In this book, Lin Yutang gives a well‑known description of Su Tungpo: Su Tungpo was an incorrigible optimist, a great humanitarian, a friend of the people, a prose master, an innovator in painting, a great calligrapher, an experimenter in wine‑making, an engineer, a hater of puritanism, a yogi, a Buddhist, a Confucian statesman, a secretary to the emperor, a lover of wine, a kind‑hearted judge, a political dissenter, a wanderer under the moon, a poet, and a jester. He also writes, "The mention of Su Tungpo always elicits an affectionate and warm admiring smile in China."
Su Tungpo, or Su Shi, experienced countless hardships in life, yet he never lost his optimism.
I come from inland China and now live in Hainan. Sometimes I feel lonely far from home. Standing by the sea, I imagine that hundreds of years ago, Su Tungpo also looked out over this same ocean, thinking about his future. In that moment, I feel we are breathing in the same space across time. It is a magical feeling.
Having learned about Hainan's exile culture, I visited Dongpo Academy in Danzhou. I saw the sites where Su Tungpo once lived, together with stone inscriptions and the memories left by local villagers. All these deeply moved me.
This book helps me truly understand Su Tungpo's spirit. It encourages me to face difficulties with hope and kindness. I cherish this special book, for it gives me strength whenever I feel down.
