On April 23rd when World Book Day was celebrated, the renowned 82-year-old Taiwanese writer Zhang Xiaofeng visited Shanghai to unveil her latest book titled Over the Mountain Grass Where Musk Deer Left the Fragrance.
It was anticipated that the Christian writer would promote her new book. However, Zhang Xiaofeng surprised everyone by focusing solely on a single word, "Fragrance," which is featured in the book's title, without mentioning any other details about the new publication.
The theme she shared was titled "Why not January 8?"
World Book Day has been commemorated for 28 years and is observed on April 23rd. This date was chosen to honor the anniversaries of the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, as well as the birthday of the American writer Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov. Notably, it is also the date of both Shakespeare's birth and death.
Zhang, the writer, desires to modify World Book Day due to her deep admiration for the work of Su Dongpo, a highly esteemed writer of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. Su was born on January 8, 1037. He was a prominent figure in poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting, and his poems are cherished by subsequent generations. Apart from his talent, his open-mindedness has garnered him widespread respect, with Chinese people around the world regarding him as their teacher. Zhang even urges Chinese people worldwide to plan ahead for the celebration of Su Dongpo's millennium birth by 2037.
Additionally, she shares intriguing anecdotes about Chinese people and books, emphasizing the allure of Chinese literature that captivates many foreigners who choose to learn it. Zhang takes pride in the Chinese language and considers herself fortunate to be able to express herself and write in it.
During her youth from the ages of 12 to 17, Zhang resided in the southern part of Taiwan Province, where she encountered rice fields on her way to school. According to her, "Regardless of whether the rice is in bloom, ripe, or exposed to the sun, it exudes a captivating and simple fragrance. It resembles the aroma of food and even the scent of the human body." She suggests that people can create perfumes infused with the essence of rice and millet.
In Zhang Xiaofeng's perspective, fragrance holds a religious significance. It symbolizes eternity in both Buddhism and Christianity. In fact, Zhang has been a devoted Christian her entire life, having been acquainted with the gospel since the age of nine. At 12 years old, she chose to attend a Baptist church, where she received baptism.
"Over the mountain grass where musk deer tread, a lingering fragrance remains. Whenever musk deer pass by, the fragrance lingers, permeating the spring mountain with its essence. There leaves a lasting impact on the world, akin to the enduring fragrance left behind by the musk deer. The good things we do in the world will stay and will influence others," she added.
- Translated by Charlie Li
4月23日，世界图书日，82岁的中国台湾著名作家张晓风老师来到上海，携新书《麝过春山草自香》与读者见面。
原本以为作者是为宣传新书而来，不料，张晓风老师仅仅提到了书名中的一个“香”字之外，便没有再提任何与新书相关的内容。
她分享的主题是“为什么不是1月8日？”
世界图书日是每年的4月23日，至今已有28年。之所以定为4月23日是因为这一天是大文豪塞万提斯和莎士比亚的忌日，又是美国作家纳博科夫等多位文学家的生日，而且莎士比亚的生日和忌日都是4月23日。
作家张要修改读书日的原因是她太欣赏中国北宋文学家苏东坡了，苏东坡出生于1037年1月8日。苏东坡无论是诗词，是散文，还是书画，都是当时代的领军人物，并且他的诗词深受后人喜欢。除了他的才华，人们喜欢他还有一个重要的原因是他豁达的心胸，到现在，世界各地的华人都以他为老师。张甚至呼吁世界各地的华人提前筹划苏东坡2037年诞辰千年的日子。
她还分享了几个中国人与书之间的趣事，中国文字的奇妙甚至吸引了很多外国人来学习的趣事。她以中文自豪，觉得可以用中文表达、写作是很幸运的事情。
张晓风在12-17岁之间，生活在台湾南部，那里上学的路上一路上有稻田，据她讲，“无论是开花的时候，还是稻子成熟的时候，还是稻田被太阳照射下发出的香味，都是令人着迷的朴素的香味。像食物的香，也像人体的香。”张晓风老师提议人们可以研制具有稻子香、小米香的香水。”
在张晓风老师看来，香是一种宗教经验。无论是佛教还是基督教，香是一种美德，也是永恒。其实张晓风老师是一名老基督徒，她从9岁开始接触福音。12岁选择到浸信会教堂，并在那里受洗。
“麝过春山草自香，只要麝走过，香就会留下来，春山里就有一个香味。这里面也有很好的象征的意义，我们在世界上所做的美好的事情，都会留下来，都会给别人影响。”张晓风老师鼓励我们在这世界上留下自己生命的香气。
张晓风新书《麝过春山草自香》上海发布会
On April 23rd when World Book Day was celebrated, the renowned 82-year-old Taiwanese writer Zhang Xiaofeng visited Shanghai to unveil her latest book titled Over the Mountain Grass Where Musk Deer Left the Fragrance.
It was anticipated that the Christian writer would promote her new book. However, Zhang Xiaofeng surprised everyone by focusing solely on a single word, "Fragrance," which is featured in the book's title, without mentioning any other details about the new publication.
The theme she shared was titled "Why not January 8?"
World Book Day has been commemorated for 28 years and is observed on April 23rd. This date was chosen to honor the anniversaries of the deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, as well as the birthday of the American writer Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov. Notably, it is also the date of both Shakespeare's birth and death.
Zhang, the writer, desires to modify World Book Day due to her deep admiration for the work of Su Dongpo, a highly esteemed writer of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. Su was born on January 8, 1037. He was a prominent figure in poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting, and his poems are cherished by subsequent generations. Apart from his talent, his open-mindedness has garnered him widespread respect, with Chinese people around the world regarding him as their teacher. Zhang even urges Chinese people worldwide to plan ahead for the celebration of Su Dongpo's millennium birth by 2037.
Additionally, she shares intriguing anecdotes about Chinese people and books, emphasizing the allure of Chinese literature that captivates many foreigners who choose to learn it. Zhang takes pride in the Chinese language and considers herself fortunate to be able to express herself and write in it.
During her youth from the ages of 12 to 17, Zhang resided in the southern part of Taiwan Province, where she encountered rice fields on her way to school. According to her, "Regardless of whether the rice is in bloom, ripe, or exposed to the sun, it exudes a captivating and simple fragrance. It resembles the aroma of food and even the scent of the human body." She suggests that people can create perfumes infused with the essence of rice and millet.
In Zhang Xiaofeng's perspective, fragrance holds a religious significance. It symbolizes eternity in both Buddhism and Christianity. In fact, Zhang has been a devoted Christian her entire life, having been acquainted with the gospel since the age of nine. At 12 years old, she chose to attend a Baptist church, where she received baptism.
"Over the mountain grass where musk deer tread, a lingering fragrance remains. Whenever musk deer pass by, the fragrance lingers, permeating the spring mountain with its essence. There leaves a lasting impact on the world, akin to the enduring fragrance left behind by the musk deer. The good things we do in the world will stay and will influence others," she added.
- Translated by Charlie Li
New Book Launching Event: Over the Mountain Grass Where Musk Deer Left the Fragrance
