Xu Xiake (1587— 164 1), whose real name is Hongzu (also known as Hongzu), also known as Xiake, is from Jiangyin, Jiangsu. Xu Xiake is one of the great geographers in the history of China, as well as a famous traveler and writer. In the 14th year of Wanli (lunar calendar 1586, AD +0 1587), he was born in Nanheqi Village, Jiangyin County, Nanzhi (now Xiake Town). At that time, Xu Xiake's hometown belonged to the economically developed area of "Southeast Blessed Land". Xu Xiake was born in a noble family and a scholarly family. His great-grandfather and grandfather used to have a false name, but by his father's generation, the Xu family had fallen into poverty. Xu Xiake's father, Xu Youmian, is indifferent to fame and fortune. He has little interest in official career and doesn't like to make friends with people in officialdom. He prefers to live quietly and leisurely in the country. This also affected the young Xu Xiake to some extent. [2] childhood Xu Xiake was gifted and had a strong memory. If you don't understand something, you should always get to the bottom of it. He doesn't have much interest in "Four Books and Five Classics" and eight-part essay, but he especially likes books on history, geography and exploring force of nature. At that time, such books were considered as small and formal leisure books and exotic books. He reads widely, including ancient and modern historical books, national local chronicles, national mountain and sea classics and so on. His brother Xu Zeng said that he was "sexually curious about books, but he didn't see any books among the guests, even if he had no money in his pocket, he took off his clothes and took them home. Now the building is full of boxes, and the children are better than the four libraries. " If you have money, you must buy books. You can sell clothes and buy books without money. Xu Xiake's love for "fantastic books" lies in its magic. After reading these books, he is more yearning for famous mountains such as Wuli.
When Xu Xiake 19 years old, his father died. During the three-year mourning period, Xu Xiake came up with the idea of traveling. The virtuous mother also thought that a good man was ambitious in all directions. She didn't want his son to be tied in a place without knowledge and promise like a chicken in the fence and a pony on the shaft. He gave great support and encouragement to Xu Xiake's decision.
Young Xu Xiake finally bid farewell to school life, broke free from the shackles of official career and fame and fortune, and began to realize his childhood dreams. He started traveling at the age of 22 and spent 34 years until the end of his life. It has traveled all over China, covering East China, North China, Central South and Southwest China, including Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou and Yunnan 16 provinces, covering Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. Travel all over Mount Tai, Putuo, Tiantai, Yandang, Jiuhua, Huangshan, Wuyi, Lushan, Huashan, Wudang, Luofu, Panshan, Wutai, Lushan, Hengshan and Jiuyi Mountain; Visit Taihu Lake, Minjiang River, Yellow River, Fuchun, Minjiang River, Jiuli Lake, Qiantang River, Xiaoshui, Xiangshui, Yujiang River, Qianjiang River, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Panjiang River, Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake.
During the long journey, Xu Xiake walked forward most of the time in order to make an accurate and detailed investigation. Around Dai Yuefei, sleeping in the wind, he overcame all obstacles with tenacious fighting spirit, and kept a diary every day, no matter how tired and poor the conditions were. These travel diaries recorded his travel experiences, investigations and experiences, leaving valuable geographical information for future generations.
Xu Xiake attached great importance to the research value of specimens. He collected Langmei in Wudang Mountain and other places. Shangshan collected the local specialty-Trollius chinensis shaped like chrysanthemum. Rare plants such as camellia have been collected in Wutai Mountain. "Stone Tree" collected on Agate Mountain; Branches and leaves of flowering trees were collected near butterfly spring.
Xu Xiake has a fearless spirit for scientific research. He likes to be curious, which can be said to be "exploring when he smells strange things, and cutting off when he sees risks." Every time he meets strange landscapes such as ancient caves, famous temples, hot springs, cliff waterfalls, strange peaks, deep forests and secluded emperors, he ignores safety and just wants to see the true face of Lushan Mountain. He said in his own records: "The ancients will give their lives wherever they have not arrived. When they are ready to establish their own territory, they will become poor. " He risked his life to climb the cliff in order to see a cave in Yunnan. When I was in Chaling, Hunan, I broke into the legendary mysterious Mayer Cave alone. In Xianyan, Rongxian Town, Guangxi, in order to explore a time cave, Xu Xiake crossed a lying python and entered the cave. He also often struggles with superstition of ghosts and gods. First, there is a book on the first floor of Yunnan Province, A Brief Introduction to Jiming Mountain, which records the phenomenon of "lighting shadow" in Wutai Mountain, Emei Mountain and Jizu Mountain. This colorful aperture is usually regarded as "Buddha light" or "treasure light" by the society. Xu Xiake, on the other hand, explained the causes of this natural phenomenon from the perspective of topography and environment, refuted the superstitious preaching of corruption removal, which also showed his materialistic view of nature.
His 600,000-word Travels of Xu Xiake, written after 30 years' investigation, opened up a new direction for geography to systematically observe and describe nature. It is not only a well-known survey work of geomorphology, geology and geography of the motherland, but also a tourism masterpiece depicting China's scenic resources, and it is also a literary masterpiece with beautiful words, which has far-reaching influence at home and abroad. In recent years, the world regards Xu Xiake as a saint.
Xu Xiake started traveling at the age of 22 when he got married (1607), and traveled all over China 16 provinces until the year before his death (1640).
1607, he began to travel, and his mother made him a long-distance travel crown. He went boating on Taihu Lake in Wuxi and climbed Dongting Mountain, but his travel notes were gone.
-1608 playing with my mother near my hometown. After his mother died, he kept filial piety for three years, thinking that "parents are here and don't travel far;
16 13, entered Zhejiang, took Ningbo alone from Cao 'e River, and traveled across the sea to Jiashan, where my travel notes were missing. March 30th is the first volume of travel notes, visiting Tiantai Mountain and Yandang Mountain.
16/kloc-in the winter of 0/4, I visited Jinling (Nanjing) and my travel notes disappeared.
16 16, You Baiyue, Huangshan, Wuyishan, Jiuquxi and Hangzhou West Lake;
16 17, the first wife died of illness and did not travel;
16 18, and then visit Huangshan and Lushan; Crossing Poyang Lake; Continue to marry mistresses at the end of the year;
16 19 years, the wife gave birth to a child and did not travel;
1620- 1922, visit jiuli lake in Xianyou, Fujian, and taste the Qiantang river tide;
1623, visited Songshan Mountain, Huashan Mountain and Taihe Mountain (Wudang Mountain), and started the second volume of travel notes.
1624, no travel notes, visiting Jingxi and Gouqu (in Zhejiang);
1625-1627, visit Luoyang;
1628, heading for Fujian;
1629 playing in Panshan, Jixian County, Tianjin, the travel notes have disappeared.
1630, went to Fujian again;
163 1 year, no travel;
1632 visited Tiantai Mountain and Yandang Mountain and went boating in Taihu Lake.
1633, Wutai Mountain and Hengshan Mountain in the upper reaches of the north;
1634-1635, the eldest daughter-in-law gave birth to a grandson, the second son got married, and there was no travel;
From 1636 to 1640, I set sail in Zhejiang, from Zhejiang to Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, and didn't go home for four years. The third volume to 19 in my travel notes are all the travel notes of these four years, which are recorded every day and some of them are lost. The twentieth volume is his poem, written by others.