Reflections on Xu Xiake's Travel Notes

The first part: Reflections on Xu Xiake's Travel Notes.

I recently read an article called Xu Xiake's Travels. I was deeply moved after reading it. Xu Xiake was born in Jiangyin County, Jiangsu Province in the 14th year of Wanli. He is determined to pursue the career of geographical investigation that interests him. He likes reading books on geography, history, tourism and adventure, and yearns for the life of "famous mountains and great rivers". Xu Xiake buried himself in studying and studying predecessors' geographical works. However, he did not blindly believe that his predecessors' works were unchangeable classics, but thought independently while absorbing their knowledge. In order to find out the true face of the motherland's rivers and mountains, Xu Xiake decided to make a field trip in person.

Since the age of 22, Xu Xiake has started his career of tourism inspection. In the past 30 years, he has traveled long distances for four times, covering Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Beijing, Tianlv and Shanghai 19 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. Three or four hundred years ago, Xu Xiake traveled such a vast area, relying entirely on his own two legs. This alone is enough to impress people, not to mention the dangerous peaks and beaches he visited. It is not difficult to imagine how many difficulties and obstacles he has to go through, and even the danger of losing his life at any time. Xu Xiake's exploration activities continued until the age of 55 in AD 1640. At that time, he was in Yunnan. Unfortunately, he was seriously ill and was sent back to his hometown in Jiangyin. He died the next year. It can be said that Xu Xiake devoted his life to the geographical investigation of the motherland.

He noticed the relationship between plants and the environment, observed the different conditions of plant ecology and species under different topography, temperature and wind speed, and realized the influence of the height and latitude of the earth on climate and ecology. Among Xu Xiake's series of contributions to geography, the most prominent one is his investigation of limestone landforms. He is the first geographer in China and the world to systematically investigate limestone landforms. Another feature of limestone landform is that there are many caves. Xu Xiake personally explored more than 100 caves.

Xu Xiake not only made great contributions to geography, but also made great achievements in the field of literature. No matter how tired Xu Xiake is during the field trip, he should record his experiences and observations every day and keep a travel diary. He wrote more than 20 million words of travel notes, which are not only precious documents in geography, but also exquisite travel notes literature.

His travel notes are as simple and beautiful as the nature he described. Some people praised it as "the real words in the world may be on the road of life." Whether we like it or not, the first thing we learn when we are born is to learn to walk. Now we have cars everywhere, which is convenient and fast. At that time, Xu Xiake traveled all over the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. What does he use to travel all over the country? He used one foot! Let's learn from Xu Xiake's willpower and his spirit. Let's work hard for the goal!

Chapter Two: Reflections on Xu Xiake's Travel Notes.

The evolution of geography in past dynasties is also one of the main topics of ancient scholars. However, Xu Xiake found: "In the past, people were determined to be officials, and most of them inherited the affiliated associations." "Most of the surfaces of mountains and rivers are covered with maps and records."

Xu Xiake is not superstitious about the old saying of predecessors, but is good at independent thinking, paying attention to investigation and argumentation, and being brave in exploring and seeking truth. Whether for mountains and rivers, grotesque caves, or even settlements, anecdotes and legends, we should always carefully observe, think and analyze them. I will never give up when I meet a strange problem.

Needham, a British historian of science, said in his book History of Science and Technology in China that Xu Xiake's Travels "is not like something written by a scholar in the 7th century, but more like an investigation record written by a scholar in the 20th century".

His visit to Qixingyan in Guilin is a typical example. He has been there twice. (www.eduche.com) made a detailed record and vivid description of the location, direction, size and depth of the cave, as well as the morphological structure inside and outside the cave. These records and descriptions are basically consistent with the investigation results of modern scientific means. His investigation and description of limestone landforms were earlier than those of Europeans.

Besides, he seems to be good at Feng Shui. In Xu Xiake's travels, Feng Shui terms such as Longsha, Husha, Chaoshan and Hanshan are often used to analyze the mountain-like water potential. When he encountered some danger and confusion during his journey, he often asked God for advice. It can be seen that he is well-read and knowledgeable, and is not suitable for the imperial examination. According to the terminology used by the three men, Xu Xiake may have studied the integrity of Yang Gongfeng Water School. The effect of Feng Shui in Yang Gong is immediate. From the Tang Dynasty to the present.

Xu Xiake's travel notes are a high-level travel notes about ancient places, covering mountain landforms, cliff caves, river hydrology, geothermal hot springs, product customs, administrative geography, road traffic, religious nationalities, historical sites and cultural relics. , and its fruitful achievements and scientific value.

Xu Xiake's travels are also a masterpiece of travel literature. Although the author's original intention is not to specialize in literary creation, so he needs scientific investigation, his extreme love for China mountains and rivers, elegant aesthetic taste and outstanding literary talent are naturally reflected in this "running account".

I respect Xu Xiake, a loner.

Chapter Three: Reflections on Xu Xiake's Travel Notes.

Xu Xiake's Travels is a geography book in ancient China, mainly in diary style. Author Xu Xiake cruised around and recorded what he saw, heard and felt along the way. He has been traveling almost all his life, and famous mountains such as Tiantai Mountain, Huangshan Mountain and Lushan Mountain are all highlighted in the book.

Different from the feelings of literati who loved mountains and rivers in previous dynasties, Xu Xiake not only praised the beautiful scenery, but also made a detailed description and scientific observation of the geography, geology and landforms where he went.

What impressed me the most was the diary of a trip to Wuyishan. The beautiful scenery of Wuyishan is described in beautiful and delicate words in the travel notes, which highlights the unique features of Wuyishan-mountains and mountains, clear water and Feng Dan. No wonder Wuyi Mountain has the reputation of "a unique southeast". During his tour, I was most surprised by the recorded "boat-shaped hanging coffin". These ancient hanging coffins lie in the crevices of steep cliffs and are weathered by the wind and the sun, but no one knows how the ancients put heavy hanging coffins on cliffs hundreds of meters high.

"Wuyue returns without looking at the mountains, and Huangshan returns without looking at the mountains." This poem was written by Xu Xiake, who was the first to unveil the mysterious veil of Huangshan Mountain and publicize countless beautiful scenery. How comfortable and noble he is! He is not only a strange man who forgets fame and fortune, but also a great man who devoted his life to mountains and rivers and was not influenced by the world. His trip is not only beautiful and magical, but also very thrilling. He has gone beyond the realm of play, but is completely exploring. This strange man with the spirit of adventure and exploration will not only be highly praised by tourists, but also benefit me as a middle school student.

The vast and distant scenery and majestic peaks in the book seem to inspire my heart of exploration, to have fun in climbing and to gain knowledge in exploration.