Preface to the English EditionHu HongxiaThe appearance of writing and books were mostly related to religion or “holiness”. It’s true of both China and foreign countries. Books were treated with great respect for a very long time: they were the classics on the pulpit, the passage to heaven, and also the field in which we put our life and soul. Writing and owning books was a privilege because of their rareness. Thus, books acquired some sort of holiness. They had not only destiny but also power and dignity in themselves. It is easy to understand this when we think about the age-old tradition of “treasuring paper bearing words” in teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Muslim.After invention of letterpress printing, mass production of books became possible. Writing books, acquiring, storing, and reading them became easy and widespread. The holiness of books, and their dignity, faded away during this progress. The secular power of books grew gradually until one day it was strong enough to change the world as it has already done. Today, internet is whizzing in. Digital publication is seen everywhere. Writing and publishing becomes easy. Publishing is turning into a huge business. Books, as commodity, have stepped down the pulpit, leaving behind its once holy dignity, and walked into every corner in massive quantity, including dump hills and paper mills.It is not without regret that when books are everywhere they gradually lose the holiness, dignity and power they once had. Scholars and software developers even predicted “death of books”. Will books really disappear and die? Are they no longer the symbol of sacredness, dignity and power? Are we no longer in mystic connection with books? Are books really becoming just bestsellers or tools for making a living and making profit?I don’t believe that the answers to these questions are definitely yes. I believe books still have their holiness, dignity and power. I also believe that it takes the joint efforts of writer, publisher and reader to awake the holiness, dignity and power inside books. I found faith in the publishing of Liu Shen’s Heavenly Land Chinese edition. This book was written for one life, and about that one life as well. The pictures in the book came from a place filled with holiness---Santorini. Just as Liu Shen has written in the book, “I had never believed that there is Heaven, but Santorini is so close to it; and I had never believed that something could help us shake off the shadow of fear, but Santorini relieved me ultimately.” Heavenly Land has a new holiness that we haven’t experienced for a long time. This book builds a bridge for the return and release of dignity and power in life.We have seen this book sends forth sacred call for life and has reached the place where it belongs and touched many people. Now publication of its English edition is underway. “The publication of Chinese edition made Yuhong happy for a long time. I hope the publication of its English edition could sustain her happiness for even longer, and forever.” If we understand the author’s original intention in writing this book, we understand its value beyond the articles and pictures inside. Meanwhile, we believe the connection between books and life is not cut off by the roaring commercial machines and digital technology. The holiness and dignity of books remain and wait for us to rediscover them with our life, for they are buried too deep, covered too wide, and neglected too long.
It is well over ten years ago that I first met Liu Shen. Over the years, we saw each other no more as many times. At the times when we met, I was only someone else’s company. All my impression of him was: a typical Northerner, loud-voiced drink lover, and passionate forever.
The first time I heard that he had written a travel book about Greece, my thought was “another travel guidebook”. And I didn’t think more. Days later, I saw his book on the square table in his living room for the first time. It was a sample with color cover and white-and-black interior pages. Skimming over the contents, I got the impression that it was different. After reading a couple of articles, I was almost sure this book was different. I then turned to the author’s foreword, I was absolutely sure that this book was different after I finished reading the foreword. It seemed that I’d peeped into the softest corner of the heart of this tough northern man by my side.
Heavenly Land is a eulogy to love and beauty.
In his eyes, Liu Shen sees more than the superficial fabulous scenery and pretty girls of Santorini. Although he wrote about good wine and savory dishes, about sunshine and beach, about the small towns, about the pretty girls…about his every travelling experience that would amuse and allure whoever reads it, all this was only superficial. When lingering over his lines, you couldn’t help feeling the pain and beauty reborn from devastation. He sees through the splendor of the colorful sunlight of Santorini until he sees right into the essence of life --- eternal alternating cycle of life and death, light and shadow. Faced with reality, we should live our life in a more colorful way than the summer flowers though death is horrible. Liu Shen’s writing conveys his understanding and appreciation of life, its meaning and beauty to his readers. What’s more, he presents his pure heart to the unfortunate yet lucky girl--- beautiful Yuhong. Such unique manifesto of love reminds me of Shakespeare’s sonnet:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.
I record your fairness in my writing. Hence, your summer-like beauty will last as long as man exists. This was Shakespeare’s declaration of love. But for Liu Shen, this is not enough. He wants to perfect his expression of love --- such tender heart of Liu Shen --- he wants to have this book translated into English, and have it shipped to the original place which has inspired his creativity, and any other possible place. He would do better than Shakespeare.
I was lucky to be chosen to translate this book.
I hope my translation will not fail him, and his book.
2009-5-26
如果可以,若干年后,一定要和自己爱的人来这绝美之地——Santorini
Foreword to the English Edition
It was meant to be my casual travel notes. To have it published in Chinese is already beyond my expectation. To bother the English readers is truly overwhelming, and I must seriously think about the value of reading this book.
I seldom go abroad. Neither have I been to the USA, England and Japan even up to now, nor have I been to the land of Africa and that of America. Nevertheless, my self-esteem never suffers from my lack of travelling experiences abroad. Anyway, I shall definitely defend and cherish to my passion and love for Santorini.
When I first started to write this book, I just wanted to cheer up a Chinese girl named Yuhong, to encourage her to live happily, to face life and future with dignity. Anything beyond all this, including my description of Santorini, doesn’t matter.
As a matter of fact, I stayed on that remote island for just two days. I only took my point-and-click auto focus camera for I was not in the mood. I did not take any note, not even a word, which was quite abnormal for me as a professional journalist.
From the moment I stepped on that island, Santorini nondescriptly became my dream land. It seemed to have become the homeland for my long wondering soul. Although my feeling was abstract, it was so real. I had never believed that there is Heaven, but Santorini is so close to it; and I had never believed that something could help us shake off the shadow of fear, but Santorini relieved me ultimately.
As eternity goes in the scope of human understanding, it is but ignorable transiency in the scope of the universe, or even shorter than that. The changing alternating world of mulberry fields and seas might as well be the romantic imagination of geologists and archaeologists out of their professional habits. And it is nothing strange. It is only natural. Our limited life span, one generation for man’s lifetime and one year for grass’ lifetime, determines our imagination of eternity.
Man is becoming extremely fragile for their over developed ration and emotions, especially in times of life threat. Here, please forgive me for avoiding the word death. In a different circumstance, when you think someone else’s life and happiness is more important than your own existence, her pain and sorrow immediately turn into the endless darkness of deep night.
However, Santorini showed me the true scenery of life. The pure sky and the clean water around the island, together with its people, are the enlightenment on life and the most profound philosophical classics. Take the grapevines on the island for example. They must be the ugliest plant of the kind in the world. But, meanwhile, you couldn’t help feeling that they are the most vigorous branches and vines that produce the sweetest fruits in the world.
Santorini has convinced people of its being the most unfortunate place on the planet where human beings inhabit. The devastation imposed on Santorini and the consequent despairing experiences go beyond the imagination of human themselves. For this very reason, Santorini represents the true color of life. This place turned scorching lava into cool waters, barren and silent rocks into green sprouts. It is a place that offers life and love to a wasteland. It is a place that brings death to its real sense.
Man is destined to travel many places in his lifetime. And, there must be this place that touches your heart and even becomes your love forever. Maybe, Santorini is this place. Man is destined to have a true love of his lifetime. If you once didn’t know how to treasure it, if you are willing to make it up with your life for feeling guilty, you are still lucky.
Santorini is the right place for me to visit at the right time. It is the most amazing, most incredible occurrence in my life, which convinced me that any sincere wish will come true unless the wish is not sincere; that all doubts will be suddenly enlightened, all sorrows will disperse, unless you refuse to find the solution to relieve yourself.
In fact, the Chinese edition of this book came out in March, 2009. That made Yuhong very happy. This is the most important thing. It’s enough for me. I hadn’t any idea how to encourage her to live carefree like she did before, or to read, walk and shop undisturbed like she did before. All this is her hobbies. The publication of Chinese edition made Yuhong happy for a long time. I hope the publication of its English edition could sustain her happiness for even longer, and forever.
I really didn’t anticipate loads of compliments on the Chinese edition. As far as I know, anyone who has read it is touched. It sounds truly unbelievable even to myself. My story is too ordinary, or over-ordinary. I can’t understand why it touches readers so much. And this is my only very source of courage to have its English edition published.
The quality of the pictures in this book is also acknowledged by photography enthusiasts, even professionals. These pictures are chosen from hundreds of the pictures taken with my auto camera. As a journalist and amateur photographer, it confounded me to have a book of nearly 80 pictures published. For this, I kept the pictures untouched, un-photoshoped and uncut. Those plain pictures of their original status are no challenge or disdain on professional photographers, they are just my proof that I have been to the island---this is what Santorini looks like.
May Yuhong be happy and healthy forever! May all the people devote all they can to their beloved ones! This devotion is the most beautiful feeling in the world. At least, I have experienced the happiness and joy of this devotion. And this feeling is real. It is not something imagined. It is not a fool’s paradise.
Santorini will become the dream land you want to visit. If you happen to see this book on the exquisite shelf of a small store on the island, I would feel most delighted no matter whether you’ll buy one and put it in your bag, or just skim over it.
I insist that Santorini be the place you should not miss in your lifetime. It definitely will not let you down, even if this book lets you down.
Liu Shen
5th April, 2009
Xinfeng Mountains
Guangdong, China