He Yu

This collection He Yu (rain and river) describes the canal nearby my hometown, Jiangnan. Jiangnan, south of the Yangtze River, is well-known for abundant rainfall and fertile plains, and the life pace in Jiangnan is slow. You can see people angling, playing bamboo flute by the river. In my spare time, I like staring at the canal. I always feel a harmony between the solidness of the bridge and the fluidity of the river. There’s a Chinese saying that goes, “水能载舟，亦能覆舟,” which means the water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up. I feel the power behind the gentleness of water. I realize the 中庸之道（The Course of Mean）in this saying, that is, if it is used properly, it will be advantageous; otherwise, it will be harmful.