The writing style of the author, Er Dong, bears a subtle resemblance to that of Li Juan—both exude a quiet sense of spaciousness. I admire many of Er Dong’s perspectives: "I believe that when one is well-learned, a touch of ignorance is necessary—it allows one to 'point directly to the heart.""The most beautiful things in life are life itself.""My only imagination of travel is this: walking alone through the vastness of heaven and earth."

Through this book, I also learned some interesting tidbits about mountain life—for instance, if left unchecked, lilies can grow over two meters tall; a 17-year-old dog is equivalent to a 120-year-old human.

There are two particularly moving lines in the book: "When a person wants to cry, 'Mom' becomes just an interjection.""There is no path to joy—joy itself is the path."

——Yixia, Reader

★ Zhang Erdong returns with Ten Years by the Mountain, offering deeper reflections on life from the heart of Zhongnan Mountain. With even clearer vision, he converses with the mountain anew.

★ A poetic and philosophical essay collection. Ten years have passed, and he remains in Zhongnan Mountain—now deeper in its embrace. This book uses mountain life as a mirror, awakening modern people’s longing for nature, solitude, and an essence-driven existence.

★ Life is practice; daily routines are the dojo. From planting vegetables to repairing the house, watching clouds and snow, painting, and traveling—the author refines mundane mountain life into profound philosophy. Mountain living, after all, is simply redirecting one’s outward gaze back to the inner self.

★ This book is a remedy for urban dwellers. When city life suffocates, Er Dong’s mountain notes are like a breath of fresh air. The towering cypresses, snow-laden bananas, deserts, and wilderness are not romantic fantasies but tangible alternatives. Reading his words feels like finding shelter for a weary soul.

For ten years, he has remained in the Zhongnan Mountains, only moving deeper into its recesses.

On the mountain, plants grow wildly, each with its own character. In winter, the banana trees are covered in snow, while in summer, the tomatoes are awkward and cumbersome. It is truly a blessing in life to take a step and lean on something, and then sit down under an ancient cypress tree that has stood for centuries. Despite this, he occasionally still misses the apricot blossoms of spring due to his busyness. “When people are busy, they really do lose track of the seasons”.

Down in the lowlands, there are deserts and snow-capped mountains, cities and villages. He has pondered travel, art, and life. What remains unchanged is his firm belief that “only in absolute solitude do the more essential things emerge.”

Now, gazing across the mountains at each other, let us be each other’s poetry.

Er Dong

Er Dong is a poet and painter. A graduate of the Oil Painting Department at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, he currently resides in Zhongnan Mountain, Xi’an.

Preface

On the Mountain
Plants Have Personalities
Life Among the Grass
Joy Itself Is the Path
Delving Deeper
The Balance Exercise
In Dreams

Down the Mountain
Not Just a Travelogue
In the Human World
Traces of the Divine
Gazing Across the Mountain