Abstract:

Professor Yang Naiqiao argues that Qian Zhongshu’s works, such as Limited Views: Essays on Ideas and Letters (Guanzhui Bian), construct“an aesthetic systematic structure capable of bridging (Chinese and Western) traditions and revealing universal laws.”This assertion raises a fundamental question: does  intellectual depth equate to a system of thought? Furthermore, does revealing the inherent system of the object of interpretation amount to the construction of a theoretical system by the interpretation itself? While depth of thought is characterized by profound insight and penetrating analysis, a system of thought entails an organized construction across linear, planar, and multidimensional axes. It is widely acknowledged that Qian’s works exemplify the former rather than the latter. This perception is grounded in both the intuitive reading experience and scholarly judgment, and is further attributable to Qian Zhongshu’s own profound conviction and intellectual temperament—his methodology inherently reflects his ontology and axiology. In the contemporary context of rapid artificial intelligence evolution, Qian Zhongshu’s mode of reading and contemplation retains its enduring value and significance.

Key words: Qian Zhongshu, depth of thought, system of thought, the style as the man