“Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world.” Many people’s first understanding of Gu Yanwu probably stems from this famous saying full of patriotic passion. This patriotic thinker and famous scholar in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties was diligent in studying since childhood. He was enlightened at the age of 6 and started reading history books and literary classics at the age of 10. He treats reading and learning honestly and seriously.
The article "Gu Yanwu Can't Let Go of the Scroll" uses very concise language to vividly portray Gu Yanwu, who is eager to learn and tireless. Wherever Gu Yanwu went, books were always with him. He would "carry books with two horses and three mules" and sit on horseback to recite scriptures. "Occasionally he would forget them," and he would have to look for books to review them carefully. The valuable thing is that Gu Yanwu is not a book reader. Once he finds something inconsistent with what he usually hears, he has to open the book to check and correct it. It is with this spirit that Gu Yanwu completed a book based on field investigations, which combines documentary materials and field historical investigations - "Book of the County of the World".