Author says traditional culture offers way to deal with modern life

"For me, traditional culture, as represented by the villagers, is like air and sunshine. They nurture us but are neglected," says Guo, adding that he thinks that traditional culture is all about how a nation lives and thinks.

Guo, who was born in 1966 in Xiji, Ningxia, and attended school there, was a schoolteacher before joining the local education bureau.

He became a professional writer in 1993 after moving to a literary magazine.

In the late 1990s, he felt at a loss and rootless. He then began to read Chinese classics, including 16th-century writer Yuan Liaofan's Four Instructions.

He later recorded his experiences in a book called Awakening and began to give lectures to people struggling with anxiety.

Guo, who calls himself a "volunteer of traditional culture", gives lectures in Yinchuan and around the country.

His "cures" include reading classics, writing diaries and saying nice things to family members.

"If I can be of some help, I feel happy and content," says Guo.

Among Guo's other works are the novel Lunar Calendar and collections of essays.

The novel took him 12 years and features stories about 15 traditional holidays.

Yin Zhiyong with Changjiang Literature and Arts Publishing House, says:" Lunar Calendar is a peaceful and beautiful read."