Located on Fuxing Road in the East District of Taichung City, Fusion Space 1962 is a creative art space repurposed and transformed from a historic building that’s more than 60 years old. Climbing the aged, well worn staircase up to its third floor, you will find yourself in a softly lit space decorated with old furniture,vintage items, and scattered second-hand books. As if time and space have been long frozen at a point in history, the past lingers, and silence fills the air. Find your way to Anathapindika Books, and step into the world of words and text to embark on a journey of endless exploration, just like a time traveler.
“Books translate the future, interpret the present, and correct the past. They bring you news from afar. If you need them, they will always be there.”
Some people think that second-hand books are about the exchanges and interactions between readers; the bookmarks, receipts, and postcards that you can occasionally find in the books, or the marks and notes left on the pages. “For me, a book that I have never read before is considered a new book. The reason I like second-hand books is that I am extremely fascinated by the traces of human existence. On top of the fact that the ideas presented in a book proves that someone once existed, the paper used also tells the story of another person’s life. Whether it’s in terms of content or materials, second-hand books are simply extraordinary. It may, therefore, be surprising to learn that I am not opposed to e-books, and am even willing to embrace their convenience. But the sentiments and thoughts carried by second-hand books are just irreplaceable.” All of the furniture and bookcases in the bookstore are curated by the antiquities dealer, Glowing Room; and just like second-hand books, they are also full of stories and traces of humans. The owner, Weimin, said that he wants people who visit the bookstore to feel that “they are not right here”. “If we were to literally define the act of reading, and also the time and space surrounding it— you are indeed present in the bookstore, but there is always a more distant place to explore. For example, an ancient and tattered place.”
The idea of running a bookstore was a fleeting inspiration, but Weimin grabbed the opportunity and made it happen. “Instead of living a fun-loving and high-spirited life, I am more inclined to look for peace and quietness. That’s also why the bookstore focuses on individuals rather than crowds and groups. For me, loneliness is something normal, and so is life and death. Reading is a repeated practice; when the true and ultimate loneliness of life finally comes upon us, we might be able to deal with it more calmly.”
The name of the bookstore comes from the first paragraph of the Buddhist classic, Diamond Sutra, that reads, “Thus I have heard. Once, the Buddha was staying in the Jetavanavihāra in Śrāvastī with a group of 1,250 monks.” He added, “The one who reads is also the one who writes; it’s lonely either way.”
“There are books that have meant a lot to me at different stages of life. Back in high school, the poetry collection by Sun Tzu-Ping, Frank, opened a new world for me that I’d never imagined before. For the very first time in life, I learnt that there are people who can feel and create words in such a way. For me, this is a very important book. It has been by my side since high school. Over the years, the book got stained, defaced, and torn apart; yet, it also records the bits and pieces of my life along the way.”
美國作家 Jonathan Franzen 《如何獨處》一書中提到不論是寫作或閱讀，都是在單獨的情況下完成；但當他閱讀一本小說時，卻能感受到與作者、其他讀者和自己的交流，那種連繫是深刻而長久的。相比總是流連網上世界、電子螢幕的人，閱讀的人比較不孤獨。「因為文字曾塑造、拯救以及照顧過我，如果有人也需要這一份沒有要求的相待，那會是我做過最好的事。」給世上所有的孤獨者，能從文字裡找到自由與歸屬，既孤獨也因此不再孤獨。
Reading is both intimate and personal; and in a way, if you are willing to share your favorite book with someone, that person must be very important to you. Earlier on, Anathapindika Books launched the campaign, “Leave a Book for Someone Important”, so that lonely souls could feel less lonely through sharing. “Without him, there is absolutely no way that the bookstore could make a comeback. I think it was back in junior high that I started to give books to my friends on their birthdays. When I was brainstorming for the campaign, I wanted to do something similar.” When asked about the reasons for opening the bookstore, Weimin said that he hopes the books that touch his soul could also touch the hearts of those he treasures. “I want to leave my books to the one that is closest to me in life. (although the books he wants to read are piled high).”
In his book How To Be Alone, American writer Jonathan Franzen mentions that both writing and reading are done alone. But when he reads a novel, he can feel a connection to the writer, other readers, and even himself. Such a connection is profound and long-lasting. Compared to those who are always surfing the internet, people who read are less lonely. “Because words have shaped, saved, and taken care of me, it will be the best thing I can ever do in life if I can pass on this treasure to someone who would also benefit from this undemanding salvation.” To all the lonely souls in the world, to find freedom and a sense of belonging in words, to be lonely but also no longer alone.
