author
Yongbin Wang
Best known for Night Chats by the Hearth, this Qing-era writer gathered short reflections on character, learning, family life, and everyday conduct into a book that has stayed widely read for generations.
1 Audiobook
圍爐夜話
by Yongbin Wang
About the author
Wang Yongbin was a Qing dynasty scholar from Zhijiang in Hubei, born in 1792 and died in 1869. He is remembered chiefly as the author of Night Chats by the Hearth (Weilu Yehua), a collection of brief, thoughtful sayings and reflections.
The book was compiled in the Xianfeng period of the Qing dynasty and is often grouped with other classic Chinese works on self-cultivation and practical wisdom. Its entries touch on how to study, how to behave well, how to manage family life, and how to build a steady, decent character.
What keeps Wang Yongbin interesting to modern readers is the tone of the work: calm, direct, and grounded in daily life rather than grand theory. The result is a book of small conversations and observations that still feels approachable, especially for listeners who enjoy reflective writing and timeless advice.