「The Art of Collecting」Is Collecting Only for the Rich?

Only the rich can engage in collecting? Collecting is not about the amount of wealth, but rather about the persistence of determination and the accumulation of taste.
Persistence is the confidence that ordinary people have when collecting. Dong Qiao candidly said, “Things that are too expensive can’t be bought,” yet he collected works that he found appealing and elegant for decades without interruption. Lu Xiaoman’s fan paintings, Pu Jin’s landscapes – each piece was affordable, yet they were strung together to form a unique system of literary collection. For ordinary people, collecting is not about the amount of money involved, but rather in the daily act of cherishing, one gains inner fulfillment and a love for life. Instead of accumulating money through stacking, it is through the accumulation over time that one achieves a grand vision.
Cultural taste elevates collection beyond mere material possessions. Dong Qiao did not pursue “precious artifacts”, but rather favored collections with a strong literary atmosphere. This appreciation ability stems from his in-depth study of calligraphy and paintings, as well as his cultivation of literary knowledge and aesthetic refinement. This enabled him to perceive the grandeur in small objects. Ordinary people can cultivate cultural taste without necessarily pursuing expensive collections. Instead, they can enhance their aesthetic perception by interacting with objects, and discover the cultural values that transcend price.
Collecting is not exclusive to the wealthy; it is a spiritual practice accessible to everyone. By maintaining the warmth of collection and endowing it with depth through taste, we enable each person to gain spiritual richness and aesthetic improvement. This spiritual wealth, formed through persistence and taste, is far more precious than material value.
There is much more to collecting. That’s all for today. We’ll continue next time.