Ginkgo Roots

On the first day of his studies at Peking University’s philosophy department, freshman Wang Rui was puzzled, just like everyone else: “What good is philosophy?”

That simple question led him and his three roommates on an unexpected intellectual adventure. From the cafeteria auntie’s advice to “eat well” to the shoe repairman’s “philosophy of mending roads,” they explored the corners of campus and the streets of Wudaokou, founding the Ginkgo Archive to record the everyday wisdom of ordinary people.

Over four years, the project grew from dorm-room discussions into a nationwide university alliance. Ten years later, it had become an extensive network connecting scholars, artisans, entrepreneurs, and countless thinkers. This is a story of youth, ideas, and growth: when young people decide to take life seriously, philosophy is no longer just an idea in a book, but a living force at work in everyone’s hands, beneath their feet, and in their hearts.