Research on the Prose of Jia Pingwa

Author: Zeng Lingcun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: Essay is one of the "speech systems" that Jia Pingwa uses more frequently than novels. Since the 1980s, he has created over two million words of essays. The "void" of novels and the "reality" of essays complete Jia Pingwa's spiritual personality and his literary world: novels are a reflection of the "psychological background" of his essays. If Jia Pingwa's novels are an annal of Chinese society in the 20th century, then his essays can be said to be a true record of his spiritual journey over these more than twenty years—a spiritual history. Essays have become an important psychological passage for "reading people" through his novels. While exploring "the exploration of the soul" and discussing how Jia Pingwa's personality and character (such as Zen heart, Buddhist nature, and the essence of "the countryman") influence the aesthetic qualities of his essays, this book also examines the cultural implications and literary significance of Jia Pingwa's essays.