Chronicles of a Journey West

Author: Liu Wenhai / Li Zhengyu (edited and annotated)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Under the guidance of the central strategy for the development of the western region, Gansu's cultural and historical scholars and publishing workers have worked hard in close collaboration to organize, compile, and publish a series of works on ancient and modern cultural and historical topics in the northwest in recent years. These works reveal various aspects of the history of the northwest, serving as mirrors for the development and construction in the new era. Among them, the "Collected Records of the Northwest Journey" (first and second series), published successively by Gansu People's Publishing House in January 2002 and August 2003, are among the more substantial works. The "Northwest Journey" refers to the travelogues left by individuals from the central regions to the northwest during various historical periods for missions, investigations, travels, or postings. These records cover the economy, politics, culture, military affairs, folk customs, astronomy and geography, mountains, rivers, and local products of the northwest in different periods, providing a multi-faceted reflection of the natural and social landscape of the region. They are extremely valuable historical materials for understanding the social and cultural history of the northwest.
Because these are personal works, they record only the author's firsthand observations and experiences, making them more authentic. Due to their hybrid nature of history and literature, they blend the essence of historical study with the author's literary heart, combining historical research with descriptive and reflective writing. The style is spontaneous and free-form, with vivid and lively language, making them highly readable. They represent a significant creative achievement by ancient scholars in the intersection of history and literature, embodying a dynamic literary form!
The earliest existing "Northwest Journeys" are the "Record of Buddhist Kingdoms" by the Eastern Jin monk Faxian and the "Travel Records" by Song Yun of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but their descriptions of the northwest are extremely brief. The "Record of the Western Regions in the Great Tang" by Xuanzang only covers a small part of the northwest. Most of the works by travelers to the west during the Tang and Song dynasties are now incomplete. From the Yuan and Ming dynasties onwards, such works gradually increased. Particularly during the Qing and Republican periods, "Northwest Journeys" flourished, with over a hundred documented examples. Their descriptions became more detailed and comprehensive. Some works, while recording events, also offered insightful proposals on governing, stabilizing, developing, and building the northwest, holding high "historical reference" value.
The study of historical "Northwest Journeys" has always been valued by academia. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the rise of "Northwest Studies," historical and geographical research on the northwest attracted many scholars, including Wang Guowei, Feng Chengjun, Xiang Da, and Zhang Xinglang, all of whom achieved remarkable results. However, most previous studies focused on works before the Yuan and Ming dynasties, primarily within the scope of historical geography. Works from the Qing dynasty and later have received less attention, and many Republican-era works are known only to a few specialists and are often stored in libraries.
In our view, research in this field is not merely a discipline within historical geography but also broadly involves history, geography, cultural studies, anthropology, ethnology, and folk studies. It should be treated as an important part of the overall study of the social and cultural history of the northwest. In today's context of developing the northwest and achieving China's four modernizations, the organization and study of historical "Northwest Journeys" as part of the cultural and historical research of the northwest will undoubtedly provide valuable historical references for contemporary development and construction.
Moreover, these records of the past social landscape of the northwest, by breaking out of the narrow circle of professional researchers, can be selectively promoted and popularized among a broader readership to understand the past and present prosperity and decline of their homeland, the historical footsteps of the Yellow River region, and the anecdotes and legends of the places where people have sung and wept. Their spiritual and cultural value is particularly immeasurable.
"The Collected Records of the Northwest Journey" was compiled based on these considerations, selecting and compiling 37 famous works from the "Northwest Journeys" since the 19th century into 20 volumes. The first series consists of 10 volumes with 25 works, while the second series has 10 volumes with 12 works. The time span covers from 1805 to the period of the Anti-Japanese War, with content reflecting the road networks, climate and local products, urban and rural landscapes, folk customs, political changes, ethnic and religious relations, and the development of economy, culture, and education in the northwest (Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, and surrounding provinces) over the past 200 years. It can serve as a window for readers interested in the development of the northwest and the modernization process of China, offering insights from a different, micro-perspective.
"Records of Observations During the Northwest Journey" by Liu Wenhai. Liu Wenhai is from Weinan, Shaanxi, and studied in the United States and Britain for 10 years. After returning to China, he taught at Southeast University, Northwest University, and Northeast University before entering the political sphere. This book records the author's experiences and observations during his journey west in late 1928 to visit his father, who was seriously ill with business in Jiuquan. The journey lasted from late 1928 to early 1930, totaling one year and two months. The book is organized into chapters based on the regions visited, with each chapter first detailing the journey and observations, followed by an overview and critique of the social conditions of the region, and concluding with the author's constructive suggestions. While some of his proposals may seem naive, biased, or even erroneous, the book remains a valuable work of travel writing about the northwest. It exposes the hardships faced by the people along the route in terms of material and spiritual life, the corruption of local politics, and the harms caused by officials, soldiers, bandits, drought, opium, excessive taxes, and heavy levies, preserving a rare snapshot of the dark world. The book criticizes corrupt officials and policies, pointing out current issues with passion and expressing a sense of justice, reflecting the author's social conscience. Additionally, his descriptions of landscapes, folk customs, and adventures resonate with readers, broadening their knowledge. The book was completed in January 1930 and published in a traditional vertical, double-column format by Nanjing Bookstore in May 1933. This edition is based on the 1933 Nanjing Bookstore publication, transcribed into a simplified horizontal format for easier reading by modern readers.