Youth shed

Author: Mu Xiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: This book tells the story of the rarely-known ethnic minority—the Lolo people—in Yunnan Lijiang. The Lolo people, a lesser-known ethnic group, have lived for generations in a place called Lolo Mountain in Liude Township, Yongsheng County, Lijiang. They are a branch of the Yi ethnic group, numbering around 10,000. They have their own language, customs, marriage practices, and unique ethnic culture. The "Youqingshang" (Youqing Pavilion), one of the most distinctive customs of the Lolo people, is a central theme of this book. The book portrays the Youqingshang, focusing on the marriage customs of the Lolo people, and comprehensively showcases their unique ethnic culture and ancient traditions. During the writing process, the author has strived to minimize subjective speculation and instead relied more on field interviews and concrete research. Much of what is written in the book are the words of the Lolo people themselves, as well as scenes the author witnessed firsthand. Additionally, the book includes many stories about Lolo youth during the Youqingshang, as well as the Lolo people's understanding and interpretation of the marriage custom. Mu Xiang is a perceptive writer. His novels, which often set the rural areas of northwestern Yunnan as their backdrop, have been highly recognized by his peers, forming a distinct narrative style. His essays, however, delve deeper into the magical and fertile cultural land of northwestern Yunnan, seeking literary recognition and understanding of their homeland, and have also achieved remarkable success. His recent work, Youqingshang, is another long essay that explores the cultural essence of Lijiang, following his previous work, Lijiang Mabang. It is well-known that Yunnan is a place of exceptionally rich ethnic culture, and Lijiang is particularly prominent in this regard. The "Youqingshang" culture, centered around the pre-marital freedom to seek life partners through the "Seven Passes" ritual, has long been a significant symbol of marriage customs in northwestern Yunnan. For decades, scholars from various disciplines—such as ethnology, culture, architecture, sculpture, economics, and clothing—have conducted in-depth research and investigations on it. However, Youqingshang, Mu Xiang's long essay, is the first to offer a comprehensive and literary interpretation of the marriage custom from an literary perspective, marking a milestone in the study of this tradition. The emergence of Youqingshang was, in fact, a natural progression. On one hand, scholars in other humanities fields had already conducted thorough research in their respective domains and achieved preliminary results, making a literary portrayal of the "Youqingshang" almost inevitable. On the other hand, Mu Xiang's long-standing interest in regional culture and his unique sensitivity naturally drew his creative focus to the "Youqingshang." With this understanding, the creation of Youqingshang was a matter of time. Following Mu Xiang's narrative, it is evident that he has a remarkable ability to grasp his unique subject matter. This 150,000-word long essay, written through the field research methods commonly used in ethnology and anthropology, has gathered a wealth of objective and real data. This ensures that his essay not only strictly adheres to the actual marriage customs of the Lolo people but also reflects the author's own linguistic style and writing characteristics, achieving a seamless integration of words and reality. It is worth mentioning that Mu Xiang employed interviews with individuals in the book, preserving the authentic stories and actions of the participants. As a result, his narration is both credible and rich in literary expression. This provides dual support for the value of the work, guaranteeing its high degree of authenticity and literary beauty. Mu Xiang is a colleague of mine at work and also a fellow in literary creation. My understanding of him at work is comprehensive. However, according to my knowledge, there are still some challenges he cannot avoid in his creative process. While writing this long essay, he was also working as a driving instructor at his job, without fixed hours for writing. This created pressure on the continuity of his writing. Yet, in his creative journey, this has always been a challenge he had to overcome. In his reflections on his writing experience, he often mentions how he used to write while traveling in a car during official trips. In this regard, the publication of each of Mu Xiang's long essays has required an effort that even professional writers would find difficult to imagine. His recently published long essay, Youqingshang, is also a product of his writing during non-fixed hours. As his colleague and the closest literary creator to him, I should express my respect for his spirit. The publication of a work always has a specific subject and background. Like his many other works in various genres, Youqingshang is Mu Xiang's gratitude and reflection on the land he grew up on. Mu Xiang is a rare writer who holds deep affection for his hometown and the land. In his works, there are often references to local customs and objects, which he imbues with subtle yet profound emotions. He rarely writes about things he is unfamiliar with, so in Mu Xiang's writing, the land, crops, flowing water, grass blades, riverbeds, and hills are often the images he is deeply captivated by, as well as the places where his spirit and thoughts find solace. As one of the few Yi ethnic writers in northwestern Yunnan, the publication of his long essay, Youqingshang, is also a result of his attention, nostalgia, and gratitude for the people of the land he calls home. In his 150,000-word narrative, his calm storytelling not only reveals the reality of a marriage custom but also expresses his reverence and respect for the humanity of the land. Therefore, in the preface to the book, he writes: "In my creative experience, I often exchange ideas with other writers about their creative processes. Some of them attribute their inability to produce good works to a lack of inspiration or innovative writing techniques. However, I believe that the richest source of literary creation lies not in the skill of inspiration but in a sense of responsibility and emotional investment in the work. The success of Mu Xiang's long essay, Youqingshang, is no exception. It is not the result of sudden inspiration or dazzling writing techniques but rather stems from his emotional commitment and deep love for the subject matter. This is something every literary creator should seriously reflect on and savor."