Book Language: Ding Ling Chen Ming Love Letters

Author: Ding Ling / Chen Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Love is originally sweet, but in the more than half-century of their shared life, Ding Ling and Chen Ming experienced far too much bitterness. They endured 30 years of misfortune together, being sent to labor reform in the Northeast Inner Mongolia, and imprisoned in Qincheng Prison—the place that was supposed to hold enemies, yet held loyal comrades dedicated to the revolution. They were separated and imprisoned in places close to each other, yet they were completely unaware of each other's whereabouts. They suffered countless hardships but remained unwavering in their commitment. History has proven them innocent and clear, leaving behind a touching story of loyalty to the revolution and to love for future generations. The Language of Books—Love Letters Between Ding Ling and Chen Ming collects 115 letters exchanged between them from March 1947 to December 1978, reflecting from one perspective their love life and struggles. Readers can deeply feel the dedication and steadfastness of these two predecessors to the revolutionary cause and to love, thus being moved and educated by their words. On March 4, 1986, as Ding Ling lay dying, she awoke from a dream and tightly grasped Chen Ming's hand, her voice faint as she said, "Kiss me again!" Chen Ming leaned forward and gently kissed Ding Ling's broad forehead. Ding Ling smiled and whispered, "You've suffered too much, I just can't rest easy about you!" The profound meaning of these words can only be truly understood by Chen Ming. Some say Chen Ming lived for Ding Ling. While Ding Ling was alive, Chen Ming was her guardian, tirelessly devoted to her health, daily life, political career, and literary creation. After Ding Ling passed away, Chen Ming became her defender, working to her and fighting to preserve her pure and steadfast image. During this visit to Linli in Hunan, Chen Ming even brought me a newly published New Literary Materials, where in the third issue of 2004, they had a special "Ding Ling Special," featuring a letter written by Liu Lantao, former Secretary of the North China Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, to Ding Ling on May 17, 1982. The letter states, "History has proven: Good people and good deeds cannot be spoken ill of, and bad people and bad deeds cannot be covered up. The thoughts of people in society can be reformed, but history cannot. As long as you remain loyal to the facts and to history, you will remain loyal to the truth. A heart with no selfishness is as vast as the sky and the earth." This book collects the love letters of renowned writer Ding Ling and Chen Ming, revealing and recording the spiritual world and love life of the authors.