Chinese and Shadow and Others

Author: Zhu Ziqing
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-12-01
Features: In this collection of essays, Mr. Zhu Ziqing primarily discusses two aspects: the use of everyday language and the norms of daily ethics. With his fluent and witty writing style, he outlines the thinking habits and behavioral of ordinary people as reflected in these life phenomena, making the reader chuckle in understanding.
The preface: Perhaps because I served as a Chinese teacher for many years and later read some books by Mr. Richards, I developed a strong interest in the meaning of language and words. About ten or twenty years ago, I wrote an essay titled "Speaking" and another titled "Silence," both of which can be considered about meaning. There were also two or three articles published in the literary supplement of the Tianjin Da Guan Bao. After the July 7 Incident, I left Beijing and left the manuscripts at home, not knowing how they were lost. Now I can't even remember the titles. These two or three pieces were once told to me in person by a gentleman: "They don't seem very good." I also felt that my efforts were not well-received, so I simply let them go and didn't bother to ask anyone to look for them in the old newspapers at the newspaper office or the library. After the War of Resistance, I tried writing on similar topics again. The article was titled "Yes, Really," originally titled "Is Le Ma," and I also added a subtitle "Shiyu Ying Zhi Yi." "Shiyu Ying" was a self-proposed book title, and I planned to write more and compile it into a book. However, this article drew the wrath of the people from Yunnan because it mentioned that the phrase "Is Le Ma" was emphatic and somewhat impolite. At that time, there was a lack of understanding between the people of Yunnan and those from other provinces, so I felt that the phrase was essentially impolite. Later, I learned that the phrase was no longer for emphasis and was not impolite when used in daily conversation. At the time, the people of Yunnan felt that I was impolite and criticized me; some who had read my articles criticized me, while others who had not read my articles simply joined in the criticism, making it even more intense. However, I am grateful to a gentleman who signed "Xi" for a short, calm discussion. I don't know where he is from. He pointed out my mistake and said that the phrase should be written as "Yes, Really" instead, and he was right. This time, when editing the book, I revised part of the article based on his suggestion and the materials, and I also changed the "Le Ma" in the title and the text.
After "Yes, Really," I continued to write some more. I had planned to write many more, and in addition to "Shiyu Ying," I also planned to publish "Shiyu Xuying" and "Shiyu San Ying." However, these articles inevitably carried a sense of cynicism, and later I gradually grew to dislike this atmosphere and put down my pen. Later, I wanted to write some short essays only about everyday speech, adopting a more serious attitude, and I even proposed a title for the book, "Hua De Hua." However, I only wrote two articles, "Human Words" and "On Waste Words," and was not satisfied with them, so I did not continue. Among the titles I had proposed at the time was a Kunming curse, "Lao Ya Zhuo De!" pronounced as "Lao Wa Zhao De!" It was much more interesting than "Kill the Bastard!" I still find it amusing now. The manuscript for "Human Words" was lost during the repatriation, but recently, my classmate Xiao Wangqing entrusted Xiong Jianying to copy it for me, and I am deeply grateful! Now, I will combine these two articles with others like "Speaking" and compile them according to their nature, forming this book "Shiyu Ying Zhi Ji," with "Shiyu Ying" becoming half of the title. The other half of the title, "And Others," refers to "A Corner of Life Zhi Ji," which is also a book that I planned but did not complete. I have never published this title and only discussed it with a few friends. These kinds of articles should be said to begin with "On Sincerity," originally titled "Shi Qing Shu," with "Shi Qing" meaning "worldly wisdom and human feelings." Later, I feared that someone might misunderstand "Shi Qing" as "worldly indifference" and that the name "Shi Qing Shu" seemed too grand for me, so I changed it to "A Corner of Life." "A corner" means "a glimpse," and the words I speak are just "my observations." On one hand, I am standing on "a corner" to coldly observe life and have never ventured into the center of life. This cold observation also carries a sense of cynicism. The article "Justice" was written twenty-five years ago and also had this flavor. I suddenly thought of including it while editing the book and compiled it together. The 1920s of this century followed the World War and were a time when cynicism flourished, which was also the author's youth. The author was likely influenced by Yushi. However, in the 1930s, things gradually changed, and by the 1940s, they had changed even more. The times grew heavier and heavier, almost suffocating people, leaving no room for leisurely pursuits! The two books I planned were ultimately "stopped" halfway. This small book, pieced together here, is just a "shadow of the road" left behind.
March 1948, Tsinghua Garden, Beijing.