The Secret of the Magic Gourd

Author: Zhang Tianyi / Wei Shaohua (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Zhang Tianyi (1906–1985) was a contemporary writer and children's literature author. His original name was Yuanding, and he was also known by the pseudonyms Yizhi, Zhang Wuzheng, Tiechihan, etc. He was originally from Xiangxiang, Hunan, and was born in Nanjing, Jiangsu. During his primary and secondary school years, he read a great deal of Chinese and foreign literary works. In 1922, he began writing humorous and detective novels, publishing a short story titled "New Poetry" in the magazine "Laihouliu." After graduating from secondary school in 1924, he studied painting at the Shanghai Art College for a year. In 1926, he entered the preparatory department of Peking University but dropped out the following year, working as a private tutor, clerk, and editor. In 1929, he published the short story "A Dream of Three and a Half Days." In 1931, he joined the Chinese League of Left-Wing Writers and participated in its research on literary popularization, assisting in editing publications such as "Jiushi Jie." His creative output increased, focusing on reality with rich content, bringing a fresh breeze to the literary world. During this period, he wrote short story collections such as "From Emptiness to Fullness," "Little Peter," "The Bee," "Counterattack," "Migration," "Reunion," "Ten Thousand Zhen's Oath," "Spring Wind," and "Chase." His novels were particularly skilled in satire and humor, often depicting the vulgar and laughable lives of petty bourgeoisie and certain intellectuals, revealing the hypocrisy and ugliness of reality and critiquing the flaws of the distorted society. Bao's Father and Son is one of his representative works. During this time, he also wrote the long novels Diensi Jiaryu (Diary of the Ghost Land), Chugui (Gears), Yi Nian (One Year), Yangjingbang Qixia (Strange Heroes of Yangjingbang), and Zai Chengshi Li (In the City), the middle novel Qingming Shiji (Eve of Qingming Festival), and children's literature works such as the long fairy tale Dalin and Xiaolin, the middle novel Tutu Dawang (King Tutu), and the middle novel Qigai de Difang (Strange Place), all of which imparted education through lively and engaging storytelling, advancing the development of Chinese children's literature. The protagonist, Wang Bao, is a first-year junior high school student. He is innocent, lively, and full of imagination. When he struggles with math problems or faces difficulties while building an electromagnetic crane in the science club, he fantasizes about a magical treasure that can help him overcome these challenges. Soon enough, this treasure—the Baohulu (Magic Gourd)—actually appears. The Baohulu demonstrates great power, allowing Wang Bao to enjoy many delicious foods such as smoked fish, scallion pancakes, and walnut candy. Maps and airplane models appear without his needing to make them by hand; when he wants to fish, an iron bucket is filled with fresh, lively goldfish, and even a fish tank is provided. However, the Baohulu later brings him many "disasters," often causing more harm than good. Although the Baohulu satisfies Wang Bao's desire for "having whatever he wants," this satisfaction is achieved through theft and possession, which imposes a heavy mental burden on the pure-hearted Wang Bao. As a result, he avoids his parents and classmates, living in constant anxiety, and his cherished treasure becomes a burden on his heart.