Illustrated Version of The Old Man with a Beard

Author: Liu E
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: The Story of a Modern Citizen (Lao Can You Ji) is a representative work of late Qing era satirical fiction and also serves as an aestheticized historical archive for to understand late Qing society. The author Liu E (1857–1909), styled Tieyun, was a native of Danfu County, Jiangsu Province (now Zhenjiang City). He came from a feudal official family. In 1876 (the second year of the Guangxu reign), he failed the local imperial examination in Nanjing. Thereafter, he engaged in business and practiced medicine, gaining extensive exposure to all strata of society. In 1888 (the fourteenth year of the Guangxu reign), the Yellow River burst its banks in Zhengzhou, and Liu E, using his expertise in flood control, went to Henan to assist in the relief efforts. He was highly valued by the Yellow River Commissioner Wu Dazheng. Later, upon recommendation by the Shandong Provincial Governor Zhang Yao, he was transferred to Shandong and appointed as the Chief Supervisor of the Lower Yellow River. His achievements in flood control led to him being evaluated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointed as an acting magistrate. Influenced by the Westernization Movement of the time, Liu E advocated for mining, road construction, and industrial development, believing these would enrich the nation and benefit the people. However, he faced opposition from conservative officials. Soon after, he accepted a position as a Chinese manager with the German company Fuxing. During the Boxer Rebellion, he was nearly executed by the Qing government for "collaborating with foreigners." In 1908 (the thirty-fourth year of the Guangxu reign), due to a long-standing grudge with Yuan Shikai, whom he had clashed with while working under Zhang Yao, Liu E was exiled to Xinjiang on fabricated charges. He died in Dihua (now Urumqi) the following year. The artistic achievements of The Story of a Modern Citizen in "describing landscapes and objects" have long been recognized. One characteristic of classical Chinese fiction is the avoidance of lengthy psychological portrayals, yet The Story of a Modern Citizen made significant breakthroughs in this regard, with its detailed and layered psychological descriptions greatly enriching its artistic expression. All of this together contributes to the enduring artistic appeal of The Story of a Modern Citizen. Of course, due to the limitations of the era and the author's own mindset, the novel's evaluations of certain historical events and figures are not entirely accurate, and some details are handled unsatisfactorily—these are its shortcomings. For this re-edition, twenty illustrations from the early Republican era stone-printed version of the twenty chapters were used, with each original illustration divided into two parts by a central line. These are now reduced and placed on the first page of each chapter, along with historical and literary notes. Additionally, eight exquisite woodblock illustrations from the late Qing era were sourced. The original book was divided into four volumes, each with two illustrations on the first page of the chapter. These are arranged in their original order and inserted into the text, replacing the stone-printed illustrations to preserve the original artwork. This version of The Story of a Modern Citizen is the first to be published domestically since the founding of the People's Republic.