Six Records of a Floating Life

Author: Shen Fu (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Record of a Floating Life is a life memoir by the Qing Dynasty literati Shen Fu. Record of a Floating Life takes the life of the author and his wife as the main thread, encompassing the ordinary yet full of charm of domestic life, as well as the observations and experiences from traveling to various places. The book's distinctive feature lies in its authenticity, sincerity, and freedom from rigid conventions, showcasing creativity. This creativity is first reflected in its themes and subjects. In the book, the author narrates the intimate joys of the couple's private life with a heartfelt and straightforward style, portraying the sincere and loving bond between spouses. In the history of Chinese literature, there are many poems and essays that describe love, but most either depict courtly romances, tragic love stories under the oppression of power and rituals, or the tender affections between courtesans and young lovers, rarely touching upon the love between spouses. With keen insight, Chen Yinque pointed out: "In our country's literature, due to the constraints of rituals and propriety, it has been reluctant to speak much about relationships between men and women, and even less so about formal relationships like marriage. The intimate feelings of the bedroom and the trivialities of household life are generally not included in literary works, but are instead summarized in vague terms. This is why Shen Sanbai's Record of a Floating Life—specifically the Joy of the Inner Chamber—stands out as an exceptional creation."