Chronicles of Shuilan Village: 1949

Author: Wang Zhenzhong / Li Yuxiang (Photography)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: A common village boy, accidentally finds himself at the edge of history and geography, with his vivid personal life testifying to the pulse of history and the vicissitudes of life. It provides a folk record beyond the traditional "historical" chronicles. "History is like a play, and geography is the stage." In a moment of reflection, life always evokes countless emotions. The interpretation of the diary of the young Zhan Qingliang may stem from my inseparable attachment to Huizhou culture, but how this thin diary from the depths of the mountains to my desk, and how I met the owner of the diary during an incidental journey, led to a dramatic scene. I believe this was truly a coincidence of fate. Perhaps, in the unseen forces of the universe, it was destined that the boy's natural talent would stir a chain of serene harmonies in this noisy and chaotic world.
Parts of this book were previously published online under the title "At the Edge of History and Geography: Shu'an Village in 1949" on the "Century China" website. On the day of its posting, a reader wrote a response titled "The Days of Such Times Are Gone." The commenter, signed "Shu'an Village Person," wrote: "Perhaps we don't care about all the worldly storms. Perhaps we don't care about all the wars in the world. Perhaps we don't care about all the love stories in the world. Because we are uninvolved in worldly affairs. We only want to carve our hearts finely under this sky, and we only want to enjoy our lives under this sky, letting them slowly walk toward death. When death comes, I will wash the dirt from my body and lie down quietly. Naturally, I will go on my way." Such days may no longer exist. Without such days, perhaps they never truly existed, and perhaps they will never exist again. What remains is the peaceful and tranquil mindset of the distant little village, "Shu'an Village Person." I wonder if it captures the living circumstances of the elderly Zhan Qingliang—willing to be a water plant at the bottom of a river in the flow of time, swaying gracefully amidst the surging undercurrents. I believe I am not the only one who feels deep emotions when reading others' fates.
Thereafter, thanks to the kindness of Lu Hao, my article was formally published in Ming Volume 4, Issue 9 (September 2002). The essay, titled "Shu'an Village Chronicle: 1949," spanned over 20,000 words and occupied nearly one-third of the magazine's pages, making it the longest single article published in Ming since its inception. For this book, in addition to the parts already published, I added my observations and reflections from a revisit to Shu'an in spring 2002. Thus, the book is divided into three parts: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. In the first two parts, I attempt to narrate in a literary style the main content reflected in the diary, meticulously interpret the life landscape of the village boy, and peer into the fleeting realities of folk society. I also strive to outline the regional cultural background of Wuyuan, a geographical edge, and the projection of China's social changes around 1949 in Shu'an, reflecting my overall understanding of Huizhou regional culture. With the consent of the elderly Mr. Zhan, I have included the punctuated and organized diary, along with signed notes, as an appendix in the third part. To preserve its original form, only a few annotations have been added.
Although the book is titled "Shu'an Village Chronicle: 1949," I still strive to provide as detailed an explanation as possible of the social customs and cultural phenomena mentioned in the diary, and to deeply depict the inheritance and transformation of Huizhou's social culture. 1949 may only be a turning point in the long river of history, but through my interpretation, I hope to conduct a diachronic analysis of the changes in social phenomena before and after liberation, revealing the contemporary confusion on this poor yet beautiful land and tracing the lineage from tradition to modernity. In addition to the narrative, I also offer a batch of new historical documents to the academic community.
The diary of the village boy Zhan Qingliang once portrayed life dreams amidst green trees and red flowers. It truthfully depicts the social life of the remote mountainous areas around 1949, recording the inner experiences of the people in specific historical contexts: the simplicity of rural life, unique local traditions, the confusion and alarm caused by natural disasters and wars, the anxieties and disappointments of the lower classes, the joys and sorrows of the youth, and the ordinary yet moving personal world, all meticulously detailed. What is dramatic is that fifty years later, the boy's diary, in some unknown way, found its way to Shanghai, and by chance, fell into the hands of an avid collector. Originally, I did not expect to find the owner of the diary, but when the threads of connection led to the small village hidden deep in the mountains, the person I met at the village entrance turned out to be the owner of the diary from half a century ago. The youthful vigor of the past now lies in the weathered farmer of the fields. The interplay of time evokes endless reflections; the boy's dreams, as brilliant as spring flowers, bring a sense of continuity as we look back. It feels like continuing a dream or visiting a past life, with all traces shrouded in the hazy and dimming light. What memories has he left behind in his old age? Has knowledge truly changed people's destinies, or is it fate itself that grants different opportunities?