Veteran's Collection -- The Projection of the Nation

Author: Jiang Zilong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: When this brilliant starlight illuminates the literary sky, we are surprised to find that they, like us, all have a history of serving in the military. Whether they are renowned masters and giants in literature, or professors and scholars who have nurtured countless students; whether they are trendsetters at the forefront of new-era literature or pioneers of literary changes in the new century; in their youth, they carved a green mark of masculine beauty into their lives. The unique aura of soldiers transforms into profound life insights, and their distinctive character weaves a wonderful rhythm of life. In their works, you can surely catch the resounding songs of the military. The words dance with the fire of youth, and the ink flows with the passion of military life. The years they spent in uniform and the melodious memories are emotions that will never fade. Reading the "Collection of Veteran Masters," one can see that these white-haired elders, most of whom were born in the 1930s, have the fire of youth dancing in their words and the passion of military life flowing from their pens. They cherish their youth so dearly, and when they recall the years in uniform, their hearts are always filled with excitement. Although all are essays and sketches, their styles are distinct—Liu Baiyu's enduring elegance, Lin Fei's simplicity, Li Guowen's wisdom, Deng Youmei's calm serenity, and Liu Meng's sincere authenticity. However, when viewed as a whole, there is one thing they share in common: their expressions of military life are all filled with deeply genuine emotions. Whether they depict the beauty of battlefields, the scenery of frontier regions, the camaraderie of fellow soldiers, or the bright moon of their hometowns, their works are filled with the spirit of soldiers. As Zhao Dayan and Deng Youmei said, after seventy or eighty years of life, looking back carefully, what has influenced them the most is their time in uniform. The military camp nurtured their personalities, taught them sincerity, and instilled in them the courage to face difficulties head-on. Perhaps it is precisely because of this military experience that, in the years that followed, despite many hardships and adversities, they stood tall and walked through life, carving out their own space and achieving their own brilliance. Therefore, when they wrote their experiences under the title "Collection of Veteran Masters," they were more serious and dedicated than in any of their other major works. Life stories and personal experiences unfold in their writing, inspiring readers to think deeply and strive forward. These works are like textbooks, telling readers about the colorful tapestry of life.