Old Chengdu

Author: Liu Shahahe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Isn't it the case that history emphasizes the general, while literature focuses on the individual? Why not write about the old Chengdu I have personally experienced and witnessed? With a sense of relief, I boldly accepted the task. Now, I won’t be stepping on anyone’s toes. Alas, I know it all. Just as Archimedes shouted, "Eureka!" after jumping out of the bath, I now understand how to approach this. The "old Chengdu of my personal experience" is merely my personal recollections over decades, with extremely limited time and space. However, the material is rich in emotion, concrete, and vivid. As for the "old Chengdu of my observations," the scope of time and space is much broader. It includes both firsthand materials from my own eyes and ears, as well as indirect materials gathered from old books and ancient texts. Together, they are more than sufficient. Moreover, the editor has restricted the manuscript to under 70,000 words, so there’s no need for an excessive amount of material. Writing about "my old Chengdu," a hundred writers could write a hundred books without stepping on each other’s toes. Such a book is both a reflection of personal footprints and a portrayal of an old city, carrying both literature and history, standing on two boats, and is quite enjoyable. In a broader sense, loving an old city is akin to loving one’s homeland, as the saying goes, "One must show reverence for one’s native land and ancestral homes." Extending this, it also means loving one’s own country, and loving one’s country must begin with loving one’s hometown. I hope more writers will write about their old cities.