Ding Ling -- I am a small grass

Author: Ding Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Classics are the treasures left behind by time, portraits and annotations of human nature. The significance of classics lies in their freshness with repeated readings, remaining an unchanging landscape on the bookshelves of readers through the of time. In the ever-changing space and time, in the irreversible process of life, classics are the words, sounds, and expressions that have conquered time. Those sincere statements, those fearless cries, those reflections on the human spirit, awaken our past hopes, inspire our present courage, and prevent us from being empty and vain, doubting the future. These images of wise people and their timeless words purify our souls, shake our spirits, and teach us what can be missed but not erased, and what is fleeting yet precious. Indeed, every era should have its own literature. But classic literature does not belong solely to its own time; it also belongs to later generations of readers who can appreciate and share an artistic connection with it. Tracing the footsteps of modern Chinese prose in the 20th century, whether it is the early "Yushi School," the "Lunyu School," Bing Xin's prose praising maternal love, Xu Zhimo's "Wild Horse Running" prose, or the prose of Yang Shuo, Qin Mu, and Liu Baiyu, who were once hailed as new classics, or even Yu Guangzhong on the other side of the strait who sought to "" (cut off the of prose), or the recent "grand cultural prose" or "little woman prose," at least in one aspect they are consistent: "I write with my own hand, I speak with my own mouth." Regardless of the "style," whether it is the rigid critique of current politics leaning toward essays or the soft, melodramatic, and self-pitying emotional expressions, or the sorrowful and tearful reflections on scenery, prose, to some extent, can serve as a sanctuary for the soul or a refuge for the spirit. Art is independent, and prose must be personal. Like many modern writers, Ding Ling's literary creation in her later years focused primarily on prose. This genre is more suitable for people who have experienced hardships to express their emotions. Her prose is natural, simple, passionate, unrestrained, concise, profound, vigorous, and exhilarating. She writes with the most ordinary words about the extraordinary realities of ordinary people, encompassing all kinds of emotions in life. In "I Am a Blade of Grass," Ding Ling tells of her creative process, her stories, and her deep feelings, revealing her passionate inner world and personal charm, leaving a beautiful impression and a profound memory on the literary youth. To enter the world of Ding Ling's prose, one cannot help but read this essay, "I Am a Blade of Grass."