"Break the railings"

Author: Liang Heng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: This book collects over fifty outstanding essays written by the renowned essayist Liang Heng in recent years, showcasing the author's spiritual realm and cultural taste. The works primarily focus on portraits. There are the fierce warrior and poet Xin Qiji, who rose to power through martial prowess and later dedicated himself to literature; Lin Zexu, the last imperial exile of ancient China and also a key figure in modern Chinese history; Qu Qiubai, who governed through literature and later reflected on life after political failures; Zhou Enlai, a man of broad vision whose lifelong pursuit of "the great void" shaped his "great achievement"; Wang Luobin, a man of relentless pursuit of the distant and beautiful western frontier despite his turbulent life; and Marie Curie, a great woman who stood on the pinnacle of wisdom, sacrificing her youth, faith, and life for the discovery of radium.
Works such as "Striking the Rails Wide" (), "Seeking the Ferry, Seeking the Ferry, Where Does the Ferry Take You?" (、，), "Great Void, Great Achievement—Zhou Enlai" (), "Jinci Temple" (), and "Reading Liu Yong" () have been widely celebrated since their publication, becoming renowned masterpieces and selected for various textbooks and teaching materials. Additionally, the book includes a collection of Liang Heng's highly individualistic and humanistic landscape essays.
Liang Heng's portrayals of figures highlight the interplay between literature and politics, employing both rational analysis and vivid imagery. As a result, his works often exhibit a grand perspective and a powerful, majestic tone. They blend "great events, great emotions, and great principles," imbuing the works with a strong sense of reality and contemporary relevance while also granting them exceptional artistic and aesthetic value.