National Charm

Author: Liu Huanlu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: In the 1930s, Xiao Zhen, a student studying in Japan, graduated and successfully produced the lost and valuable Chinese porcelain—Shuanzuan Porcelain—during his internship, earning great recognition in the international industry. A member of the National Assembly, the scholar Sanmi Hirano presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor’s words gave him a certain hint, which led to a series of thrilling stories involving fame, power, lust, and plunder. Readers can appreciate the cultural and folk landscapes of China and Japan, as well as the human and natural scenes between war and peace, through the story. The novel, titled "Seventy-Six Mysteries," is a heart-wrenching tale of blood, sweat, and tears, with themes of constitutional protection, lectures, espionage in the capital, stolen cultural relics, bloody scenes in Tianjin, bedroom diplomacy, distant longing for Japan, and tragic love of virgins. The plot is intricately woven, with detailed and dramatic psychological portrayals. The work emphasizes both emotional experience and rational thinking, covering a wide range of knowledge with a grand writing style. The over 20 characters it portrays are all vivid, including passionate elites, academic giants, antique merchants, returning overseas students, political diplomats, and foreign noblewomen—all unconventional. The novel’s narrative threads of patriotism, love, and espionage are interwoven. At the same time, the work makes a classic effort to combine the beauty of description with the art of the novel, possessing historical authenticity, profound ideological depth, and the richness of traditional Chinese culture. Renowned painter Guo Zongyuan and Liu Yanjiang, while managing administrative affairs, personally created exquisite illustrations for the work. Critic and senior editor Ling Xun also wrote a preface.