Flowers of Literature Series -- Selected Prose of Liu Baiyu

Author: Liu Baiyu and She Shusen (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This series of "Contemporary Prose" is a part of the "Hua Bai Prose Series." It selects renowned masterpieces of prose writers since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, organized into individual volumes dedicated to each author. The selected authors are all celebrated prose masters of that era, and the works are carefully chosen to reflect the development of each author's prose style. Each volume begins with an extensive critical preface, providing a brief introduction to the author's life and analyzing and evaluating their artistic characteristics, creative evolution, and influence, in conjunction with the selected works. The selected works are annotated with their original publication details where possible; necessary notes are also provided for particularly challenging passages.
In Liu Baiyu's view, prose is like an unadorned sculpture, and the prose writer is similarly a person who moves forward, carrying the earth they have created. Since publishing "Reminiscences of the Great Wall" in Zhongliu in the mid-1930s, Liu Baiyu has devoted over half a century to prose, though he was also drawn to reportage and engaged in fiction. His greatest passion, however, was prose, a pursuit he tirelessly explored and dedicated himself to. From 1958 to 1988, he reached the peak of his prose career, producing works such as The Ruby Collection, The Grass Collection, The Sea and Sky Collection, and The Autumn Sun Collection. Since 1989, he continued writing literary essays, expressing his reflections on art and life.
Liu Baiyu was a modern renowned writer, born on September 28, 1916, in Tongzhou, Beijing. He joined the Communist Party of China in December 1938. He held numerous prominent positions, including Secretary of the Yan'an Branch of the All-China Literary and Art Workers' Anti-Japanese Association, Director of the Supplement of Xinhua Daily in Chongqing, Correspondent of the Beiping Military Mediation Commission, Military Special Correspondent of Xinhua News Agency, Secretary-General of the Chinese Writers' Association, Vice President of the Association, Secretary of the Secretariat, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China, Minister of Culture of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Advisor, and Editor-in-Chief of People's Literature.
Liu Baiyu was a delegate to the 8th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a representative of the , and a member of the , the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th National People's Congresses, as well as a member of the and the 7th Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Liu Baiyu was a prominent figure in modern literature, an outstanding prose writer, reportage author, and novelist. He began publishing literary works in 1936. In 1938, as a young writer seeking progress and revolutionary ideals, he traveled to Yan'an, the revolutionary capital, and devoted himself unwaveringly to the struggle to change the fate of the nation and the motherland. Over half a century, he participated in the War of Resistance Against Japan, the War of Liberation, the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and the founding of the People's Republic of China. After the Yan'an Forum of Literature and Art, he consistently adhered to the orientation of literature and art for workers, peasants, and soldiers, later dedicating himself to writing for socialism and the people. Through years of revolutionary struggle, he produced numerous outstanding works with distinct historical flavors, profound ideological depth, and unique artistic styles.
Over six decades, he published over 50 works totaling more than 4 million words, many of which have been translated into English, Russian, German, Burmese, and other languages. His works such as "Three Days on the Yangtze" and "Sunrise" have been included in middle and high school textbooks. In 1950, he contributed to the film Victory of the Chinese People, which won the Stalin Prize for Literature, and his prose collection The Grass Collection received the Excellence in Prose Award in 1989. His novel The Second Sun won the Third (1991) Mao Dun Literature Prize and the Yan Huang Cup People's Literature Award (1986–1994), while his biographical work The Journey of the Heart received the First (1990–1994) China Excellence in Biographical Literature Award.
Liu Baiyu held deep affection for his hometown. He stated, "My manuscripts, published works, awards, medals, cups, all my books, photographs, audio and video recordings, as well as my calligraphy, artworks, and other collectibles, are dedicated to my hometown, Tongzhou, Beijing." This generous act was supported by the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the leadership of Tongzhou. On October 19, 1996, Liu Baiyu personally handed over the first batch of valuable literary and artistic archives—comprising parts of his works, manuscripts, awards, medals, cups, calligraphy by renowned artists, clippings, and more—to the Tongzhou Archives.
The Liu Baiyu Literary and Art Archives are a precious spiritual and cultural treasure. At the "Lecture Commemorating Liu Baiyu's 60 Years of Literary Creation and the Launch of the Collected Works of Liu Baiyu," Comrade Song Ping remarked, "In the midst of fervent struggles, Liu Baiyu, with boundless enthusiasm and a masterful pen, wrote about the diligence and bravery of the people, the great struggle for liberation, and the power of the people in creating history. His works were filled with loyalty to the Party, love for the motherland and the people, and the spirit of revolutionary optimism and heroism, deeply moving readers and serving as an excellent teaching material for patriotism education for the younger generation."
The establishment of the Liu Baiyu Literary Museum will play a significant role in the spiritual civilization construction of our district. This book includes 37 of Liu Baiyu's prose works, including renowned pieces such as "Sunrise," "The Ruby," and "Three Days on the Yangtze."