Flowers of Literature Series -- Selected Prose of Jin Yi

Author: Jin Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This "Contemporary Prose Series" is a part of the "Hua Bai Prose Series." It selects renowned and outstanding works 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 famous prose writers of that era, and the chosen works are carefully curated to reflect the developmental trajectory of each author's prose writing. Each volume is preceded by a lengthy critical preface exceeding ten thousand words, providing a brief introduction to the author's life and analyzing and evaluating their artistic characteristics, creative development, and influence, in conjunction with the selected prose. The works are annotated with their original publication sources and dates as much as possible; necessary notes are also provided for particularly challenging passages. Traditional Chinese prose varies in style—some are lyrical, some narrative, and some reflect on the vicissitudes of life. Regardless, they all maintain a detached and transcendent perspective, resulting in works of subtle elegance. We cannot deny their literary value, nor can we overlook their place in literary history. However, Jin Yi's works are different. He immerses himself directly in life, running alongside it. Struggling, sighing, his prose emerges from the soil of life, filled with its earthy and smoky essence. This was true before the liberation and continued after. Yet, due to the stark differences in life before and after liberation, his prose before and after liberation exhibits entirely distinct styles. His prose writing can clearly be divided into two periods: before and after liberation. Before liberation, the author's heart was filled with melancholy and indignation, with his primary effort to expose the darkness of the old society and pursue light. After liberation, it was a world of sunshine, and the author let loose his voice, singing in praise of the new era.