First incense burner

Author: Eileen Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-03-01
Features: Eileen Chang's desolation is a pessimistic lament, a feminine sensitivity and delicacy. Grand themes like era, nation, and revolution are condensed into a scene or corner of family life. The vast waves of society are distant and fleeting, while the ordinary joys and sorrows of ordinary men and women endure. It is the twists and turns that form the essence of life. At the beginning of the story, Wei Long, an extremely ordinary Shanghai girl, stands on the corridor of a grand mansion in the semi-mountain area, gazing far into the garden. Wei Long has been in Hong Kong for two years, but she is still quite unfamiliar with the luxurious residential areas on the hills. This is her first time visiting her aunt's house. The garden at her aunt's house is just a rectangular lawn surrounded by low white stone railings. Beyond the railings lies a stretch of barren mountain. The garden seems like a golden lacquer tray that has been magically placed in the air amidst the chaotic mountains.