2005 China Essay Rankings

Author: Zhou Ming Wang Zongren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: On a street in Jiaxing, I strolled gently, often lifting my head to gaze at the towering high-rise buildings reaching towards the blue sky. A series of bright glass windows reflected dazzling sunlight, like cascading waterfalls, splashing down from the sky, shimmering with crystal-clear brilliance, revealing the curves and roundness, the elegance and fluidity of these grand buildings. Long ago, I had heard that this beautiful and prosperous Jiaxing region: had a history of over 6,000 years. In those days, how many ancestors, both men and women, had traversed and cultivated this land, enduring countless hardships and struggles to build their homes, yet still dreaming romantically, giving rise to poetic sentiments. In 2005, we attempted to unify the three, referring to lyrical prose that focused on、、 as "beautiful prose," and combining it with essays and miscellaneous writings under the broader category of "prose." After its publication, it was well-received by readers and performed quite well in the market. Respecting the demands of the times and being close to the readers has always been our pursuit. In truth, any work of literature, whether a book or a single piece, must undergo the test of time. However, we have the responsibility to recommend outstanding prose works to the readers each year, ensuring that they are not lost in the vast sea of words but instead provided with a window for observation, a framework for understanding, and a sense of direction. Thus, after thorough deliberation, discussion, and research, we have selected the top 10 "beautiful prose" works, 5 essays, and 5 miscellaneous writings from the "ranking list" for the year; at the same time, we have also chosen several "excellent works" in each category. The principle of the selection is to focus entirely on the text of the prose, with no consideration given to any external factors such as the author's fame, age, region, or connections, adhering to the fairness of the selection and the conscience of literature. However, the evaluation of a literary work is subjective—beyond the regret of missed gems, the works included in the "ranking list" and as "excellent works" merely represent our opinions and convey a message to readers as a reference for their reading.