Illustrated Book White Gate Willow ()

Author: Liu Sifen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: This book is divided into three volumes. It narrates a story from the late Ming Dynasty to the early establishment of the Qing Dynasty. It is not only a depiction of the rise and fall of feudal society, but also a portrayal of the tragic separation of women in the turbulent Ming Dynasty. It is a poignant elegy for the disintegration of a vast empire and an epic scroll in the style of an encyclopedia. The book portrays a series of rich and vivid characters, including Qian Qianyi, Liu Rushi, Mao Xiang, and Dong Xiaowan. This book is reenacted in the form of a comic strip, making it more suitable for readers of different ages and cultural backgrounds. Sunset over Fragrant Grass is the first part of the trilogy of the long historical novel White Gate Willow. It focuses on the events of a single year, 1642 (the 15th year of the Chongzhen reign). It depicts the complex struggles between progressive intellectuals, represented by the Fushu, and the remnants of the eunuch faction, led by Ruan Dachen, as well as political opportunists like Qian Qianyi, amidst the turmoil and warfare that engulfed the Ming Dynasty. The romantic entanglements between Mao Xiang and Dong Xiaowan, Qian Qianyi and Liu Rushi, and other famous scholars and courtesans of Jiangnan are particularly touching. The scenes are vast and colorful, presenting a vivid historical scroll in rich detail. Autumn Dew in Perilous City is the second part of the trilogy of the long historical novel White Gate Willow. It describes the chaos of Li Zicheng's peasant uprising army capturing Beijing, the suicide of the Chongzhen Emperor, the southward advance of the Qing forces, and the rise and fall of the short-lived Hongguang Dynasty, as well as the grand tragedy of a nation's collapse and the ruin of homes. The book portrays the corruption and debauchery of the court, the scheming among ministers, the conflicts between military leaders, the complacency of the common people, and the weakness of the scholars. The book features numerous characters and a grand atmosphere, singing a tragic elegy of a declining world with turbulent changes and a sorrowful wind rising from the west. Rooster's Crow in Stormy Weather is the third part of the trilogy of the long historical novel White Gate Willow. It depicts the early establishment of the Qing Dynasty, portraying the gathering and failure of the anti-Qing forces in Zhejiang, as well as the survival, thoughts, and fate of the intellectuals of Jiangnan. The book is profound and extensive, shaping a massive bas-relief of the inner world of scholars.