The Blooming of Life -- A Collection of Studies on Ba Jin, Volume 1

Author: Chen Si and Li Cunguang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Blooming of Life—Volume One of the Ba Jin Studies Annual primarily reflects the new academic achievements and significant historical materials related to Ba Jin research both at home and abroad from 2003–2004. It is divided into four sections: New Selections of Ba Jin’s Works, Forum, Historical Materials, and Information. This volume is the first to publish a batch of newly discovered lost writings, letters, and other valuable documents of Ba Jin. The annual journal mainly reflects the new academic achievements and significant historical materials related to Ba Jin research both at home and abroad from 2003–2004, divided into four sections: New Selections of Ba Jin’s Works, Forum, Historical Materials, and Information. New Selections of Ba Jin’s Works includes Ba Jin’s unfinished essay Remembrance of Shi Tuo written at the end of 1988 or early 1989, his diary from his overseas visits between 1979 and 1981, sixteen family letters written to his wife and daughter, and three inscriptions for his granddaughter. Except for Written to Duanduan, all are published for the first time. Additionally, the annual journal features letters from Xian Shan to Shen Congwen, as well as correspondence from Ding Ling, Kang Zhuo, Cao Yu, Zhang Guangnian, and others to Ba Jin. These newly discovered letters are all publicly released for the first time. Among them, Xian Shan’s letter to Shen Congwen dated June 28, 1972, describes her illness and family circumstances, serving as important historical materials for understanding Ba Jin’s family during the Cultural Revolution and also highlighting the lifelong friendship between Ba Jin and Shen Congwen, marked by mutual warmth even in adversity. The annual journal is also accompanied by a large number of precious photographs and autographs of Ba Jin, with a significant portion also being publicly released for the first time. The Ba Jin Studies Annual is part of the academic research efforts of the Shanghai Ba Jin Literary Research Association, and one volume will be edited and published each year thereafter.