Contemporary Chinese Culture Series -- The Eternal Melancholy (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Shao Yanxiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-05-01
Features: This book is one of the numerous anthologies of prose from the past fifty years in China, and no anthology can claim to be definitive. The selection of an anthology ultimately belongs to the readers. An anthology is not only a collection of texts but also a form of criticism. Therefore, the selection criteria can vary depending on the compiler, sometimes even resulting in vastly different choices—this is not surprising. When evaluating works, our standard is: first, they must be literary, artistic, and aesthetic; second, they must reflect specific ideological tendencies and cultural connotations. How one perceives and approaches freedom determines the fundamental quality of thought. Thus, hegemonic and servile ideologies are the enemies of prose. As an anthology, it should generally be representative. However, readers may notice that many "masterpieces" included in textbooks are absent from this collection. Regarding this, it is likely due to one of two reasons: either it violates the principle of historical authenticity or it disregards the principles of human rights and humanity. With the declassification of archives and the reevaluation of history, those hymns written during authoritarian, dark, and absurd eras, especially those by the "noble ones," are justifiably the first to be questioned.