Bodhi is drunk

Author: Liu Xinglong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Liu Xinglong, male, born in 1956, from Huanggang, Hubei. After graduating from high school, he worked as a water conservancy construction worker and a lathe operator. He began publishing works in 1984 and has written five short story collections, including The Phoenix Piano. He has published four novels: Magnificent Might, Boundless Love, Life is Labor and Kindness, and Heavenly Fury. Some of his works have won multiple awards, including the Eighth Zhongwen Literature Award. Certain novels have been adapted into films and TV dramas, and some works have been translated into foreign languages and introduced abroad. This book selects four of his classic works. This book is part of the "Representative Works of Contemporary Masters" series, which includes selected works of six "literary pillars"—Shi Tiesheng, Su Tong, Wang Anyi, Can Xue, Liu Xinglong, and Zhang Xin. These six writers have been devoted to the literary cause since the 1980s, viewing literature as a life-affirming endeavor worthy of lifelong dedication. If creative time is also a form of life, then those who have been engaged in writing for over two decades can be considered middle-aged. They are no longer young avant-garde figures who suddenly emerged, shocking the world with their boldness; they are not literary giants who wield influence, preserving traditions while paving the way for successors; nor are they newcomers who recklessly seek attention or use charm to promote themselves. They have established their own creative resumes and reputations, developed fixed literary perspectives and market channels, and formed unique writing styles marked by their personal. Yet they continue to progress with societal advancements. They stand firm, guarding the front while supporting the rear, embodying the essence of "the middle." Regardless of how the world changes or how newcomers mock them, they have become an invincible force. Since the 1990s, the world has been in turmoil, and literature has been pushed to the margins. Over the first five years of the new century, this trend has worsened. Yet these writers have successively produced their masterpieces, proving the resilience of literary ideals. This is what "pillars" represent. In fact, the "literary pillars" extend beyond these six writers. In today's literary scene, a large number of such pillars are at work, using their diligence and efforts to witness, flourish, and advance contemporary Chinese literature with their new works. The reason this series includes the works of these six writers is simple—they were all selected from the Shanghai Literature magazine. Since its revival after the Cultural Revolution, Shanghai Literature has actively participated in the development of contemporary literature, uniting numerous writers around the magazine, recommending their outstanding works to readers, and elevating writers through public anticipation. These six writers have published many works in this magazine, spanning over a decade—the earliest possibly from the early 1980s, with the most recent being new achievements from this year. Today, writers are influenced by the market, often dazzling the world with massive epics, while the short stories and novellas published in this magazine were their representative and breakthrough works at the time. We have compiled and presented these works, allowing readers to see the trajectory of the writers' creative journeys and glimpse the magazine's unwavering sincerity and purpose.
Liu Xinglong, male, born in 1956, from Huanggang, Hubei. After graduating from high school, he worked as a water conservancy construction worker and a lathe operator. He began publishing works in 1984 and has written five short story collections, including The Phoenix Piano. He has published four novels: Magnificent Might, Boundless Love, Life is Labor and Kindness, and Heavenly Fury. Some of his works have won multiple awards, including the Eighth Zhongwen Literature Award. Certain novels have been adapted into films and TV dramas, and some works have been translated into foreign languages and introduced abroad. This book selects four of his classic works. This book is part of the "Representative Works of Contemporary Masters" series, which includes selected works of six "literary pillars"—Shi Tiesheng, Su Tong, Wang Anyi, Can Xue, Liu Xinglong, and Zhang Xin. These six writers have been devoted to the literary cause since the 1980s, viewing literature as a life-affirming endeavor worthy of lifelong dedication. If creative time is also a form of life, then those who have been engaged in writing for over two decades can be considered middle-aged. They are no longer young avant-garde figures who suddenly emerged, shocking the world with their boldness; they are not literary giants who wield influence, preserving traditions while paving the way for successors; nor are they newcomers who recklessly seek attention or use charm to promote themselves. They have established their own creative resumes and reputations, developed fixed literary perspectives and market channels, and formed unique writing styles marked by their personal. Yet they continue to progress with societal advancements. They stand firm, guarding the front while supporting the rear, embodying the essence of "the middle." Regardless of how the world changes or how newcomers mock them, they have become an invincible force. Since the 1990s, the world has been in turmoil, and literature has been pushed to the margins. Over the first five years of the new century, this trend has worsened. Yet these writers have successively produced their masterpieces, proving the resilience of literary ideals. This is what "pillars" represent. In fact, the "literary pillars" extend beyond these six writers. In today's literary scene, a large number of such pillars are at work, using their diligence and efforts to witness, flourish, and advance contemporary Chinese literature with their new works.