Lin Huiyin Poetry and Prose Collection

Author: Lin Huiyin / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: It is precisely because of its fragility and vitality that in this highly stimulating era, I dare to take a breath and say, I believe that many people are moved every day by what they observe and hear, accumulating various emotions from their beating, blood-filled hearts, surging up directly from their throats, forcing them into language on their tongues. This natural and abundant accumulation sometimes overflows from the lips of a few, rushing forward to the pen tip and taking on a different form as words that gallop across the white paper. Such words are the product of our time, and everyone should cherish them immensely! Now, wherever we are, if we have one or more opportunities to present many such naturally triggered words to the public of our time, perhaps we can stir up more diverse and complex emotions, and from these emotions, create more varied forms of writing. This can gradually cultivate a vast and powerful field of creative production, forests, and landscapes, giving birth to solid expressions and writings unique to our time. Should we not sincerely pay attention to this opportunity and the potential it holds, each contributing a little of our own effort and heart?
If there is yet another opportunity to gather many people to introduce various forms of writing and further discuss the quality of literature—perhaps by examining the history of past writings or comparing different types of literature, and even delving into the intangible issues of standards and levels—then I am also confident that in such circumstances, a stronger impetus to encourage writing will emerge. It may even add more questions to the creative world. But precisely because it adds questions, it helps to foster the vitality and health of the creative world. Literature is not a wild, flourishing weed. Can we candidly admit one thing? The motivation for creation often relies on publications to disseminate its achievements, allowing them to be exposed to the wind, the sun, and the readers of the times. It is common for them to be chilled by the wind or withered by the sun. Being welcomed, ignored, misunderstood, or sympathized with by readers—all of these are, in the end, medicines that stimulate creativity! As for authors who become arrogant at first and then discouraged, they are inevitable in every era, and their rise and fall are merely side issues in the broader movement of the creative world. Which flourishing era of creation could do without publications to introduce and spread works, and without readers who may understand or fail to comprehend them? Creative works cannot avoid encountering their time, though the names of the authors need not necessarily be tied to it. While it is true that great works have occasionally been discovered and cherished by later generations without having been recognized in their own time, this is merely an exception. Greek tragedies were performed before tens of thousands of people; Shakespeare's plays were accessible even to the common folk in the streets and alleys. In the era of publications in Europe, a poem or verse would be eagerly purchased by everyone. Even in China, during times of printing difficulties, creations were still celebrated as being "preached and chanted for a time" or "copied by everyone"—the driving force of creation remained in the heart, but it was often publications like these that encouraged and facilitated the preservation of these time-bound emotions and words in the realm of space.
Today, publications are the main force that can stimulate creativity. Especially in China, in these days, what do our eyes see? What do our tongues immediately urge us to say, even to sing or weep! If the creative world still remains somewhat depressed and lonely—where effort is scarce and attempts are rare—perhaps there are other reasons for this. We ask: What encourages the vitality of the creative world? Can publications alleviate this depression? Those who have worked tirelessly to bring publications into existence must surely know that publications often die out due to complex reasons. They are often like fragile children, with creative pens and diligent arms, now joining forces once more to cooperate and push the creative world to sprout a fresh bud! Whether it will eventually become a field, a forest, or a landscape, one bud is still a bud. Fragile? Precisely because it is fragile, we must all cherish it even more. This era is ours, and yet we have emotions but no art to express them. Are we not afraid that future generations will laugh at us as the mute fools of a dark age, lacking art, lacking literature, and even doubting whether we had emotions?! Looking back at the legacy passed down from our ancestors, how can we not feel ashamed! To speak of chaos, what kind of days did Du Fu, the old man, live through! The indignation of Xin Jiakun in his time should evoke our sympathy! It is unnecessary to complain—complaints are endless. Is it true that our time lacks the diverse figures, the tragic and comic aspects of life for themes? Is it true that our time lacks beauty, elegance, ugliness, panic, regret, or hope?! Is it true that even after experiencing these disasters and wars, we cannot describe them, cannot bear the piercing humiliation and pain, cannot rise up in anger and sing out a stream of boiling blood?! Are we truly numb? Are the words of our time truly so impoverished that they cannot convey meaning? Are there truly no learning or literature in our time?! Friends, strive to bring forth a living bud, remembering that this era is ours. P89-90