Old Man's Journey to the West

Author: (Qing) Liu E, edited by Gao Xinbiao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-04-01
Features: Dong Zao said, "As for us mediocre talents, we can only muddle along. You, with such grand vision and talent, not taking action is truly a pity. The unqualified die to engage in lawsuits, while the talented die to avoid them—this is truly a great sorrow in the world!" Lao Can replied, "The larger the lawsuit, the greater the harm. Governing one prefecture harms it, ruling one province ruins it, and ruling the entire empire leads to its death!"—Excerpted from Chapter 6 of Lao Can's Journey
Lao Can's Journey is a novel written by Liu E in his later years, completed in 1906. Through the travels and observations of Lao Can, the book fiercely criticizes the darkness of the local administration at the time, exposing the so-called "unofficial" officials who were actually butchers who would kill the people to gain promotions, staining their official hats with human blood. Objectively, it helped the people realize that they could place no hope in the entire bureaucratic group. This reflects the author's relatively progressive side in sympathizing with the suffering of the people. However, his fundamental political views were backward, even reactionary. He staunchly supported feudal rule, lacked an understanding of the aggressive nature of imperialist countries, and opposed the bourgeois democratic revolution and the Boxer Rebellion's anti-invasion struggle, both of which are clearly reflected in the book. As a result, Lao Can's Journey is a book with both strengths and flaws. For fifty years since its popularity, it has enjoyed a wide readership. Many have praised its literary artistry, and Mr. Lu Xun also commended it in A Brief History of Chinese Fiction, saying, "The descriptions of scenery and objects are sometimes remarkable." As an artistic work, it is evident that the author was unwilling to follow conventions and pursued creativity in language, observation, and detailed depiction. Compared to similar novels of the late Qing Dynasty, its artistic achievements are relatively outstanding.