Selected Prose of Li Guowen (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Li Guowen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The beauty of literature and the elegance of art complement each other, making it both a masterpiece for appreciation and a premium choice for collection. Li Guowen's prose is scholarly, genuine, and possesses a keen insight into the world. What is particularly rare is his transcendent and free spirit, which enables him to achieve composure and confidence. He once said, "In this world, for some reason, some people care too much about others' perceptions, especially us Chinese. For instance, writers, they care even more about foreigners' opinions, as if they need foreigners to tell them how they feel before they can truly feel it. This is truly pitiful—how can they not trust what they write?" How well said! It is as if a rebuke to those who blindly admire foreign things. I enjoy Li Guowen's prose because his words are not only natural but also sharp, revealing both cultivation and personality. They appear casual, yet they are actually a result of a composed and leisurely demeanor. He himself has said that a relaxed, joyful, humble, and detached mindset is suitable for writing prose. "If it is too intense, too heavy, too serious, or too tense, the 'dispersed' charm of prose and the 'flexible' nature of sketches will be lost. 'Dispersion' is a state of mind, yet the words that emerge are calm, effortless, unrestrained, and enduring. They are not the same as careless, unfocused, aimless, or rambling writing." It is clear that Li Guowen has a conscious understanding of prose, especially his statement that "dispersion is a state of mind," which lingers in one's memory. Li Guowen's unrestrained and carefree prose is his work of "fulfilling his intent." Many of his pieces exude a powerful presence that circles between history and reality. "Wherever the intent goes, the pen bends." Perhaps it is precisely because of this "bending of the pen" that his bold and spirited "intent" and "vigor" still appear calm and comfortable, without forcing readers into a sense of anger or tension. Even when his writing is at its most vigorous, Li Guowen never loses his "dispersion is a state of mind" as his guiding principle. He truly knows that he is writing "prose." He enters not only the act of writing prose but also the state of prose. Such writers are indeed rare. The success of this practice once again tells us: dispersion is always the fundamental state of prose (though it also relies on the intrinsic aura of prose). Only when a writer internalizes "dispersion" as his writing demeanor can great prose be born. In fact, if "dispersion" is the state of mind and "vigor" is the overarching principle, your words may spread as widely as they like, yet they will remain focused and harmonious. Conversely, without the state of "dispersion" and the of "vigor," your words may be as concentrated as they want, yet they will still be rigid and contrived. Perhaps this is one of the secrets of prose.