1901 (The Shadow of an Empire)

Author: Wang Shuzeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The history of a nation, no matter how long it spans, cannot be narrated and depicted solely with tales of emperors, generals in golden and green armor, literary geniuses and beautiful women, and the flying willow catkins, if it is often tainted by illusory sentiments. Then, the generations of that nation will be unable to achieve civilized progress and glorious heritage, let alone a great national revival. In 1901, this historical fragment at the turn of the century was the most terrifying, most sorrowful, and most heart-wrenching period in the over five thousand years of Chinese history. 1901 was completed in a melancholic mood. Scrutinizing the nuances while seeking the larger trends—I wanted to depict the face and expression of our nation using a restrained yet passionate narrative style. Historical events are not the main subject in 1901, but rather the backdrop against which the souls of all historical figures "sell" themselves. What connects the narrative is not the frequent occurrence of historical events, but the tumultuous emotional journey of the Chinese people. The reason for choosing the history of over a hundred years ago is that the unchanging face of the Chinese people suddenly became dramatically expressive during those days.