Li Guowen's Prose (Illustrated Treasures Edition)

Author: Li Guowen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The beauty of prose and the elegance of illustrations complement each other, making it both a masterpiece for appreciation and a fine choice for collection and gifting. Chinese prose has a long and profound history. Over thousands of years of prose creation, whether expressing emotions, expressing aspirations, depicting scenes, or reflecting on people, it has inevitably reflected the changes of the times and the thoughts and feelings of the people. In the new literature of the 20th century, these fine traditions of Chinese prose were not only fully inherited but also continuously innovated and developed. To showcase the achievements of Chinese prose creation since the 20th century, we edited and published the "Treasures of Chinese Prose" in the early days of the new century, totaling thirty volumes. Five years have passed, and on this basis, we have meticulously compiled this "Illustrated Treasures of Chinese Prose," consisting of sixteen volumes. After careful selection once again, this series not only adds over 50,000 new words per volume but also includes several precious photographs reflecting the author's life journey. Truly, the beauty of prose and the elegance of illustrations complement each other, making it both a masterpiece for appreciation and a fine choice for collection and gifting.
The prose of Li Guowen is scholarly, genuine, and possesses a keen observation of the world. What is particularly rare is his transcendent and free spirit, which allows him to maintain composure and confidence. He once said, "In this world, for some reason, some people care very much about how others perceive them, especially us Chinese. For example, writers care even more about how foreigners perceive them, as if they must be told by foreigners how they feel before they truly feel it. This is truly pitiful—how can they not trust what they write?" He said it so well! 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 his cultivation and personality. They appear casual, yet they are actually a kind of ease that comes after a calm and composed state of mind. He himself has said that a relaxed, joyful, simple, and unpretentious 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 essays will be lost. 'Dispersion' is a state of mind, yet the words that flow from the pen are calm, effortless, unrestrained, and enduring. They are not the same as loose, 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 the memory. Li Guowen's unrestrained and free prose is his work of fully expressing himself. Many of his essays exude a powerful presence that circles between history and reality. "Wherever the mind wanders, the pen bends." Perhaps it is precisely because of this "bending of the pen" that his bold and spirited "intention" and "spirit" still appear calm and comfortable, and readers accept them without any forced or aggressive feeling. Even when his writing is at its most passionate, Li Guowen does not lose his "dispersed state of mind." 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 discourse practice once again tells us: "Dispersion" is always the fundamental state of mind of prose (though it also relies on the intrinsic atmosphere of prose). Only when "dispersion" becomes the writer's state of mind can truly good prose be born. In fact, if "dispersion" is the state of mind and "spirit" is the overarching principle, your words may be as open and scattered as you like, yet they will still remain focused and harmonious. Conversely, without the state of "dispersion" and the implementation of "spirit," even the most focused words can only be rigid and contrived. This may be one of the secrets of prose.