The Funeral of Muslims (Plain)

Author: Huo Da
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1988-12-01
Features: The Funeral for Muslims was completed in the autumn of 1987, published in the 17th and 18th issues of the Quarterly of Long Fiction, anded in the 6th issue of China Writers in 1987. In 1988, the publisher released a standalone edition, which sparked strong social response. Many writers, critics, Muslim scholars, and readers gave it full affirmation and high praise, believing it to be the first long novel in China that successfully portrays the long history and contemporary life of the Hui people. It possesses the character of a national epic, an irreplaceable literary status and aesthetic value. The story of a Muslim family over six decades, the ups and downs of three generations, and two tragic love stories that unfold in different eras yet intertwine. This over 500,000-word novel, with its unique perspective, sincere emotions, rich content, profound meaning, and sharp, incisive writing, macroscopically reviews the long and arduous journey of Chinese Muslims. It reveals their inner struggles as they navigate the collision and fusion of Chinese and Islamic cultures, as well as their confusion and pursuit of the true meaning of life in the atmosphere of politics and religion. The novel vividly portrays a series of characters previously unseen in literature—Liang Yiqing, Han Ziqi, Liang Junbi, Liang Bingyu, Han Xinyue, Chu Yanchao—each rich in flesh and bone, lifelike and deeply moving. The work is subtle and poignant, stirring the readers' hearts with its delicate brushwork. When the story concludes, the emotions linger, leaving a lasting impression.