Collection of Chewed Flowers Collection of Chewed Flowers II

Author: Li Jianwu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Li Jianwu (1906—1982), pen name Liu Xiwei, made outstanding contributions to fiction, prose, literary criticism, drama, translation, and the study of French literature throughout his life. He was a renowned Chinese writer, critic, and translator. During his lifetime, he served as a researcher at the Institute of Foreign Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The Plum Blossom Garden was published in 1936, and The Plum Blossom Garden II in 1942. These two books contain relatively few texts, and at first glance, they resemble a young, tender tree. Yet, they already possess all the qualities necessary to grow into a towering tree. Li Jianwu believed that criticism is independent, not bound by the author's right or wrong. Critics have the freedom to interpret. Upholding the dignity of criticism does not come at the expense of diminishing the status of creation. Critics and creators are equal, yet critics are more humble, adopting a dialogical stance. However, a critic's humility does not mean the loss of the critical subject. On the contrary, the establishment of the critical subject is not manifested through didacticism, judgment, or even cold condemnation, but rather through exchange and integration with the creative subject, enriching and strengthening it. Criticism is also a form of expression, and therefore can be beautiful. Li Jianwu is the most literary critic China has ever had. The intersection of Western "beauty-seeking criticism" and China's tradition of literary and poetic criticism gave rise to a holistic, comprehensive, and direct appreciation and observation centered on impressions and metaphors. This is Li Jianwu's criticism—a free criticism, a wise form of cultural conservatism. The articles in this book are based on the first editions of The Plum Blossom Garden and The Plum Blossom Garden II, with the replies of the criticized omitted. To respect the original works, some of the book's conventions and phrasing are retained as in the original printing, except for minor punctuation marks and obvious printing errors. For those that do not conform to current practices, the reader is kindly requested to forgive.