Xiang Nu Xiao Xiao: Selected Illustrations

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Women are a remarkable creation in the world, and all wonders are preserved by them. Even immortals who ride through clouds and mist, monsters hidden in underwater caves, recluses who dwell in trees, and high-ranking officials in the court, when they encounter women, always fail in their hands and are forced to surrender to them. — As Shen Congwen said.
Under the pen of Mr. Shen Congwen, many vivid female characters have been created. Among them, the most successfully portrayed are the women of Western Hunan: Xiao Xiao, who is innocent and completely follows her natural instincts; Ssan, who is playful and clever; Mei Mei, a beautiful woman who refuses to be degraded; and Meijin, who sacrifices herself for love; and Lao Qi, who is honest and kind. To appreciate their lives is like savoring a mellow aged wine, steeped in profound cultural heritage over the course of history, which makes them embody all aspects of beautiful, healthy, natural, and simple life. In contrast, the distorted and deformed scenes of the urban upper class only lead people to sink into decline.
(Note: The original text contains a repeated paragraph, which has been retained as is in the translation.)