Headline: China's Inaugural Issue

Author: Gu Min
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The publication of the first issue marks the emergence of a group of outstanding talents, accompanied by the mournful cries of the righteous and the spirit of perseverance. The renowned sinologist Ji Xianlin once said, "Nostalgia can purify the soul." The older a newspaper or magazine becomes, the rarer it becomes, and the more valuable it is. The first issue of a publication is truly a rare gem, representing an important category in newspaper and magazine collecting. It has distinct characteristics of its time and serves as a tangible record of the historical context. So, the preface that accompanies the first issue to achieve fame and value is even more precious. First issues are invaluable, often distinguished by the authorship of their preface. Reading their prefaces is like hearing the declaration of a person and their era. In these declarations, some are formulaic and slogan-like, but more are a fusion of art and thought. Among them, there are bold and gentle echoes, as if listening to the oarsman's songs on the Qinhuai River; there are also moving and melancholic scenes, evoking the somber grandeur of "crumbling hooves, mournful bugle calls, and a blood-red sunset." At the same time, we can also discover the unique echoes of each different era. If it is said that "Yan and Zhao have always been home to men of," then the prefaces in this book, which we hold in high regard, come from authors who are already "unseen by the ancients and unknown to the future."