Jiu Zhou: Zhu Yan Ji

Author: Zhan An
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Reading Zhan An's novels always gives me a sense: strolling along the Greek snow-white sandy coast, stepping on the ivory steps of jade palace. The writing is exquisite and delicate, with a mature and grand demeanor. From The Traveler to The Chronicle of Crimson Beauty to The Legend of Qingheng, every mark is solid. Zhan An has become a mainstay author of the Jiu Zhou world entirely through talent. When Jiu Zhou was still just an idea on a forum, no one paid attention to Zhan An's presence. While people were still debating the size of Jiu Zhou, he had already been quietly writing. That grand yet ethereal world became real and tangible in his hands. You can discern the gradual change of distant mountain colors, hear the distant sound of horse bells growing closer, and see her smiling before you, her fine hair fluttering in the wind. In this chaotic and turbulent world, Zhan An always discovers something unique. Amidst the grand historical creation movement, Zhan An's characters stand alone amidst green mountains and clear waters, quietly listening to the songs of mountain girls, pursuing the origins of ancient legends. Yet amidst this composure, there seeps in the ordinary human suffering and bloodshed. It turns out that the broad-minded and silent man, like a neighbor, also possesses the courage to stand alone with a sword before the iron cavalry of the kings. The Chronicle of Crimson Beauty is a story set against the backdrop of the second unification of Jiu Zhou, but the emperor is still not the protagonist, and war is not the theme. People pursue beauty and freedom with perseverance under cruel fate, regardless of how many changes and chaos they endure. Even if every footprint is stained with blood, looking back, it is still proof of the existence of an ordinary person. The strength of Zhan An's writing lies in portraying the human heart. The emotions that the girl cannot speak to others, the memories that the warrior cannot let go of, the grief and struggle in the face of a desperate situation—when written in a fictional world, they become the most authentic emotions. Without cool and stylish appearances or stunning entrances, the boldness and brilliance emerge from the gentle and calm brushstrokes. Perhaps because of his love for traveling, the world in Zhan An's writing is filled with wonders and magnificence—the blue pearl-like Seven Seas, the silver-rayed ice-bellied Zhanli, the drums in the mountains and the boatmen on the rushing rivers. Adding the beauty of his travels to his unrestrained imagination transforms it into a magical world that is hard to escape. And Zhan An himself is the traveler wandering in this world. He is not alone, accompanied by the numerous lively and vivid characters he has created, who travel with him through this endless world.