Liang Shiqiu's Yashu Xiaopin

Author: Liang Shiqiu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Compiling the works of a master is no easy task. That massive two million words, each article reflects life's experiences, every stroke embodies Liang Shiqiu—this master of prose. My selection is not about confining myself to a small room in time and space. A mysterious force flows from the distant past, from the purity of moonlight, compelling me into a dialogue with the master's soul, to feel his "transcendence into simplicity" in his essays and love stories. Following his heart's trace, watching him shift from "serving the world" to "cultivating oneself in solitude," devoted to aesthetically enjoying life, writing joy from sorrow and wisdom. Born in Beijing in January 1903, his ancestral home was Hang County, Zhejiang (now Yuhang); in 1923, he graduated from Tsinghua and went abroad to study English and British literature; in 1926, he returned to China and taught at several universities in the north and south; in the 1930s, he became a key member of the famous literary group "The Crescent Society"; in 1938, he moved to Sichuan and resided in Beibei, Chongqing; in 1948, he went to Shanghai, then Guangzhou, and finally Taiwan, where he remained until his sudden passing in November 1987. As a typical modern Chinese free intellectual, Liang Shiqiu "lived a long day without boredom, writing for self-entertainment, writing freely without constraint." He left behind an unparalleled legacy, including works such as Winter Night Critiques of Grass, The Art of Insulting, The Discipline of Literature, Collected Prejudices, Critical Essays on Literature, Essays from Yashu, Talks on Xu Zhimo, Eight Years at Tsinghua, Miscellaneous Writings from Autumn Chamber, Reminiscences of Autumn Chamber, Dreams of Huayuan Garden, Gathering of Views, Liang Shiqiu's Notes, The White Cat Prince and Other Stories, Eating in Yashu, A History of English Literature, and the Chinese translation of The Complete Works of Shakespeare. His eldest daughter, Ms. Liang Wenqian, told me: "My father's works have numerous versions, both large and small, in China and have remained bestsellers for a long time. Among them, Essays from Yashu has over 300 versions both in and outside China, which fully demonstrates the readers' love for his works.