Zhao Wang Goujian (Upper and Lower Parts)

Author: Zhang Jing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: This book, ranging from historical drama to historical fiction, maintains its content and style without any loss in text. Reading Zhang Jing's historical novels, the spaces between the lines still offer ample room for imagination, and I often savor his descriptions—reminding me of the "Iceberg" theory by American writer Ernest Hemingway. He used the iceberg as a metaphor for character portrayal, stating, "An iceberg moves through the sea with great solemnity and magnificence because only one-eighth of it is visible above water." He advocated that seven-eighths of a writer's thoughts and emotions are hidden beneath the surface. Zhang Jing's historical dramas or novels, though epic-length, depict characters with a tendency to soften brilliance, stripping away complexity for simplicity. Beauty lies in conciseness, beauty lies in appropriateness—very much in the spirit of the "Iceberg" theory. In recent years, I have developed an interest in ancient Chinese history, starting from the Spring and Autumn period and now reading through the late Warring States period. At sixty-five, my life feels rejuvenated, and I truly owe this to Zhang Jing's national work—The King of Yue, Goujian.