Three Records of Floating Life

Author: Shen Junshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: The Three Records of a Floating Life is a work of reminiscence by Shen Junshan after his stroke and illness. The term floating life originates from Li Bai's Preface to the Night Banquet in the Peach Blossom Garden with My Younger Brothers, where it is written: A floating life is like a dream; how much joy can one find in it? The Three Records is largely an amusing parallel to Shen Fu's Six Records of a Floating Life, as Shen Junshan and Shen Fu are of the same clan, and the content is broadly divided into three categories: Humanities, Science, and Go and Bridge. Shen Fu's Six Records of a Floating Life has only six of its original twelve remaining, namely: Joy in the Inner Chamber, Leisurely Interests, Hardships and Sorrow, and Joyful Wanderings. Essentially, it is a self-narrative written in a lyrical style, highlighting the interwoven flavors of life through the four themes of joy, interest, sorrow, and joy. Yu Pingbo once praised this book for lacking bitter words, redundant phrases, and pedantic language, calling it a work of true character. Judging by this standard, The Three Records of a Floating Life shares many similarities with Shen Fu in terms of talent, emotion, and interest. The Three Records of a Floating Life also has a sequel. When initially conceiving the first three records, it included Humanities, Science, and Go and Bridge, with the additional three records planned to cover Recollections of Sorrow on Both Sides, Notes on Interest in Old Age and Illness, and Reminiscences of Love. Later, it was realized that writing about sensitive past events was difficult, as the past is vast and the emotions of youth are often melancholic. By the time one reaches the age of doing as one pleases without breaking bounds, it becomes unrealistic to write about it. Moreover, each person has a different perspective on their private pasts, and it would be wrong to hurt those once loved by writing about one's own fleeting joys. Therefore, the later records focused primarily on experiences on both sides of the strait, with a separate chapter dedicated to the perspective on life and death after the stroke.