Autumn

Author: Ba Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-02
Features: The works that won Ba Jin a world reputation are the three novels Family, Spring, and Autumn, collectively known as The River Trilogy. Some consider it a modern Dream of the Red Chamber. Through the disintegration and eventual decline of a feudal family, the novel illustrates historical truths: the evil feudal system must collapse, and democratic revolution is inevitable. Like Juehui, a young master of the Gao family, influenced by democratic thought, he painfully feels, "Home is a small cage, a tomb where the youth and happiness of young people are buried." He resolves not to become the gentleman his grandfather, Gao Laoye, expects, nor to imitate his elder brother who swallows his anger. He wants to be his own master. He dares to defy Gao Laoye's orders, actively participates in progressive social activities, edits publications, writes articles, and criticizes the feudal hierarchy and old rituals. He ultimately leaves the feudal family and bravely embarks on the path of light. The River Trilogy portrays nearly a hundred characters, including the representative of the feudal patriarchal system, Gao Laoye; Juxin, a timid but kind young man who dare not offend his elders; Mingfeng, a maid who bravely protests against feudal autocracy with her life; Meifan, a gentle and patient woman who silently endures suffering; Ruijue, a kind and generous person; and Feng Leshan, a lecherous and shameless man.
Ba Jin, originally named Li Yaotang and styled Fugan, was born in Chengdu, Sichuan in 1904. He is a modern renowned writer. He grew up in a bureaucratic landlord family and witnessed various ugly social phenomena. The May Fourth Movement broadened his horizons and instilled in him a belief in opposing the feudal system and pursuing new social ideals. In 1927, he went to France to study and wrote his first full-length novel, The Submerged. By the end of 1928, he returned to China. After 1931, he actively participated in the anti-Japanese resistance movement and maintained close ties with Lu Xun. Lu Xun regarded Ba Jin as "a passionate and progressive writer, one of the few outstanding writers of our time." He is currently the president of the Chinese Writers' Association. Most of his major works were written in the two decades after 1927, including the full-length novels The Love Trilogy (Fog, Rain, Light), The River Trilogy (Family, Spring, Autumn), and The War Trilogy (also known as Fire); the mid-length novels A Winter's Night and The Garden of Rest; as well as a collection of short stories, fairy tales, essays, and more.
The River Trilogy is set in the early 1920s in Chengdu, Sichuan, after the May Fourth Movement, depicting the historical collapse of a feudal family (the Gao family) during a new revolutionary period. The work unfolds the life of a feudal bureaucratic family, mercilessly exposing the corruption and decadence of the feudal landlord class and the hypocrisy and cruelty of feudal rituals. The author portrays the images of feudal family women like Mei, Hui, and Ruijue, whose suffering and tragic deaths serve as a bloodcurdling indictment of feudal marriage systems and old rituals. Meanwhile, the deaths of "servants" like Mingfeng and Qian'er more profoundly reveal the social reality of class discrimination and oppression. The work does not stop at exposing the evils of this "home" or revealing its inevitable collapse but further depicts the awakening and rebellious generation, represented by Juehui. It reflects the characteristics of the May Fourth era from one angle and "proclaims the death sentence of an unreasonable system."
The greatest feature of Ba Jin's works is that they are born from emotion, which is very similar to Cao Xueqin. Additionally, Ba Jin excels at constructing grand narratives, skillfully organizing numerous characters and complex events. The plot is full of twists and turns, progressing layer by layer toward the climax. The author is also adept at portraying the psychological activities of characters, analyzing their souls, giving depth and dimension to his portrayals.