Spring

Author: Ba Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: August 1, 1962
Features: The works that earned Ba Jin a worldwide 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 truth: the corrupt 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 narrow 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. Instead, 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. In the end, he leaves the feudal family and bravely embarks on the path of light. The River Trilogy features nearly a hundred characters, including the representative of the feudal patriarchal system, Gao Laoye; Juxin, a timid and 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 enduring woman who silently suffers; Ruijue, a kind and benevolent 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 renowned modern Chinese writer. He grew up in a family of officials and landlords, witnessing various social evils. The May Fourth Movement broadened his horizons and instilled in him the belief in opposing the feudal system and pursuing new social ideals. In 1927, he went to France to study and wrote his first major novel, The Withering, the following year. He returned to China in late 1928 and, after 1931, actively participated in the anti-Japanese resistance movement, maintaining close ties with Lu Xun. Lu Xun regarded Ba Jin as "a passionate and progressive writer, among the few outstanding writers of his time." He is currently the president of the Chinese Writers' Association. Most of his major works were written in the two decades following 1927, including the novels The Love Trilogy (Fog, Rain, Light), The River Trilogy (Family, Spring, Autumn), and The War Trilogy (also known as Fire); the novellas A Cold Night and The Garden of Rest; as well as a collection of short stories, fairy tales, and essays.
The River Trilogy is set in the early 1920s in Chengdu, Sichuan, after the May Fourth Movement, depicting the historical decline of a feudal family (the Gao family) during a new revolutionary period. The work reveals the entire 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 suffering and tragic deaths of women like Mei, Hui, and Ruijue in the feudal family, serving as a tearful indictment of the feudal marriage system and old rituals. Meanwhile, the deaths of "servants" like Mingfeng and Qian'er more profoundly expose the social reality of class discrimination and oppression. The work does not stop at exposing the evils of this "family" 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, "proclaiming 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 large-scale works, 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.