Sparrows Heard in the Cold Wind

Dai WangshuMay 2017

Rating 3.8

Word count: 1.4K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Dai Wangshu was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and is a renowned modern Chinese poet. In 1925 he entered Aurora University in Shanghai to study French and came under the influence of the French Symbolists; in 1926 he joined the Communist Youth League; after 1928 he became a contributor to the Shuimo Society and later to the journal Xiandai (Les Contemporains), writing modernist poetry; in 1932 he went to study in France and Spain. In 1938 he went to Hong Kong and served as editor of the literary supplement of Sing Tao Daily. When Hong Kong fell at the end of 1941, he was imprisoned by the Japanese on charges of resisting Japan and maintained his national integrity in prison; he was rescued in the spring of the following year. After the victory of the War of Resistance he returned to Shanghai to teach, and in the spring of 1949 he went north to the liberated areas. He died of illness in 1950.

Editor's review

This book centers on Dai Wangshu and his poetry; its title is taken from an image in his verse, and its content focuses on presenting the creative profile and life trajectory of this modernist poet. Sources show that he studied French at Aurora University in Shanghai in his early years and was influenced by the French Symbolists; he later took part in the Shuimo Society and wrote for the journal Xiandai; in 1932 he studied in France and Spain; in 1938 he went to Hong Kong to edit a literary supplement; after Hong Kong fell he was imprisoned by the Japanese and maintained his national integrity in prison; after the victory of the War of Resistance he returned to Shanghai to teach; in the spring of 1949 he went north to the liberated areas; and in 1950 he died of illness. These experiences form the key线索 for understanding the shifts in his poetic style: from the subtle, melancholic tones of his early Symbolist phase to the somber endurance of war and imprisonment. The book serves as an introductory reader for approaching Dai Wangshu and is also suitable as classroom supplementary reading. Readers can follow the stages of his life in reading the poems and feel the resonance between the words and the times.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers seeking an initial understanding of Dai Wangshu's life and poetry
Middle-school Chinese teachers and lesson planners needing materials for teaching modern poetry
Poetry lovers who admire modernist poetry and are interested in Symbolist influence
Readers of modern history interested in the experiences of writers during the fall of Hong Kong

Not a good fit for

Researchers needing detailed scholarly verification and annotated editions
Readers expecting the continuous narrative of a novel
Readers uncomfortable with the language of modern poetry who prefer plain prose

Reading tips

Read by life stage: early schooling and Symbolist influence, the years abroad, and the Hong Kong period separately.
Before looking up background for each poem, read it twice, then revisit it in light of his experiences to feel the difference.
Read in comparison with other modernist poets to sense what the period's poetry shares and how it differs.
Pay attention to the emotional shifts in works from prison and after the war; this is key to understanding the turn in his style.

版权信息
御街行
夜坐
夕阳下
寒风中闻雀声
自家伤感
生涯
流浪人的夜歌
Fragments
凝泪出门
可知

FAQ

What is the relationship between the title and the content?

The title is taken from an image in Dai Wangshu's poetry and carries a cold, quiet tone that suits his modernist style. The content centers on his life and writing; the title is more an entrance into his poetic world than a record of a specific event, so readers need not look for a matching plot.

Can I understand it without a background in modern poetry?

Yes. Dai Wangshu's poetic language is not obscure, and his images are mostly drawn from daily life and emotion, so the threshold is low. It is best to read through once without straining for full understanding, then reread in light of his schooling, years abroad, and Hong Kong period; understanding will deepen noticeably, and there is no need to grapple with Symbolist terminology from the start.

What is the reading value of the Hong Kong experiences covered in the book?

According to sources, Dai Wangshu went to Hong Kong in 1938 to edit a literary supplement; when Hong Kong fell at the end of 1941 he was imprisoned by the Japanese on charges of resisting Japan, and was rescued the following spring. This period was a major turning point in his life and influenced his later state of mind in writing. Paying attention to works from this stage lets readers perceive the traces of his style shifting from subtle to somber.

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About the author

Dai Wangshu Author · China · 1905–1950

Dai Wangshu (1905–1950) was a Chinese symbolist poet of the modern school and a translator, born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. His signature poem "Rain Alley" earned him the title of "Rain Alley Poet"; his work is known for its hazy imagery and musicality and has had a lasting influence on modern Chinese poetry. He studied in France and Spain, and during the War of Resistance against Japan he engaged in anti-Japanese literary activities in Hong Kong before being arrested and imprisoned by the Japanese army, writing poems such as "Inscribed on the Prison Wall" and "I Use My Maimed Hand." His writings span modern poetry, essays, and translations of foreign literature, including a translation of Lorca's poetry. He died in Beijing in 1950 at the age of forty-five, leaving works such as Wangshu's Grass, My Memory, and Years of Disaster that are still read today.