A Pair of Stone Balls

缪崇群Jun 2024

3.5

Word count: 881 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Friend, you came to me from far away, and when you left, you left behind a pair of stone balls you loved, bought by the shore of Kunming Lake.

Editor's review

"A Pair of Stone Balls" is short, yet it writes of parting with great restraint. A friend comes from afar and departs for afar, leaving behind a pair of stone balls bought by the shore of Kunming Lake—the heaviest stroke in the whole story. Miao Chongqun does not elaborate on sorrow; instead, through this ordinary pair of objects, he links layer by layer the brevity of reunion, the melancholy of farewell, and the lake light and journey held in memory. The prose is clean and the pace unhurried, reading like a quiet confession; the emotion is not intense, yet it seeps in slowly. Its value lies in using a most economical style and highly concrete objects to carry feelings and remembrance that are not suited to direct statement. It is especially suited to quiet moments; after reading, one may pause and think of the small things left behind in one's own life, which are often heavier than once supposed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy short prose and are interested in modern literature
Writers who want to learn how everyday objects can carry emotion
Those in a situation of parting or remembrance who need quiet companionship

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete plot and the fates of characters
Readers who prefer light entertainment and brisk pacing

Reading tips

Read it in one sitting, then close the book and recall where the pair of stone balls came from and where they went.
Notice how the author writes dialogue and scene with very few strokes, and appreciate the use of blank space.
If moved, jot down an old object from your own memory.

版权信息
一对石球

FAQ

What is this work mainly about?

It tells of a friend who comes from afar and then leaves, leaving behind a pair of stone balls bought by the shore of Kunming Lake. Using this left-behind object as a thread, it writes of the brevity of reunion, the melancholy of parting, and the remembrance after the person has gone while the object remains; the emotion is restrained and lingering.

Why use a pair of stone balls to write about parting?

Stone balls are concrete, tangible objects, more subtle than direct expression of feeling. They keep the fact that the friend once came beside the author, and give memory something to rest on. The more ordinary the object, the more genuine the remembrance—this is exactly what makes the work moving.

In what state is it best to read this?

It suits quiet, undisturbed moments; it is short, and best read in one sitting. If you have recently experienced parting or are missing something or someone, it will resonate more, but the emotion is mild and will not impose a heavy burden.

Comments

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About the author

缪崇群 Author

Miao Chongqun is an author known for his essays and miscellaneous writings, whose creative output is chiefly represented by the twenty works collected here. Representative titles include Juan Juan Cao, Shou Sui Zhu, Ai Le, The Passing of Spring, Miss Manqing, Fengzi Enters the City, Nomura-kun, and the volume Southward Travel Notes from the Republican Masters Collection series. Judging from these titles and their categorization, his writing often centers on everyday people and events, seasonal changes, and travel observations, with a lyrical essayistic touch and a restrained, quiet emotional tone that reflects his attention to life's small details. Works such as Southward Travel Notes indicate that he also wrote travelogue-style pieces, combining journey impressions with personal reflection. Public information about Miao Chongqun's birthplace, dates of birth and death, education, and career is limited, and no such records are available here, making it difficult to sketch a complete biography. The existing works nonetheless show that he left a body of writing in the field of essays and miscellaneous prose, allowing readers to appreciate his style and thematic interests through the texts themselves.