Jin Hezai

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Summary

Jin Hezai (real name Zeng Yu, born 1977 in Nanchang, Jiangxi; graduated from Xiamen University) is one of the most representative writers of early Chinese online literature. Starting in 2000, he serialized the novel Wukong Zhuan (Biography of Wukong) on Sina's "Jinyong Inn" forum, retelling the Journey to the West story with mo lei tau (nonsensical) language and a modern perspective. Readers called it "the first book of the internet," and it won the Best Novel and Best Popularity awards at the second Online Original Literature Awards. Besides Wukong Zhuan, his major works include Ruo Xinghan Tiansheng (If the Milky Way Had a Sky), Jiuzhou: Yu Chuanshuo (Nine Provinces: Legend of the Feathers), Jiuzhou: Haishang Muyun Ji (Nine Provinces: Pastoral on the Sea), Xiyou Riji (Diary of the Journey to the West), My Journey Is the Sea of Stars, and The Future: Humanity's Journey. He was one of the founders of the "Jiuzhou" fantasy world system and served for many years as a core creator and editor-in-chief of the magazine Jiuzhou Fantasy. He has also worked as a game designer and screenwriter, writing novels or scripts for directors such as Wong Kar-wai and Jeffrey Lau, and was one of the screenwriters for the film Wukong Zhuan and the TV series Haishang Muyun Ji. Most of his novels explore youths struggling against fate; his tone tends toward the somber, yet his emotion runs strong, blending passion with melancholy. This entry refers to the writer Jin Hezai, not to any single book; if you are looking for a specific work of his (such as Wukong Zhuan), please refer to the corresponding title.

Editor's review

想真正理解中文网络文学的起点，今何在是必须读进去的一个名字。《悟空传》在论坛时代掀起阅读狂潮，在一代又一代年轻读者心中留下了“我不在乎结局，我在乎我来过”的回响；此后他又推进了“九州”这一东方幻想世界，把奇幻和科幻一并纳入写作版图。他的文字看着像青春热血，骨子里写的是人在被安排好的命运面前如何自处：不服、挣扎、妥协、再站起来。这些主题不会因时间而过时。对于想系统了解网络文学脉络的读者，今何在是一个很好的入口；先读《悟空传》，再延伸到《西游日记》《九州》系列，你会看到一个作家在二十余年间不断扩展自己的幻想疆界。

Who it's for

A good fit for

想了解中国网络文学发展脉络与早期代表作的读者
喜欢以现代视角改写西游、神话故事的幻想小说爱好者
对“宿命与抗争”这一主题有共鸣的青年读者
关注九州幻想世界体系及其创作者的读者

Not a good fit for

期待严谨古典原著解读或学术考据的读者
不喜欢青春感浓重、抒情性强的叙事风格的读者
只想要轻松搞笑、无悲情基调故事的读者

Reading tips

可以从《悟空传》读起，它是理解今何在创作基调与语言风格的关键作品
读完《悟空传》后接读《西游日记》，对照体会作者对同一题材的再次改写
若偏爱宏大世界设定，可进入《九州·羽传说》《九州·海上牧云记》系列
把作品放回2000年网络文学的语境中读，更能体会其当时的冲击力

FAQ

今何在是一个人的笔名吗？他本名叫什么？

是的。今何在本名曾雨，1977年12月23日出生于江西南昌，1999年毕业于厦门大学，是国内较早成名的网络文学作家，也曾做过游戏策划和影视编剧。

今何在最有名的作品是哪一本？

《悟空传》。它最初于2000年前后在新浪网“金庸客栈”论坛连载，共二十章，以现代视角重解西游，被称为“网络第一书”，并获得多项网络文学奖。

“九州”和今何在有什么关系？

今何在是“九州”这一大型东方幻想世界体系的创始人之一，也是《九州幻想》杂志的核心创作者与主编，并著有《九州·羽传说》《九州·海上牧云记》等作品。

想读今何在应该从哪本开始？

建议从《悟空传》开始，再读《西游日记》，然后视兴趣进入九州系列或科幻题材的《未来：人类的征途》。

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About the author

今何在 Author

Jin Hezai is one of the representative authors in the fields of Chinese online literature and fantasy fiction. Public information about him is limited, and details such as his real name, place of origin, and dates of birth and death have not been widely disclosed. The library currently holds three of his works: Wukong Zhuan, Wukong Zhuan (Collector's Edition), and The Future: Humanity's Journey, with common categories including otherworld continents, premium fiction, and science fiction. Among them, Wukong Zhuan is well known for its retelling of the Journey to the West story; its language carries a distinct online-literature character and youthful lyrical quality, and it has exerted considerable influence on readers. The Future: Humanity's Journey shows his creative reach extending into science fiction. Judging from the available works, Jin Hezai often builds his imagination around classic or futuristic settings, combining fantastical elements with personal expression, and his works span a fairly broad range of subjects.