Twelve Chapters

Name: Twelve Chapters
ISBN: 9787521232288

王帅Writers Publishing House · ChinaMar 2026

3.4

Word count: 6.8K words
Chapters: 62
ISBN: 9787521232288

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Summary

The poetry collection Twelve Chapters brings to mind Li Shangyin's lines: "The zither, for no reason, has fifty strings; each string, each peg recalls a blossoming year." Between titled and untitled, where sunlight rises into mist, in corners where one suddenly turns to look back, in the shifting illusions of Zhuangzi's dawn dream—is it, or isn't it—there lies the water of yesterday that cannot be pursued, the person who cannot be dreamed of, and all the feelings one forever longs to recall. It is sudden understanding, and also the inevitability of bewilderment and futility…

Editor's review

Twelve Chapters is a poetry collection grounded in emotion and remembrance. Drawing on Li Shangyin's "Jin Se," the material establishes a tone that wanders between titled and untitled, between sudden clarity and bewilderment: sunlight rising into mist, a sudden turn of the head, Zhuangzi's dawn dream—these images point to the water of yesterday that cannot be pursued and the person who cannot be dreamed of. Wang Shuai's writing does not rush to offer clear answers but lets emotion unfold layer by layer in ambiguous terrain, so that readers come to experience the complex state in which sudden understanding coexists with bewilderment and futility. This approach demands a certain patience and sensitivity from readers, but once one enters its rhythm, a lingering resonance can be found among the short pieces. It suits slow reading in quiet hours and rewards readers who seek classical sensibility within modern poetry. Those accustomed to straightforward narrative or strong plot momentum may need to adjust their expectations.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy modern poetry and savor understated lyricism and the play of imagery
Literary enthusiasts interested in the sensibility of classical poetry who are willing to appreciate it through slow reading
Readers who habitually read poetry in quiet hours and value emotional experience over plot
Readers who need poetic texts for recitation or reading-sharing events

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer straightforward narrative and strong plot momentum
Readers hoping to draw clear conclusions or practical information from a poetry collection

Reading tips

Slow down and read only two or three poems at a time, pausing afterward to let the imagery ferment naturally.
Keep a pen at hand and mark the lines that move you, then return to these marks after some time.
Read alongside relevant poems by Li Shangyin to appreciate how classical sensibility is transformed in modern poetry.

About the publisher

Writers Publishing House China · Founded in 1953

Writers Publishing House is a Chinese publisher focused mainly on literary publishing. Its output covers classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature and Eastern philosophy, with some extension into popular reading such as social fiction and parenting books. Its catalogue contains more than 900 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber and its edited editions, Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and foreign literary classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and Lost Illusions. In terms of authors, it includes classical writers such as Cao Xueqin and Gao E, foreign masters such as William Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Balzac, and translations by translators such as Zhu Shenghao, Geng Jizhi and Fu Lei. Overall, its publishing profile balances Chinese and foreign literary classics, emphasizes quality translations, and serves both academic and general readers; publicly available information on its specific publishing plans is limited.

版权信息
哪里
短章
风——假借生活的名义
无题
麦地
致远方的朋友
失明
时间让我突然伤感
断章
窗
无题
为睡眠奋斗
睡眠
梦游
植物园
海棠花
如果我把手伸给你
和其光
女巫
老情歌
爱情
聊天
风
有所悟
时间很美
一瞬
今天下午看见春天
清明
端午
江南的六月
七月的雨水
八月
立秋
生活让我如此充实
早晨
壶里乾坤
有所思
无题
集句
无题
兄弟情
清明
短歌
临江仙
和于东辉
冷香阁——黄宾虹
一日长于百年
献给我亲爱的妈妈
山谷
就诊者言
私语五首
女儿娇三首
亲亲你们
月牙儿
生日
名字
无题
日常
音乐
龙门
羑里城

FAQ

Does this collection require a foundation in classical poetry?

Not strictly. The material uses Li Shangyin's lines as an introduction, indicating that the collection's mood echoes the classical lyrical tradition, but the poems themselves are modern poetry. A background in classical poetry makes it easier to appreciate the allusions and sensibility, but readers without one can enter through feeling alone.

What are the main themes of the collection?

From the material, the core is remembrance and emotion: the water of yesterday that cannot be pursued, the person who cannot be dreamed of, the inevitability of sudden understanding and bewilderment and futility. The poems wander between titled and untitled, presenting a complex and hard-to-articulate state of mind rather than a single clear thematic statement.

Is it suitable to read in one sitting?

Not really. The collection's mood is understated and lingering; reading too much at once can blur the imagery. It is better suited to slow reading in stages, a small amount each time, leaving room for pauses and aftertaste so that the experience remains clearer.

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About the author

王帅 Author

Wang Shuai is a Chinese author whose works span a notably wide range of subjects. Public information about him is limited, and his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the eight works held in the collection, his writing covers computing, architecture, prose and miscellaneous writings, modern poetry, language and writing, and social fiction, reflecting interests across several fields. Machine Learning Practice for Internet Business Security and Resource Optimization and Algorithms for RFID Systems lean toward engineering and technology, while Key Technologies for Refined Analysis of Cable-Supported Dome Structures belongs to architectural structures. Works such as The Past Was Only Ordinary, Twelve Chapters, and Super Burning Youth are closer to prose, poetry, and fiction; Ten Codes for Word Selection: China in Language focuses on linguistic phenomena, and the Illustrated Guide to Meridian Health and Wellness touches on health knowledge. Overall, his works combine technical and humanistic interests and address different groups of readers, making them suitable for reading by category.