The Ancient Stove

Name: The Ancient Stove
ISBN: 9787533966386

Jia PingwaZhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaNov 2021

4.4

Word count: 618K words
Chapters: 96
ISBN: 9787533966386

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Summary

Gu Lu is Jia Pingwa's longest novel to date, exceeding 600,000 characters and written with more than 300 pens. In his afterword, Jia Pingwa says: "I am grateful to those more than three hundred signature pens; their blood was black ink, and when it was all spent, they died quietly in that large basket."

The novel tells the story of Gulu Village, a village that has fired porcelain since ancient times, from the winter of 1965 to the spring of 1967. Gulu Village has clear mountains and waters and thriving livestock, yet it is also very poor and isolated. The once peaceful Gulu Village rapidly fermentss a vast collective movement; the villagers depend on one another yet attack one another, using force and ruthlessness over small grudges and petty hatreds. In just over a year, the whole village seems to become a purgatory of human nature.

Editor's review

The longest novel by Jia Pingwa, The Ancient Furnace spans over 600,000 characters and centers on the upheavals in the village of Gulu from the winter of 1965 to the spring of 1967. Its value lies not in retelling historical events but in turning a porcelain-making village—scenic yet poor and isolated—into a meticulous specimen for observing human nature and collective movements. Jia Pingwa mentions in the afterword that he used more than three hundred signature pens, a detail that conveys the weight and exhaustion of the writing and signals to readers that this is a work earned through patience and endurance. The novel's greatest strength is its depiction of the complex relations among villagers—mutually dependent yet attacking one another—how petty grievances and hatreds are magnified, how everyday ethics are squeezed, and how the village rapidly becomes a purgatory of human nature. Readers should not approach it as a tightly plotted popular story but as a slowly unfolding rural group portrait and a long scroll of human nature. It suits readers willing to immerse themselves in detail and interested in rural China and historical reflection, who can appreciate its weight through quiet, sustained reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who like Jia Pingwa's work and want to read his novels systematically
Literary enthusiasts interested in rural China and rural social change
Readers interested in reflecting on changes in human nature against the backdrop of collective movements
Deep readers willing to invest time in a long book and enjoy slow reading

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced novels with strong plot momentum
Readers sensitive to heavy historical subject matter and depictions of the dark side of human nature
Readers with fragmented time who find it hard to read long works continuously

Reading tips

Read the author's afterword first to understand the writing background and emotional tone before entering the main text.
Consider keeping notes on character relationships; Gulu village has many characters, and jotting as you read makes the threads easier to follow.
Don't chase speed; proceed chapter by chapter and leave room for afterthought and reflection after each section.
After finishing, revisit it with some knowledge of rural society to understand how village ethics were changed.

About the publisher

Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.

版权信息
冬部
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春部
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夏部
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秋部
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冬部
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春部
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后记

FAQ

The Ancient Furnace is very long—is it hard to get into?

It is indeed long, over 600,000 characters, but the language is Jia Pingwa's characteristic rural narration and not obscure. The main barriers are the many characters, the slow pace, and the heavy subject matter, which require patience for continuous reading. If you are used to long rural novels, it is not difficult once you get into it.

What is this novel mainly about?

The novel tells the story of Gulu village from the winter of 1965 to the spring of 1967. This village, which makes porcelain and was originally quiet but poor and isolated, is swept up by collective movements in a short time; villagers become mutually dependent yet attack one another, petty grievances and hatreds are magnified, and the village gradually becomes a purgatory of human nature.

Do I need to know that period of history before reading?

Some general historical background helps, but you don't need to do a lot of preparation beforehand. The novel itself enters through the daily life of the village and villagers, and readers can follow the character relationships. If you want to understand it more deeply afterward, you can supplement with related reading on history and rural society.

Is it suitable as a gift for a friend who likes literature?

If the person likes Jia Pingwa or long rural novels, it is a suitable choice; if they prefer light short stories or fast-paced stories, it may not suit their taste. Before giving the book, it helps to know the person's reading habits and tolerance for heavy subject matter.

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About the author

Jia Pingwa Author · Chinese · 1952

Jia Pingwa, originally named Jia Pingwa, was born in Danfeng, Shaanxi, in 1952. A contemporary writer, he graduated from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Northwest University in 1975 and has served as chairman of the Shaanxi Writers Association and vice chairman of the China Writers Association. His work spans social novels and prose, including Ruined City, Qin Opera, Ancient Furnace, Shan Ben and Zhan Zuo; Qin Opera won the seventh Mao Dun Literature Prize. The collection also includes Solo Walking, Moon Traces: Selected Prose of Jia Pingwa (English), Remembering the Wolf, Lao Sheng and Dai Deng, among twenty-six titles. His novels are rooted in rural life and social reality, while his prose is plain and natural, revealing character in everyday detail.