The Lantern Bearer cover

The Lantern Bearer

Rating 4.2
Word count
299K words
Chapters
286
ISBN
9787533966676

Tags

Summary

Published in 2013, Dai Deng topped that year's "China Good Books" list and was included in the annual fiction rankings, earning widespread acclaim and influence. The novel tells the story of Dai Deng, a female village-level cadre, and how she holds fast to her faith amid vexing and tedious daily work. Dai Deng is a township government cadre who handles trivial, tiresome affairs every day. As she says: "I am the red candle before the Buddha's altar; the flame points upward, the tears flow down." Her work is in service of the country, which is solemn, yet in that work she has her own achievements, striving, grief and helplessness. She is, of course, a beautiful, intelligent rural educated woman with a touch of refinement; in so many uncomfortable circumstances she works and lives sustained entirely by ideals, aspirations and love. The work reflects contemporary rural social problems, and with deep humanitarian feeling the author calls for reform of the social management system—profound and incisive—marking a new height in Jia Pingwa's literary creation.

Editor's review

Dai Deng is one of Jia Pingwa's novels most deeply engaged with social reality. Centered on the daily life of Dai Deng, a female township cadre, it lays out one by one the petty, repetitive, exhausting tasks of grassroots governance, yet does not stop at portraying hardship. What makes Dai Deng such a compelling figure is that she combines the delicate sensibility of an educated woman with an idealism that will not be extinguished amid difficulty—she likens herself to a red candle before the Buddha's altar, flame upward, tears downward, a line that almost sums up the book's spiritual tone. Jia Pingwa's writing is steady and restrained, his narration familiar with the complex texture of rural society; he neither beautifies nor simply indicts, but lets his characters speak for themselves within concrete circumstances. Following Dai Deng's gaze, readers see how rural social problems land on individual lives, and feel the author's deep humanitarian stance. This book suits a relatively uninterrupted reading; watch for the tact in Dai Deng's conversations with those around her—that is where the novel's craft shows most clearly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers interested in contemporary rural reality and grassroots governance
  • Readers who like Jia Pingwa's work and want to understand the shift in his later writing
  • Those interested in the situation of educated women at the grassroots
  • Readers looking for a substantial, realistic novel to read slowly

Not a good fit for

  • Readers who prefer light, sweet romance or fast-paced, plot-driven stories
  • Those who want clear solutions rather than a presentation of problems
  • Readers with little interest in grassroots work settings who want urban subject matter

Reading tips

  1. Read through once; don't rush to judge the characters—note the details that recur in Dai Deng's daily affairs.
  2. Pause at Dai Deng's inner monologues to feel the gap between her ideals and reality.
  3. After finishing, revisit it in light of grassroots experiences you know, to understand the novel's presentation and humanitarian stance.
  4. If time is limited, focus on the chapters where Dai Deng handles specific disputes, then return to the beginning and ending.

About the publisher

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.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 上部 山野
  3. 高速路修进秦岭
  4. 樱镇
  5. 皮虱飞来
  6. 英雄宴
  7. 松云寺的松开了金子般的花
  8. 樱镇废干部
  9. 把人活成人物
  10. 元天亮
  11. 虱子变了种
  12. 带灯来到樱镇
  13. 萤
  14. 跟着马副镇长
  15. 带灯
  16. 鲜花插在牛粪上
  17. 还是虱子
  18. 建议
  19. 三个先进
  20. 新形势
  21. 镇工作重点转移了
  22. 换布仍戴着那副墨镜
  23. 竹子
  24. 说日子
  25. 到黑鹰窝村
  26. 王后生把书记堵在了办公室
  27. 汇报各村寨选举情况
  28. 书记讲了塔山阻击战
  29. 带灯做了个奇怪的梦
  30. 学会了吃纸烟
  31. 燃烧的雨
  32. 山棉和野芦开着絮花
  33. 元天亮成了倾诉的对象
  34. 竹子到了综治办
  35. 综治办的主要职责
  36. 本年度的责任目标
  37. 樱镇需要化解稳控的矛盾纠纷问题
  38. 竹子的头大了
  39. 白毛狗
  40. 中部 星空
  41. 给元天亮的信
  42. 没有节奏的声音不是语言
  43. 集市上
  44. 萤火虫的新定义
  45. 王中茂家过事
  46. 看天
  47. 送来的野雉又坚决不要了
  48. 陈小岔
  49. 镇长请吃
  50. 给元天亮的信
  51. 村村都有老伙计
  52. 蜘蛛
  53. 茵陈
  54. 书记是个政治家
  55. 樱镇真的要建大工厂
  56. 书记陪考察队去了省城
  57. 樱花开了
  58. 河堤上
  59. 给元天亮的信
  60. 元斜眼在追打着老伙计的儿子
  61. 电视机又坏了
  62. 天气就是天意
  63. 县志里的祥异
  64. 马副镇长提供了重要情况
  65. 有了喝农药的
  66. 朱召财
  67. 王随风
  68. 吃饭
  69. 洗澡
  70. 一身的樱花瓣都是眼珠子
  71. 美丽富饶
  72. 给元天亮的信
  73. 十三个妇女
  74. 烟囱冒出的烟不会是白云
  75. 黑鹰窝村的老伙计不行了
  76. 旧寺
  77. 又见二猫
  78. 给元天亮的信
  79. 兰花栽在了元天亮的祖坟
  80. 元黑眼和马连翘
  81. 当归
  82. 张膏药
  83. 让毛林做个线人
  84. 镇政府大门上贴了对联
  85. 在广仁堂
  86. 给元天亮的信
  87. 竹子的日记
  88. 给药铺人发火
  89. 李存存的婆婆喝了剩下的那服中药
  90. 昆虫才是最凶残的
  91. 一院子的上访者
  92. 抱住树哭泣
  93. 突然的电话
  94. 观蚁
  95. 陈大夫买了张膏药儿媳的全部菠菜
  96. 带灯和王后生的对话
  97. 早晨又恢复了跳舞
  98. 给元天亮的信
  99. 镇长开了两次会
  100. 梅李园里
  101. 煞气
  102. 反映的三件事
  103. 社会是陈年蜘蛛网,动哪儿都落灰尘
  104. 天上起了瓦碴云
  105. 埙
  106. 市共青团给对口扶贫村送歌舞
  107. 刘秀珍说的是非
  108. 给元天亮的信
  109. 吃饭
  110. 天真的要大旱了
  111. 讲故事
  112. 会议室安装视频
  113. 给元天亮的信
  114. 南胜沟村旱得没水吃
  115. 向鱼问水
  116. 被拦道告状
  117. 大柳树
  118. 和元黑眼拌嘴
  119. 借到了抽水机
  120. 起作用的东西其实都不用
  121. 王香菊和郭槐花
  122. 六斤也死了
  123. 再见二猫
  124. 麦子熟了
  125. 给元天亮的信
  126. 大矿区又运回了尸体
  127. 镇长从此不再叫带灯姐
  128. 鉴定
  129. 做了一夜的酱豆
  130. 说幸福
  131. 镇长发了凶
  132. 曹老八
  133. 给元天亮的信
  134. 普查维稳和抗旱工作
  135. 镇政府终于好事连连
  136. 大工厂建在梅李园那儿
  137. 发现了驿站旧址
  138. 石刻却被炸了
  139. 美人一恼比丑人恼了还要丑
  140. 红堡子村的李志云这回傻了
  141. 竹子给陆主任买了一堆粽子
  142. 人浑身都是筛子眼儿
  143. 还是书记处理问题水平高
  144. 送走宋飞
  145. 借口永远是失败的原因
  146. 给元天亮的信
  147. 村民都疯了似的栽树
  148. 元家兄弟协助搬迁工作
  149. 热脸撞上冷屁股
  150. 雾气腾腾没看见牛
  151. 有个鬼名字叫日弄
  152. 寻找张膏药
  153. 鞭炮在屋檐上响
  154. 给元天亮的信
  155. 领陈大夫去给王随风的男人看病
  156. 丈夫回来了就吵架
  157. 挣扎或许会减少疼的
  158. 又打架了
  159. 镇党政办发出通知
  160. 给元天亮的信
  161. 行贿
  162. 六月十八日这天
  163. 大摊饼
  164. 书记和镇长的小车
  165. 竹子指责自己
  166. 给元天亮的信
  167. 在甜井寨
  168. 这家男人过生日
  169. 罚款
  170. 一路的知了都在叫着
  171. 给元天亮的信
  172. 有人退老街房子
  173. 和换布达成协议
  174. 又开视频会
  175. 喝透了啤酒
  176. 重新布置镇东街村接待室
  177. 镇长去电管所检查工作
  178. 曹老八和他的媳妇
  179. 又说天气
  180. 给元天亮的信
  181. 山坡上有一簇土坟
  182. 和马连翘打架
  183. 思想工作
  184. 去买衣服
  185. 沙厂的生意十分红火
  186. 吻过了无数的青蛙才能吻到青蛙王子
  187. 故乡也叫血地
  188. 东南胜沟村带灯不提抽水机的事
  189. 给元天亮的信
  190. 又来东岔沟村
  191. 带灯说完却后悔了
  192. 摘苹果
  193. 身上都生了虱子
  194. 给元天亮的信
  195. 镇长的车翻了
  196. 书记在会上严肃地讲了安全和接待问题
  197. 灵验
  198. 县委县政府办公室指示
  199. 樱镇在行动
  200. 给元天亮的信
  201. 新发型
  202. 王随风又出现在县城
  203. 让陈大夫吓住王后生
  204. 眉毛识姑娘
  205. 坟上的草是亡人智慧的绿焰
  206. 沙是渴死的水
  207. 没事的地方偏就出了事
  208. 对话
  209. 黄书记终于在天黑前离开了樱镇
  210. 放了一星期假
  211. 给元天亮的信
  212. 终于下雨了
  213. 雨连续下了四天四夜
  214. 灾情很严重
  215. 竹子翻阅过去的水灾材料
  216. 带灯到青山坪了解情况
  217. 上报灾情
  218. 汉白玉井圈里是红的绿的泥
  219. 给元天亮的信
  220. 镇街上人都躁着
  221. 唐僧走来一路都有白骨精
  222. 唾痰
  223. 带灯在这个中午喝多了酒
  224. 二十三条偏方
  225. 张膏药被烧死在他家屋里
  226. 送葬
  227. 樱镇原是个蝎子
  228. 召开烟叶收购动员会
  229. 狗在逮老鼠
  230. 给元天亮的信
  231. 紧处加楔
  232. 带灯和竹子都没有被罚款
  233. 河里的水落了
  234. 元家和薛家
  235. 唐主任
  236. 带灯给竹子转发了一条段子
  237. 给元天亮的信
  238. 两个短信相互发错了
  239. 医不自治
  240. 县上召开党代会
  241. 二猫被元老三打了一顿
  242. 视频会把人开成了木头
  243. 竹子记录了县委书记讲话
  244. 用碗接不住瀑布的
  245. 笔记本
  246. 在腿上打蚊子其实在打自己
  247. 朱召财死了
  248. 曹老八的新情报
  249. 书记的七大原则
  250. 折磨
  251. 跌倒了不要立即爬起来
  252. 朱柱石从监狱回来了
  253. 签名的人全来自首
  254. 红布带子
  255. 一走近鸟儿,它们就都飞了
  256. 给元天亮的信
  257. 最后的会餐
  258. 出事了
  259. 元老三的眼珠子吊在脸上
  260. 河滩里苍蝇聚了疙瘩
  261. 马副镇长拿主意
  262. 大土场子
  263. 院子里开着各种各样的花
  264. 打的是马连翘
  265. 元家兄弟又被撂倒了两个
  266. 派出所清查现场
  267. 凶手们全抓到了
  268. 给元天亮的信
  269. 下部 幽灵
  270. 县上来了调查组
  271. 二十四个老伙计合伙做揽饭
  272. 回家时把烦恼挂在树上
  273. 从此带灯和竹子身上虱子不退
  274. 夜游症
  275. 樱镇也有了皮虱飞舞
  276. 带灯与疯子
  277. 提了一篮子的水
  278. 埙不见了
  279. 说事
  280. 带灯又说了惊天新闻
  281. 带灯大哭
  282. 上访
  283. 萤火虫
  284. 击鼓传花
  285. 镇政府还有着故事
  286. 后记

FAQ

What is most distinctive about Dai Deng as a character?
She is neither a weak figure crushed by suffering nor a detached observer from on high. She is a township cadre handling trivial, tiresome affairs every day, yet sustains herself on ideals, aspirations and love. She sees her work as solemn while clearly aware of its grief and helplessness—that contradiction makes her especially real.
Is the book a heavy read?
The novel does deal with the vexations of grassroots work and rural social problems, and its tone is not light, but Jia Pingwa's narration is measured, and Dai Deng herself has refinement and resilience. It does not simply indict; it shows people's perseverance within concrete circumstances—somber, but not oppressively so.
Can I read this without having read other works by Jia Pingwa?
Yes. It is a standalone novel and does not depend on earlier works. Published in 2013, it belongs to Jia Pingwa's later period, with a steady style. You can go in directly without major difficulty, and you will feel the maturity of his handling of realistic material.

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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.

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