The Returning Wild Goose
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Summary
Lu Yin (1898–1934), born Huang Shuyi, also known as Huang Ying, was a native of Nanyu Township, Minhou County, Fujian Province. A prominent writer of the May Fourth era, she was ranked alongside Bing Xin and Lin Huiyin as one of the "Three Talented Women of Fuzhou." Her pen name Lu Yin suggests "hiding the true face of Mount Lu." In 1925 she published her first story collection, Old Friends by the Seaside.
Editor's review
Lu Yin was a writer of the May Fourth era, ranked alongside Bing Xin and Lin Huiyin as one of the "Three Talented Women of Fuzhou"; her writing bears a distinct imprint of her time and her personality. Returning Geese continues her strength in portraying women's inner lives, sustaining a delicate tension between lyricism and narrative. Readers can feel the spiritual struggles of a generation of educated women caught between tradition and modernity—the complex state of longing to fly yet repeatedly looking back, precisely the hovering and attachment suggested by the image of "returning geese." The book serves as an accessible introduction to the early landscape of modern Chinese women's literature, and is also suited to slow reading on a quiet afternoon, to savor the rawness and sincerity characteristic of early vernacular prose. Readers accustomed to fast-paced narrative may need to adjust their expectations, focusing on the flow of emotion and the texture of the language rather than on plot progression. Overall, this is a modern literary work deserving rediscovery; it reminds us that beyond grand historical narratives, there are many subtle and genuine women's voices worth hearing.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in modern Chinese literature, especially works of the May Fourth era
- Literature enthusiasts interested in women's writing and the portrayal of women's psychology
- Students of modern literature seeking to understand Lu Yin's creative style
- Readers of lyrical, essay-like fiction who are willing to read slowly and savor the details
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer strongly plotted, fast-paced genre fiction
- Readers unfamiliar with the vernacular style of the Republican era
- Readers seeking explicit historical documentation from the book
Reading tips
- Begin with a short biographical essay on Lu Yin to understand the context of May Fourth women's writing before entering the text
- Pay attention to the narrator's shifts in emotion while reading; do not rush to pursue plot developments
- Read alongside works by other May Fourth women writers to appreciate both the shared spirit of the era and individual styles
- After finishing a passage, pause and jot down a few lines of your own response before continuing
Contents
- 版权信息
- 三月四日
- 三月五日
- 三月六日
- 三月七日
- 三月八日
- 三月九日
- 三月十日
- 三月十三日
- 三月十六日
- 三月二十日
- 三月二十一日
- 三月二十二日
- 三月二十七日
- 三月二十八日
- 三月二十九日
- 四月一日
- 四月三日
- 四月四日
- 四月五日
- 四月六日
- 四月七日
- 四月八日
- 四月十日
- 四月十一日
- 四月十二日
- 四月十三日
- 四月十四日
- 四月十五日
- 四月十六日
- 四月十七日
- 四月十八日
- 四月十九日
- 四月二十日
- 四月二十二日
- 四月二十三日
- 四月二十五日
- 四月二十七日
- 四月二十八日
- 五月六日
- 五月八日
- 五月十日
- 五月十二日
- 五月十五日
- 五月二十日
- 五月二十三日
- 五月二十五日
- 六月一日
- 六月三日
- 六月五日
- 六月八日
- 六月十日
- 六月十二日
- 六月十三日
- 六月十六日
- 六月十七日
- 六月二十日
- 六月二十三日
- 六月二十七日
- 七月五日
- 七月八日
- 七月十二日
- 七月二十四日
- 七月二十五日
- 七月三十日
- 八月五日
- 八月十七日
- 九月三日
- 九月八日
- 九月九日
FAQ
I haven't read any other works by Lu Yin. Can I start with this book?
Yes. Lu Yin's works are mostly short stories or novellas, with little plot connection between pieces, so reading this alone poses no difficulty in understanding. That said, knowing something about the May Fourth context and the overall atmosphere of women's writing will make it easier to enter the emotional current of the text. Reading a brief author biography alongside is recommended.
Is the language style difficult to read?
Lu Yin writes in the vernacular of the early Vernacular Movement, bearing the written-language traces peculiar to that era and somewhat distant from contemporary speech, but overall it is not obscure. At first the pace may feel slow and the sentences long; after one or two pieces you will gradually adapt. Slow down and read it as prose rather than as plot-driven fiction.
Why is Lu Yin said to be ranked alongside Bing Xin and Lin Huiyin?
Sources indicate that Lu Yin, Bing Xin, and Lin Huiyin are regarded together as the "Three Talented Women of Fuzhou," a designation based mainly on the three being Fuzhou natives and women writers active on the literary scene around the May Fourth period. Their styles differ: Bing Xin tends toward gentle clarity, Lin Huiyin combines poetic sensibility with the rationality of an architectural scholar, while Lu Yin excels at direct expression and baring women's inner anguish. The grouping is more a literary-historical summary from a regional and temporal perspective.
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About the author
Lu Yin
Author · Chinese · 1898–1934
Lu Yin (1898–1934), originally named Huang Shuyi and also known as Huang Ying, was a native of Minhou, Fujian, and a prominent woman writer of the May Fourth period as well as the first female member of the Literary Research Society. Known for her fiction and essays, she authored such representative works as "Old Friends by the Seaside," "The Sorrow of Someone," "To an Old Friend in Yanbei," "A Thread of Sorrow Sent to the Wild Geese," and "Starry Night," along with The Complete Works of Lu Yin. Her writings often portray the anguish and aspirations of educated women in a natural, autobiographical style with genuine feeling, making her an important female voice in May Fourth new literature. The collection holds 49 of her works, spanning essays and miscellaneous writings, social fiction, and classic works. She died in Shanghai in 1934 from complications of childbirth at the age of 36.
