Jujube
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Summary
Date is Fei Ming's representative work from his first phase. During this period, his fiction generally kept its distance from reality and social issues, and one can hardly find in it the writer's sorrow or protest over real life. Date originally consisted of only the first eight pieces in this book, including "Little Five Herds the Ox," "Mao'er's Father," "Sihuo," "Professor Li," "Divination," "Wengong Temple," "Date," and "Grave"; "A Letter," "Long Days," "My Heart," "Firecrackers," and "Whiskers" have been added for the reader's enjoyment. Fei Ming's works are often related to his Zen thought, and works from different periods display different stylistic features, also because of shifts in his Zen thought.
Editor's review
Dates is the representative work of Fei Ming's first phase, collecting "Xiao Wu Herds Cattle," "Mao'er's Father," "Sihuo," "Professor Li," "Divination," "Wengong Temple," "Dates," and "The Grave," together with "A Letter," "Long Days," "My Heart," "Firecrackers," and "Whiskers." In this period Fei Ming stands largely apart from reality and social issues; one can scarcely find in his work sorrow or protest over real life, which is replaced by a distant, faint rustic atmosphere and restrained brushwork. Its value lies not in dramatic plotting but in the crafting of language and mood: the narration is spare, the characters simple, and a faint melancholy shows through everyday trifles, forming the Fei Ming style that has been repeatedly discussed. Fei Ming's works are often related to his Zen thought, and works from different periods display different stylistic features, also connected to shifts in that thought. Readers of this book may attend to its syntax, blank spaces, and rhythm, and sense another possibility for modern fiction between lyricism and narrative; it suits slow reading in quiet hours and serves as an introductory text for understanding the starting point of Fei Ming's writing.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who love lyrical modern fiction and are willing to read slowly and attentively
- Literary readers studying the starting point of Fei Ming's career and the shifts in his style
- Fans of prose fiction drawn to rural subjects and understated, distant moods
- Students who need selected classics of modern literature as course supplementary reading
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting strong plot conflict and dramatic reversals
- Those hoping to find direct social critique and real-world issues in the work
- Readers who prefer brisk, straightforward narration and dislike spare, elliptical prose
Reading tips
- Start with short pieces such as "Jujube" and "The Grave" to feel the rhythm and mood of the language, then return to the other pieces.
- After each piece, take a few minutes to note the image or sentence that struck you most, to better appreciate the use of blank space.
- Read alongside Fei Ming's works from other periods to trace the threads of his Zen thought and stylistic changes.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 枣和桥的序
- 小五放牛
- 毛儿的爸爸
- 四火
- 李教授
- 卜居
- 文公庙
- 枣
- 墓
- 一封信
- 长日
- 我的心
- 花炮
- 胡子
FAQ
Which pieces did "Jujube" originally consist of?
According to the source material, "Jujube" originally consisted of the first 8 pieces in this book, including "Little Five Herds the Ox," "Mao'er's Father," "Sihuo," "Professor Li," "Divining a Dwelling," "Wengong Temple," "Jujube," and "The Grave"; later pieces such as "A Letter," "Long Days," "My Heart," "Firecrackers," and "Beard" were added.
Why is "Jujube" said to be far removed from reality and social issues?
The source material notes that in this period Fei Ming's fiction as a whole stays far from reality and social issues, and it is almost impossible to find the author's sorrow or protest over real life in it. When reading, it is better to focus on language, mood, and narrative method than to look for direct social critique.
What is the relationship between Fei Ming's Zen thought and the style of this book?
The source material explains that Fei Ming's works are often related to his Zen thought, and works from different periods show different stylistic features, influenced by shifts in that thought. "Jujube" is a representative work of his first phase and can be understood within this stylistic context.
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About the author
Fei Ming (Feng Wenbing)
Author · Chinese · 1901–1967
Fei Ming (1901–1967), originally named Feng Wenbing, was a native of Huangmei, Hubei, and a modern Chinese writer, poet and scholar, regarded as a representative figure of the Beijing School of literature. His fiction is known for its poetic, essay-like style, with representative works including Bamboo Grove Stories, Peach Orchard, Jujubes, Bridge and The Story of Mr. Moshu. He long engaged in teaching and research, having taught at Peking University and Jilin University and served as vice chairman of the Jilin Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles. This library holds 23 of his works, covering classics, literary appreciation, social fiction, classical literature, classical poetry and modern poetry, showing that beyond creative writing he also left lecture manuscripts on classical literature and new poetry.
