Autumn Night
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Summary
Editor's review
Written in 1924, during the period of hesitation after the ebb of the May Fourth Movement, Lu Xun layers the autumn night scenery to express both a clear awareness of dark reality ('the night sky above, strange and high') and an implicit praise of faint yet stubborn vitality ('silently, like iron, piercing straight at the strange and high sky'). Its language is extremely dense, almost every sentence worth chewing over again and again; it has the concision of classical literature while opening a new paradigm for modern prose poetry.
For contemporary readers, the value of reading 'Autumn Night' lies in at least three aspects: first, it can be used as a classic model of modern literary symbolism, learning how to express abstract thought through concrete scenery; second, one can feel Lu Xun's complex state of mind between despair and hope, a spiritual predicament that resonates beyond its time; third, the text displays the astonishing expressive power of Chinese during its twentieth-century transition, that language texture cold yet warm still able to inspire writers today. One reminder: if you read it merely as a beautiful scenic essay, you may miss the era's code and intellectual edge deep in the text.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers interested in symbolic technique in modern Chinese literature
- Literature lovers who want to understand Lu Xun's spiritual world in depth
- Writers learning to write prose poetry
- Readers curious about the mindset of intellectuals after the May Fourth Movement
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light, entertaining reading
- Lovers of traditional fiction who expect a complete narrative structure
Reading tips
- On first reading, feel the atmosphere of the language first; do not rush to interpret the symbolic meaning of every image
- It is recommended to read it alongside other pieces in Wild Grass to understand the overall style of Lu Xun's prose poetry
- You may consult materials on the social background of the 1920s to appreciate the hidden connection between the text and its era
About the publisher
Tiantian Publishing House focuses on children's literature and extends into early-childhood books and popular science for young readers, while also giving attention to presenting classic works to young audiences. Its catalogue includes modern literary classics such as Teahouse, Camel Xiangzi, The Story of Hulan River and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk, as well as Cao Wenxuan's Bronze and Sunflower, Wang Zengqi's essays and prose pieces such as Winter in Jinan; it also covers categories including folk literature, social fiction, essays and miscellaneous writings, parenting and biography. Its authors include Lao She, Xiao Hong, Lu Xun, Zhu Ziqing, Cao Wenxuan and Wang Zengqi. As public information is limited, its publishing character is shown mainly through its reliance on classics and works by well-known writers, organizing reading materials that serve both children's reading and Chinese-language literacy.
Contents
- 经典阅读永远不能被取代
- 鲁迅小传
- 阿长与《山海经》
- 五猖会
- 从百草园到三味书屋
- 父亲的病
- 琐记
- 藤野先生
- 秋夜
- 雪
- 风筝
- 死火
- 立论
- 死后
- 聪明人和傻子和奴才
- 论雷峰塔的倒掉
- 战士和苍蝇
- 夏三虫
- 看镜有感
- 春末闲谈
- 一点比喻
- 送灶日漫笔
- 谈皇帝
- 略论中国人的脸
- 宣传与做戏
- 中华民国的新“堂·吉诃德”们
- 由中国女人的脚，推定中国人之非中庸，又由此推定孔夫子有胃病
- 经验
- 谚语
- 世故三昧
- 谣言世家
- 关于妇女解放
- 火
- 捣鬼心传
- 家庭为中国之基本
- 航空救国三愿
- 文学上的折扣
- 言论自由的界限
- 推
- 二丑艺术
- 谈蝙蝠
- 华德焚书异同论
- 我谈“堕民”
- 别一个窃火者
- 晨凉漫记
- “揩油”
- 爬和撞
- 帮闲法发隐
- 打听印象
- 北人与南人
- 朋友
- 清明时节
- 偶感
- 脸谱臆测
- 隐士
- 漫谈“漫画”
- 在现代中国的孔夫子
FAQ
Why are the two date trees described separately?
What do the green worms darting into fire symbolize?
Where does this piece stand in Lu Xun's creative career?
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About the author
Lu Xun, originally named Zhou Shuren and styled Yucai, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and a leading modern Chinese writer and thinker as well as a representative figure of the New Culture Movement. With works such as "A Madman's Diary" and "The True Story of Ah Q," he laid the foundation of modern Chinese fiction. His writing often focuses on the spiritual condition of ordinary people and on social reality, in a cold, concise style rich in critique and self-reflection. His story collections "Call to Arms" and "Wandering" and his prose collection "Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk" are widely read, and his works are often classified as classics, social fiction, and documentary literature. The library holds as many as 499 editions of his works, showing that they continue to be read, anthologized, and circulated. Public information is limited, so this is only a brief account of his life's key points and creative character.
