Sight of the Back
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Summary
Editor's review
From an editor's perspective, the book's value lies in the "cleanliness" of its language and the "universality" of its feeling. Zhu's prose is polished and precise, almost free of redundant ornament, and behind that simplicity lies a deep command of Chinese. His depictions of a father's back, of time slipping away, of a lotus pond in moonlight, resonate with generation after generation because he captures universal emotional cores: attachment to family, melancholy at the transience of time, quiet contemplation of natural beauty. In an age of information overload and increasingly inflated expression, rereading these texts lets us rediscover the distilled beauty of Chinese and the restrained power of emotional expression.
This edition selects commonly read pieces and is very well suited as an introduction to Zhu Ziqing's prose. For readers who wish to improve their feel for Chinese and learn how to express deep feeling in plain language, it is an excellent model. It offers no thrilling plot; instead it leads readers to see true feeling in small things and savor flavor in the ordinary.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who wish to appreciate the beauty of concise Chinese and improve their writing
- Literature lovers interested in modern prose who seek emotional resonance
- Students learning to write who need classic models of narrative and lyric prose
- People eager for a moment of calm and reflection in a busy life
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer strongly plotted, fast-paced fiction
- Readers seeking practical knowledge or academic research
Reading tips
- Read slowly and attentively in a quiet setting, without rushing, focusing on the feeling and rhythm between the lines.
- Pay special attention to famous pieces such as "Back View," "Hurry," and "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond," and observe how the author elevates everyday scenes into enduring images.
- After reading, try imitating his plain descriptive style by writing a passage about your own family and the passage of time.
About the publisher
Yunnan People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher with foreign literature and philosophical works as important publishing directions. Its representative books include Les Misérables (3 volumes), The Republic, Timaeus, Gitanjali, A Ship at Sea, a Horse in the Mountains: Poems of Lorca, On the Motion of the Heart and Blood, The Harmony of the World, and Xinmin Shuo, covering categories such as foreign literature, Western philosophy, literature, popular science, and history. Its author resources include Victor Hugo, Li Yumin, Plato, He Xiangdi, Song Jijie, Tagore, Xiao Xingzheng, and Federico García Lorca, among Chinese and foreign writers and translators. The press is adept at combining classic works with quality translations, balancing academic value and readability; public information on its fuller publishing features and plans is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 踪迹
- 匆匆
- 桨声灯影里的秦淮河
- 温州的踪迹
- 歌声
- 背影
- 背影
- 荷塘月色
- 儿女
- 女人
- 一封信
- 阿河
- 你我
- 扬州的夏日
- 看花
- 我所见的叶圣陶
- 给亡妇
- 冬天
- 择偶记
- 南京
- 潭柘寺 戒坛寺
- 谈抽烟
- 欧游杂记
- 威尼斯
- 佛罗伦司
- 罗马
- 瑞士
- 荷兰
- 柏林
- 德瑞司登
- 莱茵河
- 巴黎
- 伦敦杂记
- 三家书店
- 文人宅
- 公园
- 加尔东尼市场
- 吃的
- 房东太太
- 集外及其他
- 春
- 蒙自杂记
- 春晖的一月
- 白马湖
- 松堂游记
- 初到清华记
- 重庆行记
- 我是扬州人
- 南行杂记
- 外东消夏录
- 南行通信
- 买书
- 论做作
FAQ
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About the author
Zhu Ziqing (1898–1948), originally named Zihua and styled Peixian, was a modern Chinese essayist, poet and scholar. His ancestral home was Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and he was born in Donghai, Jiangsu. He taught for many years at Tsinghua University, where he served as professor and chair of the Department of Chinese. His essays often draw on everyday observations and personal experience; written in clear, refined language with sincere and restrained feeling, they convey deep reflection through plain narration. Pieces such as "Back View," "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond" and "Hurry" are widely read. Beyond creative writing, he devoted himself to the study and popularization of classical literature, notably in Common Talks on Classics, which surveys traditional texts in an accessible style. This collection holds more than 219 of his works, covering essays, literary appreciation and classic works. He died in Beiping in 1948.
