Past Work
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Summary
Past Work collects essays Zhou Zuoren wrote around the end of the War of Resistance (April to December 1945). It was first published in November 1959 by Hong Kong's Xindi Press under the pen name Zhitang. In his bibliography of post-1949 translations, Zhou himself notes that Past Work and Zhitang's Yiyou Essays were originally one book: "The two titles above were originally one book, miscellaneous essays written before 1949, under the general title Yiyou Essays. Cao Juren took the manuscript to Hong Kong to arrange publication, and it was split into two." Past Work contains fifteen essays, seven of them written after the war's end. At the time, virtually none had been published.
Editor's review
Past Work gathers fifteen essays Zhou Zuoren wrote between April and December 1945, seven of them after the end of the War of Resistance; virtually none had been published at the time. Hong Kong's Xindi Press first published the collection in 1959 under the pen name Zhitang. By the author's own account, this volume and Zhitang's Yiyou Essays were originally one book titled Yiyou Essays, later split into two for publication. Written amid drastic political change, these pieces rarely turn strident. Most are reading notes, recollections of friends and the past, and short essayistic jottings, carried along in Zhitang's usual plainness and restraint, with observations on people and the world emerging quietly from calm narration. Because they were never published, the prose reads more like private notes, freer of social obligation, and offers a useful window into Zhou's thinking and writing during this period. Suited to readers familiar with Zhou Zuoren's essays, to those interested in late-Republican-era literati writing, and to lovers of short, notebook-style essays. Read slowly; no need to go in order—dipping in at random brings out the flavor best.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who have read Zhou Zuoren's representative works and want to explore his uncollected essays
- Readers interested in literary notes and essays from the late Republican era
- Fans of short essays and casual prose suitable for dipping into
- Readers studying Zhou Zuoren's writing process and the textual history of editions
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting wartime commentary from the War of Resistance period
- Readers who prefer complete, thematically focused collections
- Readers impatient with the understated Zhitang style
Reading tips
- Start with the seven pieces written after the victory in the War of Resistance and note the faint reflections of the changing political situation in the text.
- Compare it with the publication note in Zhi tang yi you wen bian to understand how the two books were originally one and came to be split.
- No need to read in order; pick pieces by interest, read two or three at a time, and take brief notes.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 关于竹枝词
- 谈胡俗
- 关于红姑娘
- 石板路
- 再谈禽言
- 关于遗令
- 读书疑
- 东昌坊故事
- 焦里堂的笔记
- 凡人的信仰
- 饼斋的尺牍
- 实庵的尺牍
- 曲庵的尺牍
- 过去的工作
- 两个鬼的文章
FAQ
What is the relationship between Past Work and Zhitang's Yiyou Essays?
According to Zhou Zuoren himself, the two were originally one book titled Yiyou Essays, miscellaneous essays written before 1949. Cao Juren took the manuscript to Hong Kong to arrange publication, and it was split into two volumes. Past Work contains fifteen essays and was first published in November 1959 by Hong Kong's Xindi Press under the pen name Zhitang. Knowing this history helps clarify the relationship and arrangement of the two books.
Were these essays published at the time?
According to the source material, virtually none of the essays in this collection had been published at the time, including the seven written after the war's end. The writing is therefore closer to private notes, with less thought for social niceties or public reception, and offers some insight into the author's writing state during this period.
Can I read this directly without having read other works by Zhou Zuoren?
You can, but it may not be the best introduction. Most of these pieces are notebook-style short essays with scattered background and personal references, which a first-time reader may find hard to follow. Reading one of his better-known essay collections first, to get familiar with his style and concerns, will make it easier to appreciate the meaning in the quiet passages of this collection of uncollected work.
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About the author
Zhou Zuoren
Author · China · 1885–1967
Zhou Zuoren (1885–1967) was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and the younger brother of Lu Xun. A modern Chinese essayist, literary theorist and translator, he was a representative figure of the New Culture Movement. He taught at Peking University and took part in editing New Youth and Yusi. His essay collections include My Own Garden, Writings on a Rainy Day and Recollections of Zhitang, written in a plain, calm style that finds interest and insight in everyday matters. He long translated Japanese and Greek literature, notably The Pillow Book, the tragedies of Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. His essays, folk-literature studies and translations have had a lasting influence on modern Chinese writing and the reception of foreign literature.
