The Past Collection

Yu DafuMay 2022

4.1

Word count: 53K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Yu Dafu (1896–1945), original name Yu Wen, courtesy name Dafu, was a native of Fuyang, Zhejiang, and a renowned modern Chinese novelist, essayist, and poet. His representative works include "Autumn in the Old Capital," "Sinking," "Intoxicated by Spring Breeze," "Late Osmanthus," and "Silver-Gray Death." In literature he held that "literary works are all the author's autobiography," and his writing has a strong romantic tendency.

Editor's review

The Past Collection gathers numerous works by Yu Dafu and embodies his creative principle that "literary works are all the author's autobiography." Yu Dafu's essays and fiction often use the first person to express personal experiences and inner turbulence, with sincere and openly displayed emotion and a strong romantic tendency. Readers can feel the anguish, hesitation, and longing for freedom of the May Fourth generation of intellectuals between tradition and modernity, and can also appreciate his distinctive style—lucid yet melancholy, frank yet delicate. For the study of modern Chinese literature and for understanding Yu Dafu's creative profile, this book is a relatively direct textual entry point; for general readers, it suits slow reading on quiet evenings, using the moods of the characters to reflect on oneself. It should be noted that Yu Dafu's writing often contains undisguised emotional release and the limitations of his era; readers should understand it in light of his life and period rather than judging it simply by today's standards.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who love modern Chinese essays and lyrical fiction
Students who want to understand Yu Dafu's style and his autobiographical principle
Literature enthusiasts studying the spiritual state of intellectuals during the May Fourth period
Middle-aged readers who prefer sincere emotion and a melancholy tone

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer tightly plotted, strongly narrative genre fiction
Readers impatient with writing that is heavy on lyricism and reflection and slow in pace
Readers seeking a systematic understanding of Republican-era history rather than literary texts

Reading tips

Read famous pieces such as "Autumn in the Old Capital" first to become familiar with Yu Dafu's rhythm before moving on to other pieces.
After each piece, jot down changes in the narrator's emotions to appreciate the features of autobiographical writing.
Read the works against major events in Yu Dafu's life to understand the real sources of the melancholy tone.
Avoid reading it all at once; read slowly in installments, leaving gaps for savoring and reflection.

版权信息
她是一个弱女子（节选）
正文一
过去

FAQ

Is The Past Collection suitable for readers who have not read Yu Dafu's works?

It is suitable as an introduction. The pieces collected are not long and their emotional threads are clear, quickly presenting Yu Dafu's autobiographical style of writing. If, after reading, you are interested in a certain kind of subject, extending to representative works such as "Sinking" and "Intoxicated by Spring Breeze" will give a fuller understanding.

What should be noted when reading Yu Dafu's works?

Yu Dafu held that works are the author's autobiography, and his writing often contains openly displayed emotion and personal anguish. Readers should understand it in light of the social background around the May Fourth era and his personal experience, without equating the narrator with the author himself, and should avoid simple judgment by present-day values.

Is this book better as research material or casual reading?

Both are possible. As a research text, it provides direct material for observing Yu Dafu's creative principles and lyrical technique; as casual reading, its melancholy and lucid prose is also suited to slow appreciation in quiet moments—what matters is the expectation with which the reader approaches it.

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About the author

Yu Dafu Author · Chinese · 1896–1945

Yu Dafu (1896–1945), originally named Yu Wen and styled Dafu, was a native of Fuyang, Zhejiang, and a prominent modern Chinese writer as well as one of the founders of the Creation Society. He wrote mainly fiction and prose. His early novella Sinking shocked the literary world with its bold self-exposure and melancholy tone, while short stories such as Springtime in a Drunken Night and Late Osmanthus depict intellectuals' anguish and drifting through lyrical atmosphere. His prose is candid and strongly autobiographical, and he left a mark in biography, social fiction, and miscellaneous essays. The collection includes 130 of his works, among them Reminiscences of Lu Xun, complete prose collections, and selected short stories. During the War of Resistance he went to Singapore to engage in anti-Japanese propaganda, later fled to Sumatra, was secretly killed by Japanese military police in 1945, and was posthumously recognized as a revolutionary martyr in 1952.