Seeing Off
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Summary
From beginning to end, from Yuan Zhesheng's fiction to his private notes, we are able to witness the birth of a classic author.
Editor's review
From an editor's perspective, the book's value lies in its "unfinishedness" and "privateness." It did not receive the author's final revision and arrangement, and so preserves the most original traces of thought and experimental color of the creative process. Readers can glimpse how Yuan Zhesheng distilled philosophical meditation from everyday trifles, and how he blurred the boundaries between fiction, essay, and even criticism. In the piece "My Father's Outline," for example, a minimal scene of father-son interaction carries a deep yet wordless emotional weight, embodying his aesthetic pursuit of "cutting away the flesh and leaving the bones."
Reading "Seeing Off" is more like a visit to the author's spiritual world. It is not for readers who seek strong plot or emotional release, but it can offer a deep introspective experience to those interested in the quiet side of life and the art of leaving space in writing. The solitude that pervades the book is not a passive gloom but a clear-eyed gaze at the essence of existence.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who love cool, detached literary styles and appreciate the beauty of restraint and white space in writing
- Literature lovers interested in modern Taiwanese literature, especially the lineage of Yuan Zhesheng and Huang Guojun
- Readers seeking calm reflection and introspective space within fragmented reading
- Writing enthusiasts who can learn from it how to carry complex emotions and philosophical thought with a minimal touch
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a complete, coherent storyline or strong dramatic conflict
- Readers inclined toward bright-toned works with direct emotional expression
Reading tips
- It is recommended to approach the text slowly and in fragments, not striving to finish it in one sitting, but pausing between pieces to savor them
- While reading, note how the author conveys emotion and thought through everyday objects, silent scenes, and subtle gestures
- Reading it alongside earlier works such as Yuan Zhesheng's "Games of Solitude" allows for a more complete understanding of his creative trajectory and aesthetic pursuit
About the publisher
Sichuan People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher whose list spans social fiction, art, foreign literature, finance and biography; the 358 titles in the database show a catalogue balancing classics with general reading. Representative books include Lu Xun's A Madman's Diary, Feng Zikai's Paintings for the Protection of Life, works associated with Li Shutong, and foreign-literature translations such as André Gide's Strait Is the Gate and Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country and The Dancing Girl: Classic Works of Yasunari Kawabata. In finance there is Security Analysis, and in biography the New Biography of Su Dongpo. Authors represented include Lu Xun, Feng Zikai, Li Shutong, Li Yumin, Zhu Zuci and Ye Zongmin. The publishing profile emphasizes literary classics alongside art books, and uses thematic series such as the "banned books" collection to address intellectual and scientific themes. Public information is limited, so this introduction focuses on the directions reflected in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 一笔一画的希望
- 辑一 开始——转动的景物
- 作者序
- 雪茄盒子
- 静止在树上的羊
- 送行
- 差不多先生别传
- 尸布
- 牛奶和秋千
- 眼科诊所
- 农夫和兔子
- 进城的一天
- 一件急事
- 除夕
- 窗
- 夏天的回声
- 黄昏
- 邮票
- 辑二 途中——联结的经典
- 徐四金的长镜头
- 姜德的针头
- 马奎斯的铅笔
- 海明威的红笔
- 纳拉扬的天平
- 瑞蒙·卡佛的吸尘器
- 韩少功的人造雨
- 葛蒂玛的海豹
- 大江健三郎的浪花
- 沈从文的烟火
- 汪曾祺的闹钟
- 契诃夫的尾巴
- 黄春明的马脸
- 贺伯特的鞭子
- 徐四金的秒针
- 留得春光过小年
- 一代不如一代？
- 沉静之狮
- 最难忘的小说场景
- 最难忘的小说人物
- 辑三 结束——静止的时间
- 温泉浴池
- 白色的光
- 名字
- 吵架
- 鸽子的天空
- 火车快飞
- 蜡像馆
- 我的维他命时光
- 分我吃一口
- 酒墙
- 我的铁达尼
- 恭喜你，外岛！
- 我的狗脸岁月
- 楼上的父亲
- 偏远的哭声
- 付费说书人
- 不敢入宝山
- 知 己
- 流浪狗
- 书局里的小眼睛
- 眼前的世界
- 素人画家
- 陶 醉
- 搬不动的行李
- 坦白说
- 时间感
- 大麻没关系
- 隔 山
- 冷笑话
- 爱在夕阳下
- 匹夫有责
- 我最害怕的一个字
- 鬼不理
- 牵自己的手
- 唤起服务
- 提错壶
- 计程车演讲厅
- 说 骂
- 服从精神
- 淡 出
- 仰 望
- 见山不是山
- 自己盖房子
- 暗 室
- 暗 房
- 新发现
- 爱的生机
- 摇 摆
- 资讯的重量
- 人间重碗情
- 老外干杯！
- 出奇制胜
- 虫
- 个人兴趣
- 勿忘影中人
- 独 居
- 解酒偏方
- 收 藏
- 不朽的苍凉
- 早 场
- 打工记
- 随 便
- 孤 立
- 天 空
- 自来酒
- 天才梦
- 生日礼物
- 再过一阵子
- 私人音响
- 急 雨
- 午 休
- 在海上
- 青色的信笺
- 飞
- 写 生
- 书街一景
- 肢体语言
- “啦—”
- 关闭的房间
- 采 收
- 忘情酒
- 雀 儿
- “旧”心情
- 看着自己
- 余 味
- 家 书
- 孤 独
- 自助找零
- 真 相
- 笑 声
- 平常心
- 续 集
- 逃
- 钟 摆
- 倾 听
- 编年史
- 哈哈镜
- 重 逢
- 压岁书
- 火
- 隔 离
- 天 眼
- 山上的贝壳
- 流 光
- 静 默
- 等待果陀
- 骑 楼
- 怀念西门町
- 气 韵
- 噤声的沉痛
- 不吃豆的原因
- 我是副刊值日生
- 作家的好奇心
- 赶赴神的约定
- 离营教育
- 真的来了
- 半日闲
- 温暖的冰
- 时光短笺
- 未命名
- 辑四 之后——告别的叹息
- 没有窗户的房间——读袁哲生
FAQ
What is the connection and difference between "Seeing Off" and Yuan Zhesheng's earlier work "Games of Solitude"?
Is the tone of this book very melancholic and oppressive?
What types of content does the book include?
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About the author
Yuan Zhesheng is a distinctive writer in Chinese-language literature. Public information about him is limited, and a complete account of his life has yet to be made available. Judging from the five works collected here—including Farewell, The Lonely Game, and The Scholar's Watch—his writing spans personal essays and social fiction, and is often placed among classic works. His texts typically begin with everyday experience, and through plain narration they reveal a close observation of human alienation and the human condition, with a restrained tone that leaves a lingering resonance. Works such as The Lonely Game and the novella collection Monkey · Luohan Pool show his command of the short story and novella forms; he is skilled at advancing narrative through spare dialogue and scenes, allowing ordinary characters to carry deep emotion. This understated and precise approach gives his work a unique place in contemporary Chinese writing and offers readers a way into the loneliness and warmth of daily life.
