Chinese Literature in Translation Notes
Jan. 21st, 2026 06:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowazaleaI have completed Shen Congwen's "Night March" and Lao She's "Black Li and White Li," "The Glasses," and "Grandma Takes Charge."
I greatly enjoyed "Night March." It had many similar elements to wuxia drama (and thus, probably pre-modern literature, but I don't really know that): a band of friends moving through the wilderness, ostensibly on a quest, mysterious and gothic settings, and an intriguing stranger with a revelation. I will try to find more Shen Congwen to read.
Of the three Lao She short stories I have read so far, I took the most from "Black Li and White Li." I enjoyed the way the brothers were contrasted through various scenarios: vying for the same woman, treatment of the less fortunate, and response to modernization. Both could be said to be honorable or respectable in a sense, but since the story was told from the perspective of Black Li's friend, I felt partial to him.
The other two Lao She stories were about people's absurd behaviors toward Western technologies. In the case of "The Glasses," the characters appeared backward, but pitiable, and in "Grandma Takes Charge," which was more of a satire, they were wretched. The stories could be read as a critique toward the people, or a critique toward technologies incompatible with their culture.
I received Xiao Hong's The Field of Life and Death & Tales of Hulan River yesterday, and last night, I read the translator's notes and preface. I got the impression that Xiao's works are more woman-centered, with potential feminist readings, and I am really looking forward to that. I have encountered very little East Asian modernist literature written by women.
I greatly enjoyed "Night March." It had many similar elements to wuxia drama (and thus, probably pre-modern literature, but I don't really know that): a band of friends moving through the wilderness, ostensibly on a quest, mysterious and gothic settings, and an intriguing stranger with a revelation. I will try to find more Shen Congwen to read.
Of the three Lao She short stories I have read so far, I took the most from "Black Li and White Li." I enjoyed the way the brothers were contrasted through various scenarios: vying for the same woman, treatment of the less fortunate, and response to modernization. Both could be said to be honorable or respectable in a sense, but since the story was told from the perspective of Black Li's friend, I felt partial to him.
The other two Lao She stories were about people's absurd behaviors toward Western technologies. In the case of "The Glasses," the characters appeared backward, but pitiable, and in "Grandma Takes Charge," which was more of a satire, they were wretched. The stories could be read as a critique toward the people, or a critique toward technologies incompatible with their culture.
I received Xiao Hong's The Field of Life and Death & Tales of Hulan River yesterday, and last night, I read the translator's notes and preface. I got the impression that Xiao's works are more woman-centered, with potential feminist readings, and I am really looking forward to that. I have encountered very little East Asian modernist literature written by women.
