Life and Leisure

Book briefs

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-23 13:55

Wang Anyi's student graduates with honors

The first Master of Literary Writing in China, Fu Yuehui, has just graduated from Fudan University, Shanghai. Wang Anyi, one of the most influential writers in China, was Fu's supervisor.

Fu cites his own experience to disprove the longtime argument that "writers can never be trained". In 2007, Fu became the only student of Literary Writing at the Chinese Department of Fudan University, the first school to offer a master's degree in this field.

Fu says his supervisor never used textbooks in her class. Instead, Wang recommended books and asked Fu to write notes.

"She reads a wide range of books, and often recommends works by little-known authors," Fu says.

Fu now works as an editor for the literary magazines Harvest and Shanghai Literature.

 

Old writer's torch lights up hot debate about full marks

Students who earn full marks for writing on the national college entrance exam will be "honorary residents" of the former residence of Shen Congwen (1902-88), one of the country's most important contemporary writers.

An online uproar ensued when the announcement came from the Administration for the Former Residence of Shen Congwen, in Fenghuang, Hunan province.

While some praise the effort to stir up a passion for literature among youths and develop the beautiful old city, which is home to the Miao ethnic group, others criticize it as a publicity stunt.

Shen once joined the army and worked as a tax collector before teaching in several universities. His works reveal the confrontation between the countryside and the city in the 1930s and '40s. Many works describe life in western Hunan province. After 1949, he focused on ancient mirrors and costumes.

 

New novel on embroidery by young writer is released

Young writer Xue Yuanyuan's latest novel, A Hunan embroidery Woman, extols traditional culture and conveys the decline of embroidery (pictured) in Hunan province through the sad story of embroider Hongyue.

The woman learned embroidery as a child and devoted herself to the refinement of the folk art. Her husband was wrongly imprisoned, and she has waited her whole life for his return.

While successfully portraying the characters, Xue also interweaves into the plotline the special techniques and artistic features of Hunan embroidery, which once played an important role in China's gift exchanges with foreign countries.

 

 

Water Control Epic of China updates the classic

From the ancient Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns to the present, water control has been a challenge for the Chinese nation. The country's magnum opus on it has been the Commentary on the Waterways Classic (Shui Jing Zhu) by Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 368-534) geographer Li Daoyuan.

Now 55 Chinese writers have contributed 73 pieces in the 2-volume Water Control Epic of China, a literary record of China's river systems and regional waters, and ancient and contemporary water projects like the Dujiangyan Dam in Sichuan province and the Red Flag Canal in Henan province.

 

The Big Book of China offers humorous look at history

 

Designed to appeal to young readers, The Big Book of China offers a witty tour through the 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture. With abundant full-color illustrations, author and illustrator Wang Qicheng presents what could be considered as a "China encyclopedia", shedding new light on everything from the country's long history and diverse geography to its art, culture, clothing, customs, food, travel, and all aspects of traditional and contemporary society. The book by Foreign Languages Press is now available in Chinese, English, French, German and Spanish.

 

 

 

An Oral History Narrated by Chinese Folk Art Inheritors

An Oral History Narrated by Chinese Folk Art Inheritors has attracted much attention since its debut last year. Compiled by the Central Compilation and Translation Press under the supervision of the Chinese Art Academy's president, Wang Wenzhang, the book was displayed at last year's Frankfurt International Book Fair.

The collection marks an important academic effort to record the oral histories of the country's folk artists. Researchers compare the folk artists' personal testimonies with official documents and other written records. Chinese folklorist Wu Bing'an says the collection plays a significant role in answering the question: "Who is the master of history?"

China Daily