Chinese literature originated in the distant era of the Shang dynasty, (1600 - 1027 BC) and has changed several times throughout its development. Modern Chinese literature, of course, carries a different message than ancient. It is interesting that the origin of ancient literature was the myths and legends of China, which were transmitted from generation to generation. Such works gave impetus to the cultural development of China, and over time, people could already enjoy reading certain literary genres.
Book lovers will get acquainted in this collection with 10 multi-genre Chinese bestsellers, which certainly will not be bored. Books included in the list are read in one breath and drag out from the first lines. Intriguing, agree? And it is completely justified!
10. “Sisters from the North”
Number of Pages: 370
Author: Shen Kei
Genre: modern foreign literature
The subject of a difficult fate is popular both in cinema and in literature. A happy end and a logical outcome is what we savor every shot for, every new line ... It is not surprising that Shen Kei’s novel Sisters from the North earned favorable reviews from critics, because the writer has an original style of writing and a non-standard view of labor migration.
2 girls - Qian Xiaohong and Li Syjiang, move to a big city from a village in Hunan, wanting to earn good money. Wandering among the lights of a big city, girls dream a lot and believe that everything will work out for them in the best way. When it finally seems to them that life has improved, tragedies soon occur. But the girls do not give up, a ray of hope helps them survive in this harsh world.
9. “Metamorphoses, or the game of folding pictures”
Number of Pages: 471
Author: Van man
Genre: modern prose
Wang Man’s work is the most striking example in Chinese literature of an active search for a new style, imagery, and compositional techniques. The writer deftly knows how to present to the reader through his prose ordinary things in an unusual way, focusing on the problems of social life. In the novel, Wang Meng reveals the inner world and the fate of the people of his generation.
Even if you do not know anything about the political companies that flourished in China under Mao Zedong (1893 - 1976), and you are not eager to study this period of history, “Metamorphoses, or the Game of Folding Pictures” will still “drag you on”. This story is about the narcissistic bore Ni Wuchen against whom his family is waging a permanent war. There is no mutual understanding in the family, but this problem is so easy to solve ... It is enough to learn how to communicate and hear each other.
8. The Brothers
Number of Pages: 576
Author: Yu hua
Genre: novel
“Brothers” is a very strange and controversial novel, in the process of reading you yourself will understand why. It is unlikely that in all world literature there is such an amazing combination of unreasonable grotesque, highly social prose, poisonous satire and brutal tragedy. Yu Hua skillfully combines incompatible things in his novel, does not use the rule “know the sense of proportion in everything” ... Reading it is both easy and difficult, but how interesting!
This work would never have become a bestseller in Russia, however, Yu Hua could satisfy Chinese readers. In a satirical style, the writer describes modern Chinese society in which new values include high status, money and lust. Misfortune also comes to a small town near Shanghai: in Lyuzhen, Komsomol members become holders of brothels, fighters of the ideological front are PR managers, and marginals become successful oligarchs ...
7. "Red kaolin"
Number of Pages:480
Author: Yan mo
Genre: novel
"Red Gaolian" is the most famous work of Nobel laureate (2012) Yang Mo. Critics agree that the writer received the award thanks to this novel, which is included in the list of the hundred best Chinese novels of the XX century. In 1988, the international premiere of the film “Red Kholoyan” at the Berlin Film Festival, based on the novel by Mo Yang, took place.
It’s a great joy to hold the book “Red Khao Liang” in your hands. It differs from the current prose by the lack of self-digging of the author, the savoring of child psychotrauma, which is typical of most authors of modern prose. The work of Mo Yang is something completely different, a different world. In the lines there is Chinese wisdom, which allows for an abundance of terrible situations, to meditate away from the world and clearly see the abomination of violence in all its manifestations ...
6. “One word is worth a thousand”
Number of Pages: 560
Author: Liu Zhenyun
Genre: modern foreign literature
Today, the novel “One Word Worth Thousands” is the most famous work of Liu Zhenyun, awarded the Mao Dong Literary Prize in 2011 - the most important Chinese award in the field of literature. It is noteworthy that in 2017 the author presented this book to a Russian reader at the Chinese Cultural Center in Moscow. Daughter Liu Zhenyun made a film in 2016 based on the novel of her father.
The novel is both satirical and harsh, because life itself taunts the heroes, pushing them in search of ghostly happiness ... Liu Zhenyun managed to recreate the immense Chinese loneliness between the lines: on sharp life turns, in a huge world among different people, there’s no one to just talk heart to heart with , and it seems that even God does not hear him ...
5. “Tears are gold”
Number of Pages: 437
Author: He Jianming
Genre: documentary prose
The documentary “Tears is Gold” takes you on weekdays to poor Chinese students. The basis of the works of the documentary genre, as a rule, are fictional characters and stories, prompting the reader to think and comprehend reality. At the epicenter of the plot are poor students, an increase in property inequality, which leads to social tension.
Interesting fact! Documentary prose became one of the main genres of Chinese literature in the 80s and 90s. Until the end of the 80s, the theme of “thoughts about what happened” dominated, in which they thoroughly analyzed people's behavior in critical situations, as well as made attempts to comprehend the manipulations, cruelty and cowardice during the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976).
4. "How Xu Sanguan sold blood"
Number of Pages: 224
Author: Yu hua
Genre: modern prose
What can’t you do so that your family does not go hungry ... The hero of the novel sold his blood, for example. The novel "How Xu Sangyuan sold blood" will introduce you to a person from the working class, as they say, from the bottom. Having opened the book, one may be perplexed (probably this will happen to you) because the main characters communicate among themselves too primitively, but after all they are from the working class, what did we want?
The main characters have the simplest language and the most ordinary life. You will learn how, in his youth, Xu donated blood and received 35 yuan for this (which equals 6 months of work in the field). With the money he received, he taught his son, bought furniture, gifts for the parents of his wife and even celebrated the wedding! Reading a book, you will penetrate the protagonist with all your soul and know the depth of his personality, which is revealed more and more with each page read.
3. "Notes on the Cat City"
Number of Pages: 120
Author: Lao She
Genre: science fiction, dystopian
After reading this book once, you can no longer forget it ... Check? The work is considered one of the most popular writer Lao She, translated into Russian, and allows you to experience a new experience. The novel was first published back in 1932. The work is somewhat close in spirit to Saltykov-Shchedrin's “History of a City” (1826-1889), is a mixture of brutal dystopia and science fiction, well spiced with absurdity.
Actions take place on the red planet - Mars, where there is a certain civilization of creatures resembling the appearance of cats. The main character of the satirical pamphlet is the earthling, who has matches and a gun in his arsenal. In the world of strange creatures, he turns out to be the owner of the most powerful weapon ...
2. “I will be smart”
Number of Pages:271
Author: Beijia huan
Genre: modern prose
In the novel “I Will Be Good”, the educational system is shown from different sides, namely: how teachers, parents and students themselves look at education. Doing homework, relationships with teachers and parents, peers - those are the things that are discussed in the book. The author suggests readers to follow the different feelings and emotions of the characters, to plunge into the world of a little girl.
Beijia Huang began her career as a children's writer, more than 20 books about children and their life came out from under her pen. Her most popular book, I Will Be Good, is written for adults and their children, who are guaranteed to enjoy reading. You will plunge into the world of adventures of the girl Jin Ling, her school weekdays. In China, a television series was shot according to the book, it was translated into a number of languages, in addition, the author received a national prize in the field of literature for children for the novel.
1. “Tired of being born and dying”
Number of Pages:703
Author: Mo Yan
Genre: modern prose
The rebirth of souls is an exciting topic for scientists and philosophers, as well as ordinary people. In his novel, “Tired of Being Born and Dying,” Mo Yan explores the Eastern theory of soul rebirth. In a book woven from different genres, you can trace the journey of the soul in the bodies of different animals. You cannot fold the book without reading it to the end. The novel will cause you both sadness and tears - be prepared to experience different emotions.
"Tired of being born and dying" - a wonderful novel by Mo Yan, which provides the reader with topics of thought, was awarded the Newman Prize in Chinese literature. In 1950, during the land reform, a good and innocent man was shot. The proud soul will again and again return to the world in different guises, fight for its truth and at the same time enjoy the beauty of apricot blossom in the moonlight ...
