ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Quiet strength
Novel ‘To Live’ guides me to see the dignity of survival in hardship
Editor's Note:
"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.
Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn
Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.
If you read Yu Hua's novel To Live, you may find your own answer.
To Live is an acclaimed novel by Chinese author Yu Hua that paints a poignant and deeply human portrait of life.
Originally published in 1993, the book has since gained international recognition for its raw emotional depth and exploration of themes like fate, endurance, and the essence of humanity.
The novel follows the life of Fugui, a once-wealthy landowner who lost his fortune through gambling. As his status shifted to that of a peasant, he witnessed the rapid changes of society. Despite enduring relentless hardship, Fugui survived, finding moments of solace in small, everyday acts of perseverance.
Fugui's life is basically divided into two stages. One is extravagant and voluptuousthrough a life of gambling, drunkenness and dreams. The other is a life of hardship, full of thorns, poverty and suffering. In the former, he is absurd in soul and decadent in body. In the latter he is rich in soul and tough in body. What gives us this invisible power is not the "master" of the former, but the "people" of the latter; not the "pleasure" of the rich, but the "tenacity" of the poor. To live is not to let go ofwealth, but to rise to the challenge of self-improvement.
From Fugui making his way through the hardships, twists and turns of life, we can easily see that in life, nine out of 10 times things do not end satisfactorily, but the people who have survived and the things that have happened are real and meaningful.
No one's life is perfect, and not everyone who lives is happy. Fate is different, the length of life is different, the state of life and the role of play is not the same. Therefore, every person who has lived has his own unique meaning. For example, in the book, there are various characters such as the generous Fuqui, the sensible and kind son, the virtuous and strong wife, the hardworking and simple daughter, the diligent and capable son-in-law, and the wise grandson, and so on. They are all people who lived well and led a vivid life. They really existed in Fugui's life, while enriching his life. Even in the lonely days of his old age, there were full memories that encouraged him to continue to live, for himself and for them. Living is a journey with different destinies, and every day of the journey is worth doing well.
Yu Hua is one of China's most celebrated contemporary writers, renowned for his profound and often unsettling explorations of human nature. Born in 1960 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Yu Hua's life experience has profoundly shaped his worldview and literary style.
Yu's narrative style is unadorned yet profoundly moving, presenting the harsh realities of Fugui's life with a sense of dignity and quiet strength. The novel's title, To Live, underscores its central message - the simple yet profound act of continuing to survive is important no matter how arduous the circumstances are.
The book has been widely praised for its universality, offering insight into not only China's turbulent history but also the resilience of the human spirit. It was adapted into an acclaimed film by director Zhang Yimou in 1994, further cementing its legacy as a modern literary classic.
The author is a student at Baotou No. 9 Middle School
"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.
Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn
Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.
Photo: IC
In this noisy era, many people can't press the pause button, calm down to re-examine themselves, and see the world clearly. For this reason, we are sometimes inexplicably confused and do not know why we work so hard. What's the point?If you read Yu Hua's novel To Live, you may find your own answer.
To Live is an acclaimed novel by Chinese author Yu Hua that paints a poignant and deeply human portrait of life.
Originally published in 1993, the book has since gained international recognition for its raw emotional depth and exploration of themes like fate, endurance, and the essence of humanity.
The novel follows the life of Fugui, a once-wealthy landowner who lost his fortune through gambling. As his status shifted to that of a peasant, he witnessed the rapid changes of society. Despite enduring relentless hardship, Fugui survived, finding moments of solace in small, everyday acts of perseverance.
Fugui's life is basically divided into two stages. One is extravagant and voluptuousthrough a life of gambling, drunkenness and dreams. The other is a life of hardship, full of thorns, poverty and suffering. In the former, he is absurd in soul and decadent in body. In the latter he is rich in soul and tough in body. What gives us this invisible power is not the "master" of the former, but the "people" of the latter; not the "pleasure" of the rich, but the "tenacity" of the poor. To live is not to let go ofwealth, but to rise to the challenge of self-improvement.
From Fugui making his way through the hardships, twists and turns of life, we can easily see that in life, nine out of 10 times things do not end satisfactorily, but the people who have survived and the things that have happened are real and meaningful.
No one's life is perfect, and not everyone who lives is happy. Fate is different, the length of life is different, the state of life and the role of play is not the same. Therefore, every person who has lived has his own unique meaning. For example, in the book, there are various characters such as the generous Fuqui, the sensible and kind son, the virtuous and strong wife, the hardworking and simple daughter, the diligent and capable son-in-law, and the wise grandson, and so on. They are all people who lived well and led a vivid life. They really existed in Fugui's life, while enriching his life. Even in the lonely days of his old age, there were full memories that encouraged him to continue to live, for himself and for them. Living is a journey with different destinies, and every day of the journey is worth doing well.
Yu Hua is one of China's most celebrated contemporary writers, renowned for his profound and often unsettling explorations of human nature. Born in 1960 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Yu Hua's life experience has profoundly shaped his worldview and literary style.
Yu's narrative style is unadorned yet profoundly moving, presenting the harsh realities of Fugui's life with a sense of dignity and quiet strength. The novel's title, To Live, underscores its central message - the simple yet profound act of continuing to survive is important no matter how arduous the circumstances are.
The book has been widely praised for its universality, offering insight into not only China's turbulent history but also the resilience of the human spirit. It was adapted into an acclaimed film by director Zhang Yimou in 1994, further cementing its legacy as a modern literary classic.
The author is a student at Baotou No. 9 Middle School
RELATED ARTICLES
