寸铁 Sparks Thought: Jiang Lan’s Cun Tie BiJi Debuts at Tianfu Book Fair
Chengdu, China -Known for his note style writing, author Jiang Lan has once again captivated readers with his latest work, Cun Tie Bi Ji (Notes ofan Inch of Iron). Published by Sichuan People’s Publishing House, the book made its debut at the 2024 Tianfu Book Fair on October 11th.
During a lively discussion moderated by Cui Geng, Jiang Lan engaged with Li Yi, Dean of Sichuan University’s School of Journalism and Communication, and Ai Lian, Director of the Literature and Art Institute of the Sichuan Academyof Social Sciences. Jiang Lan explained that while his previous works, such as Extreme Plant Notes and Notes of Deep Affection, focused on factual accounts based on society, individuals, and historical context, Cun Tie Bi Jidelves into a more abstract realm. This book is my attempt to return to myself, to listen to my inner voice in this hurried age, he said.
Cun Tie Writing: A Legacy of Brevity and Depth
The term Cun Tie (Inch of Iron) refers toa writing style characterized by its brevity and incisive power. Jiang Lan draws inspiration from the Cun Tie essays of Lu Xun, the renowned Chinese writer, who penned four short pieces originally published in a 1919 newspaper column of the same name. These essays, rooted in the ancient Greektradition of fragmented wisdom and aphorisms, combined with the Chinese tradition of concise prose and personal reflections, became a hallmark of Lu Xun’s writing.
As noted by Yu Dafu, another prominent Chinese writer, Lu Xun’s writing was as concise as a dagger, capable of killing with an inch of iron, a single stroke revealing the truth. 茅奖 (Mao Dun Literature Prize) winner and acclaimed author Zhang Wei described Jiang Lan’s new work as small in volume yet brimming with passion and energy. These words strike with a solid force, profound, vast, and solitary, like islands scattered across the vast seaof thought.
Cun Tie Bi Ji: A Collection of Thoughtful Reflections
Cun Tie Bi Ji is a collection of over 100 short essays and reading notes written over the past decade. The book covers a wide range of topics, including history, society, nature,life, and Chinese and Western culture, showcasing Jiang Lan’s profound reflections on the world. The writing, like an inch of iron, is concise and powerful, often stemming from Jiang Lan’s years of reading experience. He has a habit of jotting down his thoughts during moments of downtime, such asduring airplane flights, capturing fleeting insights that later become the building blocks of his work.
A Legacy of Cun Tie Writing
Cun Tie Bi Ji is a testament to Jiang Lan’s commitment to Cun Tie writing, a style that has been a hallmark of Chinese literature forcenturies. By drawing inspiration from the works of Lu Xun and other masters, Jiang Lan has crafted a collection of essays that are both intellectually stimulating and deeply personal. Cun Tie Bi Ji is a reminder that even in a world of constant information overload, it is still possible to find meaning and insight in thesmallest of moments, captured in the briefest of words.
Views: 0