Six Chapters of a Floating Life
by Shen Fu
About This Novel
This is a beautiful love letter written by Shen Fu to his wife Yunniang. From the thrill of their first meeting to the love after marriage; from talking about poetry and painting to admiring the moon and playing with flowers, the ordinary couple Chaimi turned their poor life into a poem. They encountered family changes, experienced ups and downs in their lives, and were displaced from place to place, but they always supported each other and never left each other. After Yun Niang died of illness, Shen Fu wrote six volumes of "Six Chapters of a Floating Life" with a clear and elegant pen, to comfort the lovesickness separated by life and death. "Six Chapters of a Floating Life" has the leisurely time of falling flowers and flowing water, the calmness and silence of the garden dream, and the beauty of the morning light of common people eating vegetables. It has been circulating for more than a hundred years since the late Qing Dynasty.
What Readers Think
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Official(37)Scraped 16d ago
The work has always been known as "A Dream of Little Red Mansions"
"Six Chapters of a Floating Life" transforms literary talent into nature and blends true feelings into everything around us. Boudoir love, flowers, gardens, officialdom, social interactions, markets, mountains and forests, temples, and even brotherly love and prostitutes are all described in white, and with a single stroke of the pen, flowers bloom in the heart. Judging from the six poems written by Guan Yixiu in the Qing Dynasty after reading this book, each poem describes a section of his life memory. Friendship, leisure fun, worry, wandering, and the lost two chapters of "Ryukyu" and "Health Preservation", changing scenery step by step, but there is a kind of contentment like pushing the cup but not the cup, as if one important inner concern has been solved one after another.
The ups and downs in life are often caused by one's own sins.
On the way back to borrow money from Shanghai, Shen Fu "suddenly thought about the victory of Yushan", so he took advantage of his interest and took a downwind boat to Yushan! Moreover, he did not forget to drink the delicious Biluochun on the way up the mountain, and after he came down, he invited passers-by to have three drinks at the bar! I don't know how to evaluate his willful behavior.
This book is famous. But I can't read the original work, and the rewritten version is less interesting, so after all, I didn't find much fun in reading it.
Of the six stories of a floating life, we can only see 4, which are the leisurely life of a wealthy second generation with a relatively high temperament.
Only "Six Chapters of a Floating Life" can transform literary talent into nature and integrate true feelings into everything around us. Boudoir love, flowers, gardens, officialdom, social interactions, markets, mountains and forests, temples, and even brotherly love and prostitutes are all described in white, and with a single stroke of the pen, flowers bloom in the heart.
The flowers and stones in the bonsai are embellished, so small scenes can be painted, and large scenes can be wandered in. A cup of tea can make people concentrate on their thoughts, so that they can be enjoyed in a quiet place.
From falling in love at first sight, to loving each other, to never leaving, thinking about people when seeing things, even if you are on a prostitute ship, you still have to find a woman who is similar to your wife. Shen Fu is more affectionate and real than any other man created in the history of Chinese literature. What's more, he is a real person. Sentences about drizzle and breeze, touching and audible daily life, as if this person is right next to you.
Life is like a dream, geometry is for joy
Personally, I think this book is more descriptive. There is no gorgeous rhetorical decoration, no strong lyrical color, and it is mostly about describing scenes, people, and narratives, but Shen Sanbai's deep feelings are hidden in the words. In Shen Sanbai and Yun Niang, I saw the true appearance of love. It's not twists and turns, it's not dramatic, it's traditional Chinese love, a long-lasting love that helps each other. Three matchmakers and six betrothed married each other, and since then they have been together day and night, sharing life and death and adversity. Only one person can live a lifetime. Although Shen Sanbai also married concubines and accompanied geishas, I think his heart has always been with Yun Niang. He suffered ups and downs and went through wind and rain, but never changed. Both Shen Sanbai and Yun Niang are passionate people. Being passionate does not mean being sentimental, but is emotional and emotional. Sanbaihui was deeply saddened by the death of Hongqian, remembering his friend's kindness in his heart, and waited for his lover's soul after Yunniang's death; Yunniang also suffered heartbreak after Hanyuan left, until she died of illness, and was reluctant to part with her children... Their love is very strong, and others cannot tear it apart, and wind and rain cannot blow it apart. They have loved each other deeply throughout their lives, and their love is deep. Unfortunately, Yun Niang eventually died, leaving her husband alone, thousands of miles away in a lonely grave, with nowhere to talk about her desolation. Sanbai expresses his disobedience to God's will many times in the book. He seems to be resenting God for splitting up the lovers. He originally wanted to grow old together, but they were separated forever. I can't help but deeply regret this. Another thing that touched me in this book was the attitude of Sanbai and Yun Niang in facing the ups and downs. "Pain is unavoidable, but suffering can be chosen." Murakami's words are perfect for the Shen couple. Even if their lives are poor and their livelihood is difficult, they can still enjoy their hardships and be content with their lives. The houses are simple and narrow, so they design them themselves to create a scene that complements the real and the virtual; or plant a pot of flowers, plant a tree, arrange flower scenes, design flower screens, decorate their lives into a fairyland on earth, making readers yearn for it; or meet up with three or five friends, make a cup of tea, brew a pot of wine, Reciting a few poems, singing or whistling, the taste is elegant; or traveling around, viewing the beauty of mountains and rivers, savoring the tastes of life; occasionally being naughty, Yun Niang pretends to be a man, and the couple travels pretending to be brothers, so happy... No matter the difficult situation, they live a chic and artistic life! A good life does not depend on the external situation, but on the human heart. Whatever your attitude towards suffering, life will return you equal brilliance. Life is like a dream. If there is peace and happiness in your heart, the world and the surrounding world will also be happy. How much joy can there be? There are too many to count.
Fun things in childhood
When I grow up, I think back on this incident. When two insects fight, it is probably because one party is plotting treachery and the other party is not complying. As the old saying goes, "The one who rapes you is the one who kills you." Isn't this true even for insects? I was so obsessed with the fun of observing grass that my genitals were sucked by earthworms. As the saying goes in Wudi, my genitals were called eggs, and they were so swollen that I couldn't urinate. The servant caught the duck and put it close to my genitals and opened its mouth to suck it to relieve the poison of the earthworms. The servant suddenly let go of his hand, and the duck suddenly raised its neck and made a swallowing gesture. I was so frightened that I couldn't help crying, and this became the subject of the story.
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Community(0)
Official(37)Scraped 16d ago
The work has always been known as "A Dream of Little Red Mansions"
"Six Chapters of a Floating Life" transforms literary talent into nature and blends true feelings into everything around us. Boudoir love, flowers, gardens, officialdom, social interactions, markets, mountains and forests, temples, and even brotherly love and prostitutes are all described in white, and with a single stroke of the pen, flowers bloom in the heart. Judging from the six poems written by Guan Yixiu in the Qing Dynasty after reading this book, each poem describes a section of his life memory. Friendship, leisure fun, worry, wandering, and the lost two chapters of "Ryukyu" and "Health Preservation", changing scenery step by step, but there is a kind of contentment like pushing the cup but not the cup, as if one important inner concern has been solved one after another.
The ups and downs in life are often caused by one's own sins.
On the way back to borrow money from Shanghai, Shen Fu "suddenly thought about the victory of Yushan", so he took advantage of his interest and took a downwind boat to Yushan! Moreover, he did not forget to drink the delicious Biluochun on the way up the mountain, and after he came down, he invited passers-by to have three drinks at the bar! I don't know how to evaluate his willful behavior.
This book is famous. But I can't read the original work, and the rewritten version is less interesting, so after all, I didn't find much fun in reading it.
Of the six stories of a floating life, we can only see 4, which are the leisurely life of a wealthy second generation with a relatively high temperament.
Only "Six Chapters of a Floating Life" can transform literary talent into nature and integrate true feelings into everything around us. Boudoir love, flowers, gardens, officialdom, social interactions, markets, mountains and forests, temples, and even brotherly love and prostitutes are all described in white, and with a single stroke of the pen, flowers bloom in the heart.
The flowers and stones in the bonsai are embellished, so small scenes can be painted, and large scenes can be wandered in. A cup of tea can make people concentrate on their thoughts, so that they can be enjoyed in a quiet place.
From falling in love at first sight, to loving each other, to never leaving, thinking about people when seeing things, even if you are on a prostitute ship, you still have to find a woman who is similar to your wife. Shen Fu is more affectionate and real than any other man created in the history of Chinese literature. What's more, he is a real person. Sentences about drizzle and breeze, touching and audible daily life, as if this person is right next to you.
Life is like a dream, geometry is for joy
Personally, I think this book is more descriptive. There is no gorgeous rhetorical decoration, no strong lyrical color, and it is mostly about describing scenes, people, and narratives, but Shen Sanbai's deep feelings are hidden in the words. In Shen Sanbai and Yun Niang, I saw the true appearance of love. It's not twists and turns, it's not dramatic, it's traditional Chinese love, a long-lasting love that helps each other. Three matchmakers and six betrothed married each other, and since then they have been together day and night, sharing life and death and adversity. Only one person can live a lifetime. Although Shen Sanbai also married concubines and accompanied geishas, I think his heart has always been with Yun Niang. He suffered ups and downs and went through wind and rain, but never changed. Both Shen Sanbai and Yun Niang are passionate people. Being passionate does not mean being sentimental, but is emotional and emotional. Sanbaihui was deeply saddened by the death of Hongqian, remembering his friend's kindness in his heart, and waited for his lover's soul after Yunniang's death; Yunniang also suffered heartbreak after Hanyuan left, until she died of illness, and was reluctant to part with her children... Their love is very strong, and others cannot tear it apart, and wind and rain cannot blow it apart. They have loved each other deeply throughout their lives, and their love is deep. Unfortunately, Yun Niang eventually died, leaving her husband alone, thousands of miles away in a lonely grave, with nowhere to talk about her desolation. Sanbai expresses his disobedience to God's will many times in the book. He seems to be resenting God for splitting up the lovers. He originally wanted to grow old together, but they were separated forever. I can't help but deeply regret this. Another thing that touched me in this book was the attitude of Sanbai and Yun Niang in facing the ups and downs. "Pain is unavoidable, but suffering can be chosen." Murakami's words are perfect for the Shen couple. Even if their lives are poor and their livelihood is difficult, they can still enjoy their hardships and be content with their lives. The houses are simple and narrow, so they design them themselves to create a scene that complements the real and the virtual; or plant a pot of flowers, plant a tree, arrange flower scenes, design flower screens, decorate their lives into a fairyland on earth, making readers yearn for it; or meet up with three or five friends, make a cup of tea, brew a pot of wine, Reciting a few poems, singing or whistling, the taste is elegant; or traveling around, viewing the beauty of mountains and rivers, savoring the tastes of life; occasionally being naughty, Yun Niang pretends to be a man, and the couple travels pretending to be brothers, so happy... No matter the difficult situation, they live a chic and artistic life! A good life does not depend on the external situation, but on the human heart. Whatever your attitude towards suffering, life will return you equal brilliance. Life is like a dream. If there is peace and happiness in your heart, the world and the surrounding world will also be happy. How much joy can there be? There are too many to count.
Fun things in childhood
When I grow up, I think back on this incident. When two insects fight, it is probably because one party is plotting treachery and the other party is not complying. As the old saying goes, "The one who rapes you is the one who kills you." Isn't this true even for insects? I was so obsessed with the fun of observing grass that my genitals were sucked by earthworms. As the saying goes in Wudi, my genitals were called eggs, and they were so swollen that I couldn't urinate. The servant caught the duck and put it close to my genitals and opened its mouth to suck it to relieve the poison of the earthworms. The servant suddenly let go of his hand, and the duck suddenly raised its neck and made a swallowing gesture. I was so frightened that I couldn't help crying, and this became the subject of the story.
