Ba is revered by his readers from home and abroad not only because of his extensive publications but also his love for his family, friends, his countrymen, and the world.
Ba refused to receive payment from the government, and chose to live on a writer's remuneration since the 1950s. He was also an experienced editor and publisher, giving advice and assistance to numerous younger people.
"My homeland is always with me."
"You are the light and heat. You are the conscience of the10th century." -Cao Yu, a famous Chinese playwright, wrote in praise of Ba a decade ago.
In 1927, with his first novel "Destruction" on the shelf, Ba Jin gradually became the leading writer in Chinese literary circles and his position remained irreplaceable and unshakable for as
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| Ba Jin in his later years |
long as 10 years. His heat and light, as Cao Yu mentioned, are in fact his many literary works, either composed or translated, which have served several generations of Chinese people and which will continue to benefit coming generations.
Patriotism is the foundation of Ba's contributions. From a small boy to an old man, Ba's love for country never changed, whatever the situation encountered.
As he said, "I write not because I am gifted at it. Rather, it is because I have passion for my country and people. As I am not good at speaking, I turn to writing as a way to express my infinite love. "
In 1979, Ba Jin headed a delegation to visit Paris, the first time he set foot on this land since he left in 1928. Any one revisiting the old haunt might be shocked by a riot of emotions and memories. For Ba, however, it was not the case. Every morning, as he sat beside the window and what he saw was not the vistas of Paris, but ofBeijing's Chang'an Street, Shanghai's Huaihai Road,Hangzhou's West Lake, and so on.
"In this way, I can go back to my homeland every day, feeling rather satisfied. Once I leave China, my strongest feeling is that I am Chinese. I had the same feeling 50 years ago. We often compare our homeland to mother. It is true. But for a long time in the past, our poor and devastated mother was in a critical situation, unable to tell in the morning what may happen in the evening, not to mention taking care of her children. It is different today. No matter where I go, I can feel the concern from the mother. She is always with me."
Author: Jessie
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