If there is a short tree in your courtyard and the trunk is naked, you get accustomed to it. One day, however, it becomes twisted and ugly. And after some time, it becomes normal to you as if it is its original shape. If someday it straightens up again, you will feel the untold uneasiness. It becomes mundane, boring and simple like a stick! In fact, it has just regained its original shape but why do you feel uncomfortable?
Is it called habit? Eh, do not look down upon the “habit”! It exists everywhere and in every matter globally. Do think it is a rule that does not apply to all. If you experience it, you will also feel troubled and vexed. However, do not complain that the habit tightly binds you; you will, sometimes unconsciously bend its rules. For example, dare you steal the show by speaking loudly before your superior? Can you give your personal opinion impudently in the presence of a senior person? When taking a group photo, can you make the celebrity stand on the side while you grandly stand in the middle smiling? No, of course not! Then, how dare you take a wife, 10 years your senior and has a bigger build than you or is one head taller than you? These are not empty words; there is one couple in existence.
About short stories, Mr. Sun Li pointed out that although the length of articles cannot determine its quality, “with less space to write about the same contents in an expressive and forceful way demands a high artistic ability.” Therefore, to some degree, short story is a literary genre relatively embodying the writer’s artistic creativity, his or her attitude towards art and his or her understanding of the functions of art. Such understanding of short stories accords with Hu Shi’s idea that “short story is an article using the most economical literary means in describing the most wonderful episode of reality, or a certain aspect, and meanwhile satisfying the readers”. In contrast with the grand system and rich contents of full-length novels, short stories restricted by its length has to focus on its conciseness, embody the author’s talents in its ingenuity, and make breakthroughs in artistic skills. Concise language, ingenious layout, exquisite conception, superb skills, and profound ideas are the basic features and requirements of short stories, which are also the fundamental principles abided by the book of Selected Contemporary Short Stories of Tianjin.
The short stories included in Selected Contemporary Short Stories of Tianjin basically reflect the overall picture of Tianjin contemporary short stories creation. Among the authors, there are some masters like Sun Li and also influential men of words who led the trend of literature during the new era. There are not only authors who have made outstanding achievements in some aspects such as Yang Runshen, Liu Hangying, Lin Xi, Yang Xianhui, Zhao Mei, Xiao Kefan, Wang Song, Long Yi, Wu Xin, Li Zhibang, etc., but also authors who have powerful potentials and exploring spirit such as Qin Ling, Yin Xueyun, Lyu Shuhuai, Niu Bocheng, Di Qing, etc. They participated in the construction of the contemporary literary circles in Tianjin with various generation backgrounds and regional differences, making the literary creation in Tianjin full of graceful, colorful and diversified patterns in full blossom and adding colors to the garden of many flowers of contemporary Chinese literary world. Although short stories are only a part of their creation and even may not be the aspect that some writers are best at, their artistic talents, writing styles, and creativity are fully embodied in those works. Moreover, some of those short stories even indicate possibilities and potentials to inspire readers with multiple meanings. Meanwhile, they have the characters and charm to become classics.
Excellent literary and artistic works not only embody the creative ability and level of a nation’s culture, but also are the best way for different nations and peoples to understand and communicate with each other. “Novels are considered a secret history of a nation.” Meanwhile, they are an important representation and carrier of the history of a time. As the “summit” of narrative arts, short stories are a literary genre balancing artistic quality with sociality. In inheriting and breaking the traditions of national culture, molding national spirit, expressing features of the times, and leading social mores, short stories play an important role. Selected Contemporary Short Stories of Tianjin aims to manifest the achievements of Tianjin contemporary short story creation and meanwhile reveal its history and current situation through representative Tianjin contemporary short stories in order to provide references for the future Tianjin short story creation. Moreover, it aims to reflect the historical and cultural features around Tianjin from the dimension of short narrative arts and provide another perspective and train of thought to reflect the history, current situation and future of the region around Tianjin and narrate stories of Tianjin, enhance the cohesion of awareness of identity and construct a spiritual home, and to help readers know Tianjin’s culture and a cultural city of Tianjin.
