To Live: A Novel by Yu Hua - Download Free PDF EPUB
To Live Yu Hua Ebook: A Review of a Contemporary Chinese Classic
If you are looking for a powerful and moving novel that explores the turbulent history of China in the 20th century, you should definitely check out To Live by Yu Hua. This celebrated contemporary classic of Chinese literature was originally banned in China but later named one of that nations most influential books. It was also adapted for film by Zhang Yimou, one of the most acclaimed directors in China. In this article, we will review To Live as an ebook and tell you why you should read it.
To Live Yu Hua Ebook
What is To Live about?
To Live tells the story of Fugui, a young man who squanders his familys fortune in gambling dens and brothels, leaving them in poverty and disgrace. He settles down to do the honest work of a farmer, but his life is constantly disrupted by the political and social upheavals of China, from the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists, to the land reform, to the Great Leap Forward, to the Cultural Revolution. Along the way, he loses his loved ones one by one, but he never gives up his hope and appreciation for life.
The plot summary
The novel begins with Fugui narrating his life story to an old friend who visits him in his village. He recalls how he was born into a wealthy landlord family in the 1930s, but he wasted his inheritance on gambling and women. He married a woman named Jiazhen, who bore him a son named Youqing and a daughter named Fengxia. He also had a loyal servant named Chunsheng, who followed him everywhere.
One day, Fugui lost everything he owned to a gambler named Long Er, who took over his house and land. Fuguis father died of anger and shame, leaving Fugui with nothing but an ox cart. Fugui moved his family to a small hut near his former estate, where he learned to farm and raise animals. He also became friends with his neighbors, who were poor peasants like him.
However, his peaceful life was soon interrupted by the civil war that broke out between the Nationalist Army and the Communist Army. Fugui was conscripted by the Nationalists and forced to leave his family behind. He witnessed the horrors and privations of war, but he managed to survive by hiding under corpses during battles. He also befriended a fellow soldier named Xu Shouyi, who shared his food and cigarettes with him.
After several years of fighting, Fugui escaped from the army and returned to his village. He found out that his wife had given birth to another son named Youyun during his absence, but his first son Youqing had died of starvation during a famine. He also learned that Long Er had been executed by the Communists for being a landlord, and his former house and land had been redistributed to the peasants. Fugui reclaimed his ox cart and resumed his farming life with his family.
However, his troubles were not over yet. He had to face the challenges and changes brought by the Communist regime, such as the land reform, the collectivization of agriculture, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. He also had to endure the tragedies and losses that befell his family and friends, such as the death of his daughter Fengxia during childbirth, the death of his wife Jiazhen from a heart attack, the death of his friend Chunsheng from suicide, and the death of his son-in-law Erxi from a medical accident. He also had to cope with the disability of his grandson Kugen, who was born deaf and mute.
By the end of the novel, Fugui is left with only his ox as his companion. He is an old man who has lived through many hardships and sorrows, but he still cherishes every moment of his life. He tells his friend that he does not regret anything, and that he is grateful for everything he has experienced.
The main themes
One of the main themes of To Live is the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Fugui is a character who undergoes a remarkable transformation from a spoiled and selfish son of a landlord to a humble and kindhearted peasant. He suffers many misfortunes and losses in his life, but he never succumbs to despair or bitterness. He always finds something to be thankful for, such as his family, his friends, his animals, and his land. He also learns to accept his fate and adapt to the changing times. He does not harbor any hatred or resentment towards anyone, not even towards Long Er who ruined his life or towards the Communist Party who caused him so much trouble. He simply tries to live as best as he can with what he has.
Another theme of To Live is the impact of history and politics on ordinary peoples lives. The novel depicts the turbulent and violent history of China in the 20th century, from the civil war, to the land reform, to the Great Leap Forward, to the Cultural Revolution. These events have profound and often devastating effects on Fugui and his family, as well as on millions of other Chinese people. They have to endure hunger, poverty, oppression, persecution, violence, and death. They have to witness their loved ones die or suffer. They have to sacrifice their personal interests and freedoms for the sake of the collective or the nation. They have to cope with constant changes and uncertainties in their society and culture. The novel shows how history and politics shape and reshape peoples lives in unpredictable and often tragic ways.
Who is Yu Hua?
Yu Hua is one of the most acclaimed and influential contemporary Chinese writers. He was born in 1960 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. He grew up during the Cultural Revolution, which had a lasting impact on his worldview and literary style. He studied dentistry at Zhejiang University, but he quit his job as a dentist in 1993 to pursue a full-time career as a writer.
His biography and background
Yu Hua started writing in 1983, when he published his first short story "On the Road at Eighteen". His early works were influenced by Western modernist writers such as Franz Kafka and William Faulkner, as well as by Chinese classical novels such as Dream of the Red Chamber and Water Margin. His stories often featured surrealistic elements, absurd situations, grotesque imagery, dark humor, and allegorical meanings.
Some of his most famous short stories include "The Past and The Punishments", "World Like Mist", "Blood Merchant", "Classical Love", "Why Do I Write", "1986", "The Seventh Day", "Boy in The Twilight", "Appendix", "Mid-Air Collisions", "The April 3rd Incident", "The Story of Lao Li", "The World's Most Beautiful Woman", "The Journey Home", "The Man Who Sold His Blood", "The Man Who Sold His Teeth", "The Man Who Sold His Skin", "The Man Who Sold His Hair", "The Man Who Sold His Bones", "The Man Who Sold His Eyes", "The Man Who Sold His Ears", "The Man Who Sold His Nose", "The Man Who Sold His Tongue", "The Man Who Sold His Heart", "The Man Who Sold His Brain", "The Man Who Sold His Soul".
His literary style and influences
Yu Hua's novels are characterized by their realistic and vivid portrayal of the lives of ordinary Chinese people, especially those who lived through the tumultuous and traumatic events of the 20th century. His novels often explore the themes of violence, suffering, survival, memory, identity, morality, and humanity. His novels also reflect his critical and satirical attitude towards the Chinese society and politics, as well as his sympathy and compassion for the marginalized and oppressed.
Yu Hua's novels are influenced by both Chinese and Western literary traditions. He draws inspiration from Chinese classical novels, folk tales, oral history, and popular culture. He also incorporates elements from Western modernist and postmodernist writers, such as stream of consciousness, nonlinear narrative, multiple perspectives, intertextuality, and metafiction. He also experiments with different genres and forms, such as historical fiction, magical realism, dystopian fiction, and epistolary fiction.
Some of his most famous novels include To Live (1992), Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (1995), Brothers (2005), China in Ten Words (2010), The Seventh Day (2013), and The April 3rd Incident (2018).
Why was To Live banned in China?
To Live is one of Yu Hua's most acclaimed and controversial novels. It was originally banned in China for its negative depiction of the Communist Party and its policies. It was also criticized for its graphic and brutal portrayal of the suffering and death of the Chinese people during the civil war, the land reform, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution.
The political and historical context
To Live was published in 1992, shortly after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, which were violently suppressed by the Chinese government. The protests were sparked by the death of Hu Yaobang, a reformist leader who advocated for political liberalization and democracy. The protests were also fueled by the widespread dissatisfaction and frustration of the Chinese people with the corruption, inflation, inequality, and repression of the Communist regime.
The Tiananmen Square protests marked a turning point in China's history and culture. They exposed the deep rifts and conflicts between the government and the people, between the old and the new generations, between the urban and the rural areas, between the rich and the poor. They also triggered a wave of social movements and cultural expressions that challenged and criticized the official ideology and propaganda of the Communist Party.
To Live was one of the literary works that emerged from this context. It was part of a literary movement called "scar literature" or "wound literature", which aimed to expose and heal the wounds inflicted by the Communist Party on the Chinese people. It was also part of a literary movement called "root-seeking literature" or "native soil literature", which aimed to rediscover and reclaim the authentic Chinese culture and identity that had been erased or distorted by the Communist Party.
The controversy and criticism
the suffering and death of the Chinese people during the historical periods depicted in the novel. They also claimed that Yu Hua's novel was influenced by Western values and perspectives, and that it catered to the Western readers' stereotypes and prejudices about China.
However, To Live was also praised and defended by many readers and writers who appreciated and admired Yu Hua's courage and honesty. They argued that Yu Hua's novel was a truthful and realistic representation of the Chinese history and reality. They argued that Yu Hua's novel did not distort or deny history, but rather revealed and confronted it. They argued that Yu Hua's novel did not spread pessimism, but rather expressed humanism. They argued that Yu Hua's novel was not influenced by Western values and perspectives, but rather reflected universal values and perspectives.
To Live was also widely read and discussed outside China, where it received critical acclaim and recognition. It was translated into many languages and published in many countries. It was also nominated for several literary awards, such as the Prix Femina Étranger in France and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in the UK. It was also adapted into a film by Zhang Yimou, which won several international awards, such as the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
How was To Live adapted into a film?
To Live was adapted into a film by Zhang Yimou, one of the most renowned and influential directors in China. The film was released in 1994, two years after the publication of the novel. The film starred Gong Li as Jiazhen and Ge You as Fugui, two of the most popular and acclaimed actors in China.
The director and cast
Zhang Yimou is a director who is known for his artistic and aesthetic style, as well as for his social and political commentary. He is one of the leading figures of the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, who emerged in the 1980s after the end of the Cultural Revolution. His films often explore the themes of history, culture, tradition, identity, gender, class, and power in China.
Some of his most famous films include Red Sorghum (1987), Ju Dou (1990), Raise the Red Lantern (1991), The Story of Qiu Ju (1992), To Live (1994), Shanghai Triad (1995), Not One Less (1999), The Road Home (1999), Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004), Curse of the Golden Flower (2006), A Woman A Gun And A Noodle Shop (2009), The Flowers of War (2011), Coming Home (2014), Shadow (2018), One Second (2020).
Gong Li is an actress who is known for her beauty and talent, as well as for her collaboration with Zhang Yimou. She is one of the most famous and influential actresses in China and abroad. She has won many awards and honors for her performances in various films.
(2014), The Monkey King 2 (2016), Saturday Fiction (2019), Mulan (2020).
Ge You is an actor who is known for his comedic and dramatic skills, as well as for his versatility and charisma. He is one of the most popular and respected actors in China. He has won many awards and honors for his performances in various films and television shows.
Some of his most famous films include The Trouble Shooters (1988), The Dream Factory (1997), Be There Or Be Square (1998), Sorry Baby (1999), Big Shot's Funeral (2001), Cell Phone (2003), If You Are The One (2008), Let The Bullets Fly (2010), Sacrifice (2010), Personal Tailor (2013), Gone With The Bullets (2014), I Am Not Madame Bovary (2016), The Faces Of My Gene (2018).
The differences and similarities between the book and the film
The film adaptation of To Live is faithful to the novel in terms of the main plot, characters, themes, and tone. However, there are also some differences and changes that were made by the director and the screenwriter for various reasons, such as artistic expression, cinematic effect, audience appeal, or censorship.
Some of the differences and changes between the book and the film are:
The film begins with a prologue that shows Fugui gambling away his fortune to Long Er, while the novel begins with Fugui telling his life story to his old friend.
The film omits some of the details and episodes from the novel, such as Fugui's affair with a prostitute, Fugui's encounter with a bandit leader, Fugui's participation in a puppet show troupe, Fugui's reunion with Xu Shouyi, Fugui's involvement in a public trial, Fugui's donation of blood to Erxi.
The film adds some scenes and dialogues that are not in the novel, such as Fugui's conversation with his father before he dies, Fugui's conversation with Long Er before he is executed, Fugui's conversation with Jiazhen before she dies, Fugui's conversation with Chunsheng before he commits suicide.
The film changes some of the names and ages of the characters, such as Fugui's daughter Fengxia becomes Fengxian, Fugui's grandson Kugen becomes Mantou, Fugui's son-in-law Erxi becomes Wan Erxi.
The film changes some of the dates and events of the historical periods depicted in the novel, such as the civil war ends in 1949 instead of 1950, the Great Leap Forward occurs in 1958 instead of 1959-1961, the Cultural Revolution occurs in 1966 instead of 1967-1976.
The film changes some of the causes and circumstances of the deaths of some characters, such as Youqing dies from eating rotten sweet potatoes instead of from starvation, Fengxian dies from a forceps injury instead of from hemorrhage, Jiazhen dies from a heart attack instead of from a stroke.
Some of the similarities between the book and the film are:
The film follows the same chronological order and structure as the novel, divided into four parts: Family (1930s-1940s), War (1940s-1950s), Land Reform (1950s-1960s), Cultural Revolution (1960s-1970s).
The film retains the same main characters and their personalities as the novel, such as Fugui's transformation from a wastrel to a farmer, Jiazhen's loyalty and devotion to her family, Fengxian's kindness and intelligence despite her muteness, Youyun's innocence and curiosity despite his deafness.
the novel, such as the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit, the impact of history and politics on ordinary people's lives, the value and meaning of life.
The film uses the same narrative device as the novel, such as Fugui's voice-over narration that frames the story and provides his perspective and commentary.
The film employs the same artistic and aesthetic style as the novel, such as the use of vivid colors, symbolic images, dramatic contrasts, and emotional music.
What are the benefits of reading To Live as an ebook?
To Live is a novel that can be enjoyed and appreciated in different formats and media, such as print, audio, or film. However, reading To Live as an ebook has some unique benefits and advantages that can enhance your reading experience and understanding of the novel.
The convenience and accessibility
One of the benefits of reading To Live as an ebook is that it is convenient and accessible. You can download or buy To Live as an ebook from various online platforms and sources, such as Amazon Kindle, Rakuten Kobo, eBooks.com, OceanofPDF, etc. You can also read To Live as an ebook on different devices, such as your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or e-reader. You can also read To Live as an ebook anytime and anywhere you want, whether you are at home, at work, at school, or on the go. You don't have to worry about carrying a heavy book or finding a physical copy or a library. You can also adjust the font size, brightness, background color, and other settings to suit your preferences and comfort.
The features and options
Another benefit of reading To Live as an ebook is that it has some features and options that can improve your reading experience and understanding of the novel. For example, you can use the search function to find specific words or phrases in the novel. You can also use the highlight function to mark important passages or quotes in the novel. You can also use the bookmark function to save your progress or return to a certain page in the novel. You can also use the dictionary function to look up unfamiliar words or terms in the novel. You can also use the annotation function to write notes or comments on the novel. You can also use the translation function to read To Live in different languages, such as English, French, Spanish, German, etc.
Where can you buy or download To Live as an ebook?
To Live is a novel that is widely available and affordable as an ebook. You can buy or download To Live as an ebook from various online platforms and sources that offer different prices and discounts. Here are some of the best online platforms and sources where you can buy or download To Live as an ebook:
The best online platforms and sources
Amazon Kindle: Amazon Kindle is one of the most popular and reliable online platforms for buying and downloading ebooks. You can buy To Live by Yu Hua as an ebook for $13.99 from Amazon Kindle. You can also read To Live by Yu Hua as an ebook for free if you have an Amazon Prime membership or a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You can also add Audible narration to your purchase for just $7.49 if you want to listen to To Live by Yu Hua as an audiobook.
Rakuten Kobo: Rakuten Kobo is another online platform for buying and downloading ebooks. You can buy To Live by Yu Hua as an ebook for $12.99 from Rakuten Kobo. You can also read To Live by Yu Hua as an ebook for free if you have a Kobo