A series of people competed to read.
This story was published half a century ago. For a long time, its editing and publishing has been shrouded in a mysterious veil. In recent years, with the disclosure of relevant documents, its true face has gradually become clear. It is necessary to make a brief introduction to it.
As we all know, in the early 1960s, China experienced an extremely difficult three-year period. Under this historical background, the story was published by People's Literature Publishing House in February of 196 1, and the editor was the Institute of Literature of China Academy of Sciences. The book contains a preface signed by He Qifang and stories about not being afraid of ghosts in 60 ancient note novels (with notes). The first edition *** 106, with 63,000 words. On the surface, it is just a pamphlet, and there is nothing shocking; After careful analysis, it is uneven because it has five "special".
First of all, President Mao Zedong attaches great importance to this. Since the spring of 1959, Mao Zedong told stories about not being afraid of ghosts at some meetings and when meeting foreign guests, and said, "I want to compile stories and novels about not being afraid of ghosts into a booklet." (1) * * * The Central Secretariat immediately issued the task of editing to the Institute of Literature of China Academy of Sciences. In the summer of the same year, the book was basically compiled. At a central working conference, Mao Zedong selected some stories to be printed and distributed to the participants. Later, he instructed to select and enrich the first draft, and the director He Qifang wrote a preface and published it publicly. After the first draft of Preface was completed, I met with He twice, personally revised it and made a lot of additions and deletions. 196 1 year 65438+1October 24th, he made important changes in the preface, and explicitly instructed: "This article has been read, so it is printed. Before going to press, five comrades, Liu (Liu Shaoqi), Zhou (Zhou Enlai), Zhou Yang and Guo Moruo, were invited to read them and put forward suggestions for revision. When the book is published (emphasizing originality, the same below), the preface can be published in Red Flag and People's Daily. In addition, please start translating into several foreign languages, first turn the order, then turn the books. The English version of the preface was first translated and published in Beijing Review. If only this book could be published in February, it could be read by cadres who are currently carrying out the rectification movement throughout the country. " It can be seen that this book was written and published under the personal proposal, guidance, care and auspices of President Mao Zedong. This situation is rare.
Second, the publicity is particularly huge. At that time, the main domestic media and some foreign propaganda newspapers and periodicals introduced the book and published a lot of articles such as comments, counseling and learning experiences. This book is a best seller in the bookstore, and cadres at all levels, the masses and students are scrambling to read it. Some articles in the middle school Chinese textbooks are selected as teaching materials in time.
Third, the preface is particularly heavy. This not only means more words in the preface, accounting for more than one tenth of the total words in the book, but also means that the content of the preface is very important and incisive. The connotation and significance of Mao Zedong's fundamental guiding principles of revolutionary struggle, such as "imperialism and all reactionaries are paper tigers" and "despising the enemy strategically and attaching importance to the enemy tactically", are comprehensively and systematically quoted and profoundly expounded, which has strong practical pertinence, operability and universality. The preface was signed by He Qifang, obviously considering the publicity effect. Foreword and text are actually the relationship between subject and subordinate, viewpoint and material. Needless to say, from today's height, some references in the preface are obviously outdated and have a "left" bias. However, this is harmless after all, and does not detract from Mao Zedong Thought's shining brilliance in the book.
Fourth, the chosen story is particularly ironic. As the preface says, the purpose of making up these stories is not to illustrate China's ancient materialism, but to satirize and tell the world that we should not be afraid, dare to fight, and be good at fighting until we defeat anything similar to ghosts in reality. Its profound enlightenment and reference significance are enough for people to learn from.
Fifth, the vitality is particularly long. The book not only had a great historical role and social influence at that time, but also radiated the light of politics, thought, spirit and wisdom until today, which nurtured the growth of several generations. Its repeated version confirms this. 196/kloc-0 was published in February, and the second edition was published in June of the same year. After entering the new era, 1978 and 1982 were reprinted twice, and the text was changed from vertical to horizontal, with a print run of 235,000 copies; In August, 1998 was revised and published again. The number of words is more than twice that of the original, and 34 titles and stylistic translations have been added. Editors and publishers also made it clear that the original edition will be reprinted appropriately according to the needs of society in the future. You can be sure that the spirit of not being afraid of ghosts advocated by this book will never be out of date; As long as we constantly give it a brand-new connotation of the times and give it a new interpretation, we will certainly be able to cross the times and always read and be new.
Inspirational at first reading is not afraid of ghosts.
I spent my childhood in the mountains in the west of Beijing. At that time, the family was very poor, but parents attached great importance to their children's education and tried to send their four children to school. I went to high school in the early 1960s, and both my brothers have been admitted to universities. At that time, the country was in a difficult period of three years, and my family's life became more and more embarrassing. Can't afford accommodation, can only go to school; Can't afford a pen and ink, so I use a cheap dip pen to brew a bag of ink of 80 cents into ink. Unexpectedly, the bigger trouble than this is the "day school" in day schools.
The straight line distance from my home to school is about ten miles. If you take the main road, it's easier to walk, but it's half the way. In the case of insufficient food and clothing, your physical strength cannot keep up. Take the path, you can save half the time, but you must pass a daunting ravine on the way. At the beginning of the day school, several students walked together. After a while, some stayed at school, others dropped out, leaving me alone.
What ravine is this? The villagers call it "ghost ditch" or "burial ditch". The ditch is five or six miles long, and the slopes on both sides are covered with wild graves, overgrown with weeds and thorns. Scattered simple terraces have not been improved. A gravel road at the bottom of the ditch is a path washed away by flash floods and trampled by people and animals. There are few pedestrians on weekdays. I don't know when, a big pit actually collapsed on the side of the road, and jagged black rotten boards were faintly visible beside the pit, as if it were the entrance to hell that could swallow people up. Every time I pass here, I always hold my breath, approach nervously, and then run away as soon as possible. In winter, when the moon and the stars are in the morning, the bottom of the ditch is dark, the mountain wind is whistling, the vegetation is swaying, the white blue-green jack-o'-lantern is flickering, and the whole ravine is shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. I finally got home, but I couldn't sleep for a long time. This terrible place is always shaking in front of me. The first year of day study is tantamount to great mental torture for me, but I can't and don't want to tell others. I even thought about dropping out of school. ...
Soon, the Chinese class in Senior Two talked about "catching ghosts in Song Dynasty". The teacher told us that this text was selected from the first article of the book "The Story of Not Afraid of Ghosts". The preface of this book is well-founded and worth studying. After class, I couldn't wait to go straight to the Xinhua Bookstore near my school, find this book and read the preface in one breath. I got a violent shock. It's unheard of and shocking! Scientific judgments such as warning declarations and battle mobilization orders have made me a sixteen-year-old boy excited and emboldened. I asked myself while reading a book: Some people say ghosts, why have I never seen ghosts in the "ghost ditch"? It can be seen that the preface says that "there are no ghosts in the world" is the truth. Why are people afraid of ghosts? The preface goes straight to the point: because of cowardice, the mind has not been liberated. Why should we advocate the spirit of not being afraid of ghosts? The preface is better: because "there are indeed many things like ghosts in the world." Aren't all my difficulties and setbacks "ghosts"? How can we defeat and subdue "ghosts"? Resolutely implement Chairman Mao's instructions: despise "ghosts" strategically and attach importance to "ghosts" tactically! So, I seem to see the beacon of progress and find the trump card to beat quotations! The cowardly and depressed emotions that had tortured me for many days before were swept away! The next day, I resolutely paid back the two-day meal fee and spent 45 cents to put this book in my pocket as a treasure. This is the first extracurricular book I bought in my life.
Light, excitement and joy filled my heart, inspired my perseverance and courage, and made me feel relieved when I crossed the "ghost ditch" every day. I take advantage of its loneliness and little interference, sometimes singing loudly and sometimes reading aloud in a clear voice. Two years later, I learned foreign languages and ancient Chinese by heart. Slowly, I have a dream: follow the example of the editor of this book and become an editor needed by the people!
In senior three, we had our first composition class. Composition questions were two topics in the college entrance examination that year. I chose how to study Chairman Mao's works. In my composition, I talked about my experience of learning from Chairman Mao's relevant expositions in the story to guide me to fight against "ghost ditch" and difficulties, which was circulated as a model essay. The Chinese teacher encouraged me to make persistent efforts and apply for the College of Arts and Sciences. At that time, the tendency of "emphasizing science and engineering over literature and history" prevailed among students, and few students planned to apply for liberal arts. I got good grades in all subjects, and it was the dream brought by the story that prompted me to resolutely apply for liberal arts.
1962 in July, the college entrance examination that made candidates anxious and eager came. On the first day, the Chinese test paper was issued, and two essay topics were selected: Say I'm not afraid of ghosts and After the Rain. I chose the former without hesitation. Because of the theoretical arm of learning stories and the personal experience of not being afraid of ghosts, the writing is particularly smooth and the performance is particularly good. With God's help, the exams in other subjects went smoothly. As a result, the Chinese Department of Peking University accepted me as the best candidate in the department.
In this way, the book "Story" led my poor students in this mountainous area out of the predicament, dreamed in anger, and found a wide runway for my dream to take off and slide.
Editor's post
Time flies and time waits for no man. Since then, the story has continued to accompany me to study in Weiming Lake, to receive labor training in May 7th Cadre School, to undergo various tests at the grassroots level, to increase my knowledge and accumulate experience. 1September 1978, Red Flag magazine transferred me to work in Beijing, and my dream of becoming an editor as a teenager finally came true! This book helped me to start climbing to a new spiritual height.
At an editorial meeting, I was deeply touched by the earnest words of an old editor: "To be an excellent editor of a party magazine, you can't do it without ten years and eight years!" I have carefully observed some old editors and admire their excellent qualities of strong politics, professional skills, strict discipline and correct style of work. How can I become a qualified party journal editor as soon as possible? I have been impetuous, confused and eager for quick success. With the help of leaders and old editors, I first began to improve my ideological level and consciously fight against the devil in my heart. The thoughts of fame and fortune, such as "editors are other people's wedding clothes, not counting" and "editors are panacea, and at most they become saints", are not the demons in their hearts to be vigilant and removed? I am used to thinking about a good way to deal with the "difficulties and setbacks in progress" taught by stories, that is, "face them squarely, study them carefully, gain necessary experience and lessons from them, find out effective ways to overcome and reverse them, resolutely implement them, and then overcome them and move forward smoothly". Learning by doing, I gradually realized that choosing the editing work of party journals is not a career, but a lofty responsibility and mission. Since then, I have consciously followed the example of excellent old editors, and the devil in my heart can be driven away.
Many things happen. I calmed down and laid a good foundation. I basically read through the classic works of Marxism, and my theoretical level, professional ability and ideological accomplishment have all improved. After graduating from literature major, I happily obeyed the organizational arrangement, engaged in scientific and educational editing for a long time, and organized a number of influential and quality manuscripts, which were affirmed by leaders and readers. In the 28-year editing career, there are 70 or 80 articles published in this journal by means of self-writing, co-writing and ghostwriting. I can say with no regrets that I have made due contributions to the propaganda of the party magazine.
Learning should dare to explore.
On the premise of doing a good job, editors should strive to make a difference in writing and academics. At the beginning of my attempt to study, I deeply felt that it was difficult to get into trouble. Learning reportage is like this.
I devoted myself to the study of reportage, which originated from the publication of Xu Chi's reportage Goldbach Conjecture in February 1978. As soon as this article came out, it caused a sensation, and a large number of reportage works reproduced the touching deeds of scientists. I pay attention to this kind of works and their comments because of the relationship between editing scientific and technological manuscripts and literary professional background and journalism experience. At the same time, I feel that compared with the prosperity of reportage creation, the research on reportage theory and development history is quite weak. So, I decided to tackle key problems and study reportage.
I started with first-hand information, extensively dabbled in Chinese and foreign literary theories, literary history monographs and works, and sought professional knowledge on the basis of what I learned. I found authoritative scholars in the history of modern literature in China, such as Tang Tao, Yi Qun, Yao Yao, Yan Jiayan, Yi Ding and Tian Zhongji. , have talked about reportage in monographs, but the historical materials cited are relatively thin and inaccurate, and they are repeatedly cited, which leads to misinformation. If you want to study deeply, you can't bypass the past, but you must face it squarely, question it and even correct it. This will undoubtedly take a lot of risks, and it may also attract ridicule of "overreaching". Do you want to advocate scientific independent thinking, and don't blindly trust authority and celebrities in your study? At this time, I thought of the call of "breaking superstition and emancipating the mind" in the preface of the story. I understand that the meaning of "superstition" is not only aimed at ghosts, but also includes "everything seems terrible, but there is nothing to be afraid of". Many historical facts tell us that there is no authority except truth; No matter how authoritative scholars are in the world, their research is always limited and needs to be continuously developed in practice; We should respect and obey academic authority, but we can't blindly worship it; Authoritative scholars always welcome and correctly evaluate valuable opinions, and don't expect others to blindly worship themselves.
My above knowledge has been verified. After several years of painstaking research in my spare time, I have written more than a dozen papers, two of which were selected for Mr. Yan Jiayan, a professor of Chinese Department in Peking University and an authority on the history of modern literature. He gave warm encouragement and recommended it to relevant academic journals for publication. Among them, Textual Research on Some Historical Materials of Reportage corrected many flaws and mistakes in the historical materials of Reportage used in authoritative works of China's modern literary history, and pointed out the reasons. After the publication of the second issue of Historical Materials of New Literature 1982, the response was not small. Another long article, The Origin, Formation and Development of Reportage, was published in Time Report in April of 198 1, which outlined the development history of reportage for the first time and was reprinted, extracted or quoted by many newspapers. Reportage Review and China Reportage Theory edited by him are still listed as reference materials for reportage teaching and research in some universities. Professor Yin Junsheng and I have long suggested that reportage should be separated from prose as a unique and independent literary form. Literary theory has always adopted the method of classifying literary works into novels, plays, poems and essays. In recent years, our views have been generally accepted by literary theorists, and literary journals have published their own works according to the new classification.
On the issue of scholarship, it is obviously difficult for me to achieve groundbreaking results without the inspiration of the story.
On the road of my life, whenever I am in the most embarrassing and confused moment, the story always comes as scheduled like a mentor, guiding me and leading me to face and overcome difficulties and setbacks bravely. I often think that in the future, in the struggle for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is not a noble spiritual need and life pleasure to read more such good books that can inspire people to be more active and enterprising.