Geschichten Jing Shanhai

Product Description

"Stories of Jing Shanhai" is a captivating collection of narratives depicting life in a Chinese coastal region. The German translation presents these multilayered stories, set between tradition and modernity, between land and sea. The main story begins with Wu Xiaohao, who during her first visit to the mysterious Gill Island recalls a moving dream in which she and her daughter Diandian swim through the ocean as whales. This poetic introduction leads into a world where legends and reality merge - the island inhabitants are considered descendants of the "gill people," who once could breathe underwater. As a graduate of history studies at Shandong University, Wu Xiaohao approaches these legends with scientific skepticism, yet her encounters with the islanders - the skilled party secretary Li Dazhao and the lively women's representative Wan Yufeng ("Dongfeng Dangzi") - reveal to her a world full of vibrant traditions and human stories. The narrative masterfully connects personal destinies with China's rich maritime culture. Themes such as family, tradition, social change, and the relationship between humans and the sea permeate the stories. Particularly impressive is the portrayal of fishing culture with its own rules, customs, and special language. The text also reflects larger societal questions: the conflict between scientific rationality and traditional belief, the challenges of modernization in traditional communities, and the significance of cultural identity in a changing world.