How did "Why do we need literature?" become a trendy topic?

In the hot topics of Weibo (the Chinese equivalent of Twitter), literature is not a particularly popular topic. However, "Why do we need literature?" recently appeared on the trendy topics chart with over 100 million readership. This could have benefited from the algorithm of Weibo, and could be related to the new book recommendations by certain institutions at the beginning of a new year.

Nevertheless, people's enthusiasm for literature is real. Under the topic, the highlight reads: "If there is one moment in our lives where we can open up to literature, then our brokenness and solitude can be eased or find a companion." Many people resonated with the lines, and opened their hearts to narrate their own relationship with literature.

Literature has a long history, why did it become a trendy topic today? This could be related to the year 2020 which just passed. In 2020, people more distinctly experienced "brokenness and solitude". The rhythm of work and life were interrupted, the distance among people also needed reevaluation. "Keeping social distance" became the universal method for combating the pandemic. Though Japanese people chose "intimate” as their Chinese character of the year, in reality, people felt the opposite of this character, such as "alienation" and "quarantine". Nonetheless, deep down, everyone yearned for unity.

In these moments, the effect of literature is prominent. The famous story of Lu Xun who "gave up medicine for literature" enlightened us once again. While studying medicine in Sendai, Japan, Lu saw numb Chinese people on lantern slides, and realized that curing people's souls are more important than their bodies. Presently, this saying is controversial, as a healthy body can boost one's immunity to combat against sickness. However, the "healing" effect of literature is also apparent. Reading a novel is trying to experience a "world" created by the author. This "world" might be bright or dark, and can even provoke sadness. Yet, this world has an advantage that social media lacks in that it is a "whole". Only the empathy and reflection established on a "whole" can withstand the "fragmented era".

As a result, though in recent years new media technologies keep emerging and many people worship the "screen era", yet the market for book publishing is still steadily growing. In fact, people cannot live without writing and literature even more. An example is that in 2020, after Louise Elisabeth Glück won the Nobel Literature Prize, her poetry anthologies were printed additional copies with great sales. Indeed, though poetry anthologies earnestly launched by certain publishing houses (which are the least salable in literature) have seldom become best-sellers, some are also "long-standing best-sellers". Polish poet Wisława Szymborska, who is known for her lyricism, can be considered a best-selling writer in the Chinese world.

In big cities, more and more beautiful bookstores are emerging. This also provides a new setting for literature to engage with people. Not long ago, the well-known Fangsuo bookstore opened a rural bookstore in Xiuwu County of Jiaozuo City, Henan Province. It is beautiful and has the potential to become an online sensation. The coffee shop at the bookstore is supposedly the first coffee shop in Xiuwu County, which seems like a project which is "not down to earth". However, the response since its opening has been beyond expectations. The classical writers hence found new readers in a Chinese village. These kinds of stories can better reflect the reading conditions of Chinese people. We often lament with sighs that Chinese people do not like to read. However, this lament also indicates the existence of demand for books. In the past few decades, the Chinese economy developed rapidly, for any family, buying a few books nowadays would not be a financial burden. At the same time, compulsory education became popularized, every youth has basic reading abilities. The soil for literature or for books will only become richer and not barren.

Under this context, we can understand better why literature suddenly became "trendy". The pandemic of 2020 caused more people to have "moments of introspection", to reexamine relationships with relatives and friends, to improve one's lifestyle, or to express concerns for the future world. These are the "poetic moments". We can foresee that in the future, the spiritual factor will assume a bigger role in people's lives. Literature is not above life, it is not a reflection of life, but it is within life, a part of life itself.

Contributed by Zhang Feng, Writer

Translated by Zhang Junye