Understanding Culture Through Texts, Understanding the Everyday Through Classics
Everyday needs and worldly desires—how can we uncover their poetic essence?
Why do we need to tell a good story? Is there a “formula” for telling one well?
What does it mean to “lament spring” or “mourn autumn”? How does understanding an author’s psychological state influence our evaluation of their artistic work?
“Reading comprehension” is not just a category or term on an exam paper; it is an intellectual act of communication. Readers or audiences apply their existing knowledge and experiences to strategically understand, infer, and validate a text, constructing meaning, attempting to empathise, and thereby absorbing knowledge. From literary works and art to advertising copy, from pop songs to video games, from the light and shadow of cinema screens to everyday conversations, we constantly employ our reading skills, tackling challenges that leave students overwhelmed and searching for quick “guides” to success.
From literary students to literary scholars, Professor Wong Chi Hung shares his passion for appreciating literature and art. He enjoys The Godfather as much as Doraemon, reads Du Fu while loving rock music, and beyond the classroom, keeps up with the latest Korean dramas and anime. He never overlooks any literary or cultural theory, weaving them into essays that reveal literary appreciation as something far from an unattainable ivory tower. Instead, it is deeply rooted in everyday life, flowing naturally through every act of reading, viewing, and conversation, as part of the human instinct.
Author: Wong Chi Hung
Editor: Enoch Yee-lok Tam, Lina Xie
Art & Design: Somely So, Hsu Wai-lun (mmmmor studio)
Edition: First edition, July 2023
ISBN: 978-988-74162-5-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70783/notyetended
Page: 208
Price: HKD98
Content
Recommendations
Preface
Prologue
Repetition
Section 1: Literary Form
How Do You Tell an Engaging Story?
Why Are There Always Three Little Pigs?
The Resistance Fighters of Division and Collaboration
Section 2: The Language of Literature
The Never-Ending Protagonist
Advertising Copy and the “Guan Gong Disaster”
The Metaphor of Insects
The (Pseudo-) Art of Language
Atmospheric Imagery and the Final Chapter of Leslie Cheung
The Sentence Style of Qian Zhongshu
Section 3: The Value of Literature
Literature and Skill Development
The Meaning of Literary Emotions
Poetry Born of Emotion, Expressing Loyalty
The Desire of Icebergs
Truth Beneath the Surface
Section 4: Literature and Ethics
The Two Kinds of Literary Justice
Law in Fictional Worlds
Politics in Literature
For the Sake of Others
Sin and Punishment
The Paradox of Good and Evil
Section 5: The Minds of Writers and Readers
Polarities
The Magic Mirror of Social Media
Inner Struggles and the Motive to Write
Faces
The Dread of Public Opinion
Section 6: Literary Imagery
“Lamenting Spring” and “Mourning Autumn”
Anti-Japanese War Dramas, Genres, and Literary Paradigms
Gong Yoo and “Paradigm Shifts”
Dr. Jones in Foreign Lands
Section 7: Creativity and Psychology
Huniu, Xiaofuzi, and the Unconscious
The Shadow of Batman
Yu Dafu’s “Creativity”
Writing and Mental Illness
Section 8: Literature and the Body
Perspectives on Reading the Body
The Meaning of Pain
The Body’s Position
On Cancer
Section 9: Literature and Life
Bai Juyi’s Retired Life
Literature and Food
Nobita’s Wishful Thinking
The Necessity of Fetishism
Home
Section 10: Literary Criticism
Being a Literary Scholar
The “Gossip” of Literary Criticism
Is It Possible to Read Closely Following the Author’s Intent?
The Meaning of a Work, Reading, and Psychological Distance
The Essence of Literary Terms
Section 11: Conclusion
The Definition of Literature
Developing Literary Appreciation Skills
About the authors
Wong Chi Hung holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) and a PhD and a Diploma in Education from the University of Hong Kong. He is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University. His research interests include literary criticism, modern and contemporary Chinese literature, Du Fu studies, and classical Chinese biography. He has received multiple research grants and is the author of Fictional Space and Taiwan Urban Literature , along with numerous academic papers. He co-edited Chinese Humanities Research in the Digital Era. His papers have been published in academic journals worldwide, including Journal of Du Fu Studies, Journal of Chinese Literature, Chinese Studies, Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Ming Studies, Monumenta Serica.
Recommendations (In the order of name strokes)
As a seasoned public relations consultant, I deeply understand the importance of language and communication. It is an honour to write a recommendation preface for my friend Professor Wong Chi Hung’s work, Not Yet Ended: A Collection of Short Essays on Literature and Culture.
With profound literary expertise and unique insights, Professor Wong vividly and accessibly explains the charm and value of literature. This book is a treasure trove of stories, covering everything from classic literature to popular culture, including wuxia novels, comics, and films. It delves into the diversity, language, values, and ethics of literature in an engaging and straightforward way. The book presents a rich and colourful literary world, guiding readers into the mysteries of literature and inspiring the joy of appreciation and creation.
Effective communication is the key to building successful relationships, and this book exemplifies it perfectly. Through relatable examples and witty language, Professor Wong successfully connects with his audience. For young readers eager to explore the world of literature, this book serves as an excellent guide.
In an era of exploding digital technology, mastery of written language becomes the key for the next generation to thrive. In the field of public relations, literary skills are crucial—not only to use them effectively but also to use them well. One highly effective way to achieve this is by reading Professor Wong’s book, which is bound to deliver twice the results with half the effort.
I sincerely hope this book inspires more readers to experience the joy and revelations of literature. I wholeheartedly recommend this outstanding work!
──Lee Yin-yee, Public Relations Director, MEMO PLUS PR
Professor Wong Chi Hung’s collection of essays on literature and culture spans a broad spectrum, from classic literature to popular culture, including wuxia novels, comics, and films. Using diverse topics and relatable examples, the book explores the concepts of literary appreciation and creation in an engaging, accessible, and thought-provoking manner, enriched by the author’s sharp insights and profound reflections. It is truly a rare gem for those seeking an introduction to literature.
This book opens the door to literature for young people, allowing them to experience the beauty and joy of literature. It encourages them to read, appreciate, and even embark on literary creation. As a literary creator and a former teacher of Chinese literature, I am delighted to recommend this excellent book to young readers!
──Chan Hung, Founder of Principal Chan Free Tutorial World
Writing short essays is no easy task: the prose must flow smoothly, of course, but within the constraints of brevity, the writing must be concise and powerful. At the same time, it should be rich in content, engaging, and ideally appeal to both casual and serious readers alike. Professor Wong’s collection of short essays excels in these aspects. Covering a wide range of topics from literature to the arts, spanning both Eastern and Western traditions, ancient and modern, his writing is refreshingly clear and fluid, never difficult to read. The scope of his discussions is vast, encompassing both the classics and popular culture—keeping pace with the times—even including video games. Truly, “appealing to both the refined and the popular” is the most fitting description.
In an age where almost anyone can write online, where “emotive” writing—sometimes bordering on abuse—is everywhere, Professor Wong’s collection is a rare stream of clarity. It is not only a refreshing read for people like me but is also highly suitable for young students, helping them expand their knowledge, improve their writing, and even serve as a springboard for conversation and entertainment.
As a teacher, I strongly recommend Professor Wong’s work to young learners, especially secondary school students.
──Lau Chi-yung, Senior Teacher of Chinese Literature
I sincerely recommend Not Yet Ended: A Collection of Short Essays on Literature and Culture to both literature enthusiasts and beginners, as this book allows readers to experience the joy that words can bring!
──Kwan Hon-cheung, Principal of Ying Wa Girls’ School
Praises and Reviews
As a university professor teaching Chinese studies, Wong Chi Hung hopes his students can absorb more texts, especially classic works, during their journey of learning language and literature, thereby opening up greater possibilities in life.
Looking back at Not Yet Ended, one can imagine Wong Chi Hung as a comic character, delivering serious literary theories with a straight face. Doesn’t this interplay between the serious and the accessible also spark an interest in bringing literature “into the home”?
Not Yet Ended is an exceptionally captivating collection of essays on literature and culture. Using the metaphor of “theatre” for life, it leads readers through the dramatic lives of various artists while prompting reflection on the drama of our own times.