Chapter 17 <postscript>

Floating Life in Troubled Times of Outstanding People Chen Shun-chen The chapters included in this book were published in the magazine Will (January 1990︱May 1991, February 1991 once closed) published by Chuo Kononsha. back. Human beings are the eternal theme of literature and art, and I have been able to continuously explore human beings in my works.I have written many historical novels, and the people who push the times or those driven by the times keep appearing. In the process of writing, I feel as if I have been with them for a long time. The word jiewu in the title of the book was formulated in accordance with the editor's suggestion, which means that among all kinds of people, people who seem to be particularly outstanding.There are many such characters, and I have selected the ones I think are suitable from the history of China.If you ask me what benchmarks I use, I can only answer that it's all about personal preference.

The reason why these outstanding figures lived an extraordinary life is, after all, the result of the times.When I was writing, I suddenly stopped writing and thought: If this hero in troubled times was born in a peaceful era, what kind of life would he lead?I think he should still be a very interesting person, but his story will not be recorded in the literature, so it will not be passed on to us! The so-called outstanding person is a fateful person who happens to be born in an age that is unfortunate for him.It's often said to learn from the greats of history, but frankly, I'd rather not have to emulate them.

I hope that readers will also think about whether the sixteen outstanding people who appear here have other ways of life when reading this book.Because the author is writing with this idea in mind. September 1991