An Introduction of Dalian Fu

Fu is the most distinctive Chinese classical literary form, which has the highest requirements of both talent and learning, and is recognized as the matchless symphony in Chinese classical literature. Neither poet nor prose, it is featured with the essences of Chinese classical literature, including enormous enthusiasm, broad knowledge, perfect structure, wealthy compassion, flowery language and harmonious rhythm. City Fu is the best literary style to fully represent the advanced culture of cities in China. With the description of terrain, history, customs and architecture, the city becomes the essential and leading part in Fu, which is dedicated to glorifying modern achievements, highlighting great undertakings, encouraging people’s compassion and cherishing today’s harmony.

In 2007, Guangming Daily, a Chinese newspaper with the most profound influence, made the past to the present and opened a column named Fu of 100 Chinese Cities, which is updated weekly to fully showcase the attractiveness of the top 100 cities in China that are generally acknowledged characteristic. The city leaders of Dalian invited Mr. Zhang Benyi, a famous scholar, to write a Fu on Dalian. Having been revised for several times, Dalian Fu is composed. It received numerous complimentary reviews soon after the publication. It is said that Dalian Fu is not only the best work summarizing the city’s image, but also a symbol of new-typed City Fu in the new era.

Dalian Fu consists of 3 parts. The first part describes Dalian’s geographical location, terrains and scenic sights that are gifted by the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. The second part is full of passion, sketching the outline of the city’s history. Dalian people’s dauntless fighting spirit during the tragedy and misery in modern history constitutes the most valuable treasure to the nation’s morale. In the third part, the writer uses rich descriptions to recall the great changes after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and after the implementation of reform and opening up in particular. The development prospect is visualized and passion is inspired.

Dalian Fu inherits the principal concept, structure and expression of City Fu formulated in the West Han Dynasty and the East Han Dynasty. Meanwhile, the work keeps the pace with the times, and incubates its own style of shorter length and richer pattern. In both contents and spirits, Dalian Fu stays with the core conception of nature and culture in the city. The word and concept of “sea” appears directly and indirectly throughout the whole writing, which shows the writer’s capability of having a large number of contents well in hand. As for the literary point, Dalian Fu is endowed with a succinct language, graceful descriptions, unconstrained rhythms, deep thoughts and a profound message. It is like a wavy sea making the roaring cheers of justice to inspire the nation.

This book consists of two parts. The first part is Dalian Fu’s  handwriting by the writer, Mr. Zhang Benyi, in Chinese traditional calligraphy of Xing Style. Mr. Zhang Benyi is a famous scholar and calligrapher, member of China Calligrapher Association and Chairman of Dalian Calligrapher Association. The second part of the book is the typesetting printed Dalian Fu, including the pronunciation and explanation of the rarely used words, the writer’s notes on Dalian’s local annals and the comments written by famous scholars Wang Chonglu, Xiao Wenli and Jiang Shoutian. The book is recognized as an artwork of literature, as well as a vivid summery of Dalian’s geography, history and present life. It is believed to become a textbook of patriotism and Dalian’s most beautiful, unique and elegant card.