Six Records of a Floating Life

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses suicide, alcohol addiction, sexual violence, and rape.

“Unfortunately I never completed my studies, so my writing is not very skillful. But here my purpose is merely to record true feelings and actual events. Criticism of my writing will be like the shining of a bright light into a dirty mirror.”

Shen Fu preemptively undermines any criticism of his work by excusing himself in the opening paragraphs of the book with a humble acknowledgement of his deficits. He outlines the purpose of his text bluntly and uses a simile to clearly illustrate the futility of any attempt to critique his writing style.

“She held my hands without saying a word. Our souls became smoke and mist. I thought I heard something, but it was as if my body had ceased to exist.”

Shen Fu uses figurative language to describe the depth of emotion he felt upon reuniting with Chen Yun, which is reinforced by the description of their wordlessness and sudden separation from reality. The metaphor of their “souls becom[ing] smoke and mist” creates a strong impression of the transcendent nature of their joining. The metaphor also signals the romantic, even sexual, nature of their reunion because a man and woman becoming “smoke/mist” and “rain” together is a euphemism for sex in some classical Chinese texts.

“Yün’s habits and tastes were the same as mine. She understood what my eyes said, and the language of my brows.”

Shen Fu illustrates the closeness between him and his wife; not only do they have much in common, but they are able to understand each other without speaking. This quote also hints at Chen Yun’s subservient position in the marriage, since the onus to accommodate her husband’s wishes and discern his thoughts is placed on her.