Snow in August

by Gao Xingjian, Gilbert C.F. Fong (Translator)

From Gao Xingjian, a winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Literature, comes a "major drama about life.

Snow in August blends Eastern and Western cultures. In form, there are elements of Shakespearean and Greek tragedy, but in spirit, it embodies a uniquely Eastern sensibility."―Gao Xingjian

Snow in August is based on the life of Huineng (AD 633-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in Tang Dynasty China. Packed with the myriad sights and sounds of both the Eastern and Western theatrical traditions, the play exudes wonder and mysticism. The many koan cases and the story of Huineng's enlightenment afford the audience fascinating vignettes of Gao's vision of life and existence ¢w an awareness of the Void and the need for a personal peace with oneself.

Genres: Plays, China, Chinese Literature, Fiction, Nobel Prize

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Gao Xingjian is a Chinese-born novelist, playwright, critic, and painter. An émigré to France since 1987, Gao was granted French citizenship in 1997. The recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is also a noted translator (particularly of Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco), screenwriter, stage director, and a celebrated painter.

Reviews

[Anup Joshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A drama about life, about the path to salvation, journey towards Buddhahood.

The world is crooked place and even the so called Monks and great great persons are guided by lust for power and money. On the other hand an illiterate layman Huineng unravels the mysteries of life and moves in a voyage of enlightenment. Set in 7th century, the drama is full of life. We can get unique eastern taste in it. I loved it.

[Jaga]

I strongly recommend pairing the book with the video of the entire play (available on the popular video sharing website). For me it was not only an extremely enriching experience but also a little confusing one. As a person not familiar with Chinese theater productions I found the difference in register between the text and the actual show puzzling and intriguing at the same time.

[Calvin Kwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

自不求真外覓佛，去尋總是大痴人

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first Chinese-themed play I've read, this was definitely a good one. Though the last act didn't make much sense from my perspective, the first two were interesting and enjoyable.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Chinese original. A pretty cool modern adaptation of the platform sutra. I'll see how my professor interpret it and see how I can apply the methods to my studies of Prakritti and Ananda stories.

[Frank Ashe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An attempt to blend Beijing Opera, European theatre, martial arts, philosophy, ...

I would have loved to see the Taipei performance.