金粉世家

by 张恨水

《金粉世家》是张恨水早期新闻生涯积累的生活素材的一次喷发，以一个豪门弃妇为贯穿线索，描写平民女子冷清秋与北洋军阀统治时期的国务总理金铨的小儿子金燕西从恋爱、结婚到婚变、出走的悲剧过程。

823 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2008

Reviews

[Barack Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

581-Golden Powder Family-Zhang Henshui-Novel-1932

Barack
August 10, 2025


"The Golden Age" was first published in 1932. It was first serialized in the Peking newspaper "World Daily." Set in the feudal family of Jin Quan, Prime Minister of the Beiyang warlord cabinet, the novel revolves around the story of Jin Quan's son, Jin Yanxi, and the commoner Leng Qingqiu, from love and marriage to estrangement and divorce. The novel exposes the empty, decadent spiritual world and decadent lives of feudal bureaucrats and their wives, concubines, and children, depicting a vivid history of the rise and fall of the aristocracy. The novel, comprised of 112 chapters, weaves together the life stories of over 20 characters in the Jin family, creating a vibrant and yet harmonious narrative. Its lighthearted and lively narrative, melancholic tone, and profoundly entertaining atmosphere made it a popular reading public upon its publication.

Zhang Henshui, whose original name was Zhang Xinyuan, was born in Qianshan City, Anqing, Anhui Province in 1895 and died in 1967. He is a representative writer of the chapter novel and is revered as a "master of the chapter novel" in modern literary history. Zhang Henshui began publishing his works in 1911. In 1924, he achieved fame with the 900,000-word chapter novel "Spring and Ming Unofficial History." Subsequently, the publication of his novels "The Golden Family" and "Tears and Laughter" brought Zhang Henshui's reputation to a peak. Zhang Henshui's works inherited the chapter novel and pioneered the popular novel, appealing to both the elite and the masses. He innovated the old chapter novel and promoted the integration of modern literature and popular literature.

Table of Contents
Prologue: A genius in Yanshi Shuchun surprised a visitor passing by a wealthy family, recalling the past and shedding tears
Chapter 1: Strolling on the road, the whip dropped and startled Su Nu. Before the steps, he played with Jiao Huan with a stick.
Chapter 2: Moonlit Night Visits to a Lover, Returning to the Eternal Lane for a Beautiful Banquet to Invite Close Friends, Two Rooms in a Secluded Studio
Chapter 3: Sending an envoy to meet the neighbor with clever words and tricks to get the old house of Youxian to ask for a high price
Chapter 4: The house is hollowed out from the east wall. A sudden surprise when someone comes. The local customs are followed and the people express great affection.
The fifth spring dress was raised to provide a brocade box for the family. The singing stage had a small gathering and we rode back together.
Chapter 6: The Beautiful Figure Cannot Be Depicted Behind the Date Flower Curtain Where Does the Clear Song Rise? In Front of the Willow Tower
Chapter 7: Empty Playing Coquettishly, Watching the Mountain Disperse Traveling Companions, So Hiding a Trick and Giving to a Maid to Play with the Young Man
Chapter 8: Uncensored Romance at the Grand Meeting; Peony Spring Clothes: New Ornaments with Pearls
Chapter 9: Inscription on a fan conveys affection, nicknames, and praises elegance; a letter is written to celebrate a birthday and comfort loneliness.
Chapter 140: Welcoming guests in the upper room, talking about the good local customs, Da Ting scolded his son and severely criticized the abundance of feathers
Chapter 150: The proud Hua Jiao disappeared when the powerful knocked on the door at night, and the house was closed. The old alley was empty.
Chapter 16: True or False, the old neighbor spreads the bad news, suspecting it is not true, but searching for the beauty in a scenic spot.
Chapter 107: A Letter of Determination, the Old Home Becomes a Blurred World, Two Shadows Recall the Events of the Past
Chapter 180: I write a short poem to express my love and send it by mail. I intend to express my feelings to my loved ones and analyze their feelings.
Chapter 109: The wealthy family divides up the most pitiful child, who goes to the love field and is uncomfortable with the beauty's madness
Chapter 110: Relying on a heroic woman to sail, she sought a shortcut, abandoning her family and leaving her children to live in seclusion in a famous mountain.
Chapter 111: The donkey encountered a dead end, a fleeting flower bloomed, and the Zen heart was hurt in the late stage of life, tears fell
Chapter 112: The wealth and beauty are gone, the love scene is separated, the horses galloping around, the past is brought up again
Epilogue News seeks elegy The poet laments the life of autumn fan Sends phantom dream Old spring woman

The novel opens with the author, acting as a storyteller, encountering a woman who makes a living selling Spring Festival couplets. Deeply impressed by her exceptional talent, the author becomes deeply intrigued by her background. Later, the author learns some of her background from a friend. This concise opening piques the reader's curiosity about the woman, making them eager to delve into her past. This type of storytelling is common, with "Dream of the Red Chamber" being a prime example, also using an introduction to spark interest . Classical Chinese novels often use a " retelling" opening—the "I" hears the story from a friend, and the narrative unfolds from there. This structure not only enhances the story's authenticity and immersion, convincing the reader that it truly happened, but also allows the author to flexibly switch between third-person narration and an omniscient perspective. In contrast, many online novels today often omit this introduction, directly jumping into the story from the third-person perspective. This shift may be related to the reading habits of contemporary readers, who prefer a fast-paced, straightforward narrative style. Secondly, while writing a novel might seem like something that can be done with just literacy, writing well and captivatingly is a significant challenge. Conception, structure, plot arrangement, and character development all require profound skill. The core of a story is emotion, and the carrier of that emotion is the characters. Characters' emotions are often sparked by events. Without these events, even the most vivid characters struggle to express their emotions naturally. Designing a plot that both propels the story forward and allows the characters' emotions to gradually emerge is a profound art in writing. Once the plot is established and the characters are well-established, the writing must complement it so that the story truly resonates.

The story begins with Jin Yanxi, the seventh son of Prime Minister Jin Quan, out for a horseback ride. He chances upon Leng Qingqiu, a commoner, and falls head over heels for her. Some believe in love at first sight, while others don't. Regardless of one's perspective, almost everyone has experienced that physical sensation of being drawn to someone at first sight. However, few such feelings lead to a successful conclusion; even those that develop into romance or even marriage are more rare. In real life, a wealthy young man's first love for a girl of modest origin is quite likely to succeed. However, a poor young man's first love for a rich girl is likely to be a case of "a toad dreaming of swan flesh." Perhaps this is why the trope of a "common man winning the affections of a rich girl" continues to captivate readers, even after repeated use in online novels. This isn't a phenomenon unique to the online literature era; stories from centuries, even millennia ago, similar plots have also piqued interest. The appeal of a legendary story lies in its often unrealistic nature, creating a sense of unreality yet a yearning for its realization. However, classical novels, often intended to serve as a warning, often end in tragedy, a cautionary tale. This contrasts with the more satisfying happy endings of modern online novels.

When I write novels, I often find that one of the most challenging aspects is portraying the characters' language and actions. Each character has their own personality, and their words must be consistent with their current mood, personality traits, and inner thoughts. This isn't easy. Sometimes I even wonder if someone with multiple personalities could be better at creating diverse characters than an average person. Looking back, when I first read "Dream of the Red Chamber," I had little interest and couldn't get through it. I preferred stories with intense plots and twists like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." I first read "Dream of the Red Chamber" in its entirety as an undergraduate, and back then, I appreciated the subtleties of the characters' dialogue even more than I did as a teenager. Now, when I read novels, I find that what I care most about are the relationships between the characters. Even in the most mundane moments of everyday life, if two characters I like, their interactions are deeply engaging. The same is true in real life—if you're interacting with someone you like, even small talk is enjoyable. Conversely, even the most magnificent scenery or grand occasions lose their charm without someone you like. In fiction, plot twists are certainly important, but now I value the interactions and emotional flow between characters more. The same is true in real life—fancy clothes, beautiful horses, and famous places are certainly interesting, but the most unforgettable thing is the time spent with the ones you love.

The fact that "The Golden Age" has remained popular for nearly a century since its publication is no small feat. For a novel to endure for centuries and remain a classic, it must possess both literary and commercial appeal. Commercial appeal means being able to attract the average reader—often reflected in the plot, which must be engaging and captivating. Literary appeal, on the other hand, is more evident in the description of the setting, the characters' actions, language, expressions, and psychological portrayal. In contrast, many top-ranked online novels today, while possessing captivating plots, often lack in the description of the setting, the characters' actions, and the expressions. This stems from the production model of online novels—often with thousands or even tens of thousands of words published daily, making it difficult to meticulously craft details. At its core, even the popular "cultivation" and "immortal cultivation" novels are essentially a distortion of realism: the strong prevail and the weak are oppressed. To enhance this "excitement," authors often imbue the protagonist with the identity of a destined child, the reincarnation of a powerful figure, the protection of a powerful background, or simply exceptional luck. But in works like "The Golden Age," which are so close to reality, readers can truly feel that in real life, without money, many things are simply impossible. In fact, the core of this story is consistent with the worldview of "the strong are respected" in cool novels, and the sense of coolness comes from the protagonist being a strong person, or a strong person who is weak at first and then becomes strong.

O. Henry wrote a novel called "Fortune and Love." It tells the story of a wealthy merchant's son, depressed because he never had the chance to propose to his beloved. While accompanying the woman on a car ride, he unexpectedly encountered a traffic jam, which turned the journey, supposed to be less than ten minutes, into two hours. He used the time to express his love for her and ultimately succeeded in proposing. The story ends with a twist: someone reports to the merchant's father the cost of the traffic jam. Everyone probably has some hope for seemingly "fate" or "chance." But if you think about it, whether in career or love, many things require human input. "Fate" is just a spark; without the fuel, it's difficult to ignite. If you completely let things happen, you're likely to miss out. Starting in September 2022, I've set myself a small goal: to video chat with a former classmate every week. During these chats, I often feel like it's been years, sometimes even a decade, since I last met in person. Even a simple meeting might never happen if you don't proactively foster it, let alone those deeper, more invested emotional connections. Of all human connections, love is arguably the strongest and requires the most active cultivation. If you simply passively wait, chances are nothing will happen. Looking back, I feel my childhood education overemphasized initiative in career and studies, while neglecting proactive cultivation of interpersonal relationships and emotions. This imbalance results in overexertion in career and studies, while potentially leading to avoidance or passive coping with emotions. Just like a dynasty in history, emphasizing civil over military, or military over civil, always creates structural risks.

A distinct blend of Chinese and Western influences permeates the lives of the powerful and wealthy families depicted in this story. The lifestyle of the Kim family—the father, Prime Minister, holds a powerful position and considerable wealth—is a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Through the perspective of the Kim family's children, we see that their lives are rich with Western imports: convertible cars, electric lights, telephones, phonographs, cameras, and more—along with a wealth of Chinese elements: folding screens, antiques, and traditional furniture. This fusion is reflected not only in their material possessions but also in their spiritual and aesthetic tastes. The Kim family is deeply enamored with Western lifestyles, such as watching movies, taking photos, and using novel Western gadgets. The story takes place nearly a century ago, when the powerful and wealthy were keen to send their children abroad for further studies. The same is true today, but with China's prosperity, the children of ordinary families have the opportunity to study abroad. I wonder if my generation will ever live to see the day when the children of powerful families from other countries enthusiastically send their children to study in China.

[David Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

重读《金粉世家》，总想起老宅门楣上剥落的鎏金漆。那个用真金箔贴成的 "金" 字，在雨水中泛着冷光，像极了金燕西在雨巷里追着清秋马车奔跑的模样。他捧着百合站在泥泞里，花瓣被雨水打得支离破碎，正如他们破碎的婚姻。
书中最刺痛我的，是清秋在佛堂抄写《金刚经》的场景。檀香缭绕中，她一笔一画写着 "应无所住而生其心"，窗外却是金燕西与白秀珠调笑的声音。这个出身寒门的才女，终究在豪门的金丝笼里困成了褪色的蝴蝶。我想起外婆临终前攥着褪色的旗袍，那是她当年作为苏州绣娘最得意的作品，针脚细密如她未曾说出口的心事。
金铨暴毙那夜，合家上下争抢遗产的闹剧，让我想起家族祠堂里那些鎏金供器。小时候总以为它们是凝固的荣华，长大后才明白，那些折射着冷光的金属，不过是人性欲望的照妖镜。就像燕西最后在火车站翻找车票的模样，曾经挥金如土的贵公子，终究连一张回程票都买不起。
合上书页，窗外的梧桐叶正簌簌飘落。原来所有的金粉世家，终究要在时代的洪流里化作尘埃。而我们每个人，都是清秋笔下那盏摇曳的油灯，既要照亮别人的故��，也要温暖自己的归途。或许真正的救赎，不在金粉堆砌的楼阁，而在洗净铅华后，依然能在粗陶碗里看见月光的澄澈。

[吕不理 · Rating 4 out of 5]

原著里金燕西竟然是个没心肝儿的纨绔子弟，可气死我了。
冷清秋虚荣，也终于为自己的虚荣付出了代价。
爱是两个质地相同的灵魂不期而遇，可是他们终究是不同的，悲剧打从初遇就注定了。
小时候看电视剧，一心期待大团圆结局，怎么看都觉得燕西和清秋是天造地设的一对儿。如今再看，却是另一番感触了。

大量描写算账啊，金钱啊让我很头疼。爱可以高贵，但生活的细节却腥膻不堪。不堪，却又不可避免。哎

[Ci · Rating 3 out of 5]

《金粉世家》有连载小说的通病，不由自主就写长了。长得很，却没什么意思，从故事角度并不值得读。
说是纨绔子弟，几兄弟都纨绔，但金燕西是彻底的渣男，所以最后母亲兄弟姐妹都怨他，但他却不觉得自己有什麼问题。

[Jingyuan Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

看电视剧时候是非典，每天下午跟爹妈连看三集。看书时候已经是在本科混学位时候了，周中某天排球课前读一些，读完吹着风去操场假装自己像个活人。