The Hidden Dragon of Chang'an - A fantasy journey between ancient and modern times

Novel "The Hidden Dragon of Chang'an". (Photo: 1980 Novel)

“Underground Dragons of Chang’an” is about a fantasy world where thousands of dragons live underground in the capital city of Chang’an. They have been tamed into “living subways”, transporting people through a complex system of tunnels.

Every year, the royal court held a ceremony at Hukou waterfall (Yellow River), inviting carps that had just passed through the Dragon Gate to become dragons to serve the royal court. However, behind that “honor” were days of fatigue and confinement, no different from being turned into labor tools.

An old dragon bitterly exclaimed: “It took me more than ten years to pass Dragon Gate, but now it is just like a subway train.”

Sharing about the novel, Ma Ba Dung said that the story was conceived from the crowded subway trains that the author had experienced. Instead of just telling an ancient legend, Ma Ba Dung turned the dragon - a symbol that is noble in East Asian culture, into a trivial one, just a means of public transportation, serving people.

This is a sharp metaphor for people in modern society. Individuals who once tried their best to change their lives, full of aspirations for freedom, are now "chained" by the social machine, turned into serving tools.

Although containing many reflections on life, "The Hidden Dragon of Chang'an" is not heavy on politics or philosophy but rich in adventure and extraordinary qualities.

The work is considered one of the typical examples of silk-punk, a genre that blends fantasy, history and science fiction, with a style inspired by steampunk but with a strong East Asian identity.

In Ma Ba Dung's world, readers encounter a strange blend of Tang Dynasty Chang'an and industrial atmosphere, such as giant dragons making subway trains, or legendary characters like Na Tra, Evil Dragon, Gods...

It is this intersection that creates a unique, unmistakable "fairy tale mixed with industry" atmosphere.

Ma Boyong is one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of Chinese literature, famous for his creative and engaging “historical fantasy novels”. He is famous for his abundant writing power and diverse writing style. His works span across genres, from literary criticism to novels. His works are considered to continue the flow of historical literary creation from the May Fourth period, while constantly exploring the genre of “historical fantasy novels”.

He has won prestigious literary awards such as the Galaxy Prize for Chinese science fiction (2006), the People's Literature Award (2010), the Zhu Ziqing Essay Award, and the Mao Dun Literature Award for young authors.

Many of his works have been adapted into movies and television series, affirming their enduring appeal, such as: "Truong An 12 Canh Gio"; "The Strange Case of Buddha's Head" (Famous Antiques)...

On Douban, "Chang'an Underground Dragon" scored 7.0 points with more than 6,000 reviews, a number enough to show the appeal of the work.

Many readers praised this as a “breakthrough idea, youthful adventurous spirit”, suitable for many different ages.

In particular, the work is being adapted into an animated film, approved by the National Film Administration of China. The film tells the story of a carp named Diem Dong, who transforms into a dragon and befriends a boy named Na Tra, together pursuing the dream of freedom.

HA CHI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/rong-ngam-truong-an-hanh-trinh-gia-tuong-giua-co-phong-va-hien-dai-post909714.html