Zhou Zuoren (1885-1967), the brother of writer Lu Xun, was one of the most controversial intellectuals in modern China. Radically at odds with many of his contemporaries, Zhou opposed the May Fourth reformers. His work was banned in both mainland China and Taiwan for many years as a result of his collaboration with the Japanese puppet government during the Sino-Japanese War.

This collection of essays presents an alternative vision of China as a nation, questioning the dichotomy between modernity and tradition and espousing a literary style that values openness and individualism.