The Cowshed: Memories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution

by Ji Xianlin, Translated by Chenxin Jiang, and with an Introduction by Zha Jianying
The Cowshed: Memories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Biography and Memoir
Buy online
Bookshop
Format • £16.14
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 6140
  • Added: 2025-11-03
  • Updated: 2025-11-05
  • ISBN: 9781681376578
  • Publisher: New York Review of Books
  • Published: 2022-01-11
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Cowshed is Ji Xianlin's gripping account of his imprisonment and persecution during China's Cultural Revolution. As a professor of Eastern languages, Ji endured humiliation, destruction of his possessions, and brutal 'struggle sessions' at the hands of his own colleagues. Forced to build and live in a makeshift prison called the cowshed, Ji's memoir offers sharp irony, empathy, and profound insights into this dark period of Chinese history. /n/nPublished in 1998, The Cowshed became a bestseller in China, yet its subject remains a delicate topic. Despite its popularity, the book is one of the few testimonies of its kind, providing a valuable contribution to understanding the Cultural Revolution. The English edition, translated by Chenxin Jiang, is a welcome addition to the limited body of work on this sensitive subject.

Reviews
Financial Times · 2016-04-29
valuable 4.25

The memoir is noted for its forthright and self-critical perspective, making it a rare and valuable work. It vividly brings home the savagery of the Cultural Revolution.

The Financial Times highlights the memoir's unique position as one of the few self-critical works from the Cultural Revolution era available in China. They praise its forthrightness and the vivid portrayal of the savagery experienced during that time. The book is seen as an essential read for those interested in the historical and personal impact of the Cultural Revolution, offering a rare glimpse into the horrors of that period.

Quick quotes

    The Cowshed remains one of the only forthright and self-critical works of its kind ever sold openly on the mainland.

    Ji Xianlin's memoir vividly brings home the savagery of the ten years between 1966-1976.

    A monumental memoir is one of the few surviving recordings of the horrors of that time.

New York Review of Books · Zha Jianying · 2016-01-26
harrowing 4.50

The memoir offers a harrowing account of imprisonment during the Cultural Revolution and a critical perspective on Maoist ideology. It stands out as a rare and important work of self-criticism from that era.

Zha Jianying provides a poignant introduction to Ji Xianlin's memoir, highlighting its significance as a candid and critical account of the Cultural Revolution. They emphasize the book's unique contribution to understanding the period, noting its rarity and the courage it takes to publish such a work in China. The memoir is not just a personal story but a vital piece of historical documentation that challenges the official narrative.

Quick quotes

    The book has sold well and stayed in print. It makes an important contribution to our understanding of the Cultural Revolution.

    It is one of the few surviving recordings of the horrors of that time.

    The Cowshed remains one of the only forthright and self-critical works of its kind ever sold openly on the mainland.

Goodreads · 2016-01-12
compelling 4.00

The book is praised for its harsh criticism of the Cultural Revolution, seen as a service to China. It is a compelling and important read for understanding the period.

This memoir is highly regarded for its unflinching critique of the Cultural Revolution, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the atrocities committed during that time. Readers appreciate its historical significance and the bravery of the author in sharing such a personal and harrowing account. The book is seen as a crucial piece of literature for anyone wanting to understand the true impact of Maoist ideology on China.

Quick quotes

    The harsh criticism in this book is itself deemed a service to China.

    It's worth remembering that Xi Jinping was also similarly persecuted.

    A harrowing account of a scholar's imprisonment during China's Cultural Revolution.

Appears in Lists