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Yan Lianke's Op-ed (above) appears like a less-than-subtle rejection of the argument put forward by Xi Jinping. In today's climate when XJP is openly calling for a return to the values espoused by Mao Zedong at the infamous Yanan Forum on Literature and Art (art should serve politics), no author lightly publishes opposing ideas.

The phrases cited above end Yan Lianke's article, and were published first in English. Today, they have been published in Chinese (感受黑暗的人).

It is striking to note that today's Chinese text -- arguably now a translation of the English translation -- reads differently than the English. To wit:

习近平主席上周在一次座谈会上与电影人和作家见面。据官方媒体报道，习主席指出：“文艺工作者要想有成就，就必须自觉与人民同呼吸，共命运、心连心，欢乐着人民的欢乐，忧患着人民的忧患，做人民的孺子牛。”

At a symposium last week, President Xi Jinping met with a group of artists, including the Nobel Laureate Mo Yan, and talked about the value of art in China. According to the official China Youth Online, he said, “For art workers to be successful, they must breathe together with the people, share their fate and feel their feelings, rejoice at their joy, grieve at their grief, and serve the people like a willing ox.”

而我相信，只要对真正的艺术怀着虔诚的追求，即使在这黑暗中写作，也能找到微光和温暖，找到爱和善。

But only the pursuit of true art, unencumbered by anyone, can help us find the delicate light, beauty, warmth and love that are hidden in the darkness.

Three major differences are now apparent in this short text. In the Chinese: 1) No names except Xi Jinping's appear (Mo Yan, China Youth Online do not appear), 2) The idea that in his or her search for true art, one "writes in the dark" is now present, and 3) The phrase "unemcumbered by anyone" is not present.

Two questions come to mind: Who made these changes to the text(s)? And what do those changes signify?

Bruce, October 24, 2014, 12:31a.m.