关于延安文艺座谈会,近年来许多同志写了回忆录,有的同志还作了大文章。一九七九年我回到北京,重返文坛,有些同志要我也写点回忆文字,讲一讲当年的经过和自己的体验。我向来认为作家的本份是创作,而不必参与无意义的论争,更不要参加打派仗。一件作品的好坏由读者评定,一个作家的生平,历史真假,也不怕后人去研究鉴定,作家自己不必吹嘘或申辩。这样,不需要千百年,几十年之后,许多历史事实都可以因时间的推移而得到澄清,是非功过也能得到公正判断。难道近年来的现实生活还不曾证明这个道理么?但年青人,还有研究者,对这段历史感到兴趣,或面访,或投函问我一些问题,希望我解答。今年又正是延安文艺座谈会召开的四十周年,毛主席在座谈会上的讲话又将引起新的讨论,编辑同志也一再索稿。趁这个机会,我把自己当年经历过的、了解到的、认识到的一个侧面,一鳞半爪,客观地、忠实地记录下来,作为个人的回顾、学习,也供研究这段历史的同志们参考。 On the Yan’an Literature and Art Symposium, many comrades wrote memoirs in recent years, and some comrades made big articles. In 1979, I returned to Beijing and returned to the literary arena. Some comrades asked me to write some reminiscences about the passage of time and my own experience. I always think that the writer’s part is creation, not to participate in meaningless controversy, let alone participate in fighting. The quality of a work is assessed by the readers. The life and history of a writer are not afraid of future generations to study and appraise. The writer does not have to boast or defame himself. In this way, it will take thousands of years. After a few decades, many historical facts can be clarified through time. Is it not proven in real life in recent years? But young people and researchers, who are interested in this history, or interviewed, or sent letters to ask me some questions, I hope I can answer them. This year is exactly the fortieth anniversary of the Yan’an Literature and Arts Symposium, and Chairman Mao’s speech at the symposium will arouse new discussions. Editors and comrades have also repeatedly asked for contributions. Taking this opportunity, I have recorded, one by one, the objective and faithful records of what I experienced, learned, and recognized one aspect of my past as a personal review and study, as well as a reference for comrades who study this history.