This is an abridged version of the first trilogy The Torrents : Family, Spring, Autumn, masterpiece of Ba Jin, one of the great writers of modern Chinese literature. The trilogy recounts the decline of a large feudal family following the May Foutrh Movement of 1919.
Using the conflicts among three generations of The Gao family as the main threads, Family exposes the darkness and decadence of the feudal society. The author relentlessly castigates the hypocritical and malicious feudal apologists such as the Venerable Masters Gao and Feng, eulogizes Gao Juehui and others of the awakwning young generation who rebel against feudalism, and espresses deep sympathy for those who became victims of feudal moral ethics.