Yesterday, an editor at blogger Han Han’s magazine, Party, announced that the publication had folded and the editorial team had been disbanded. In a Sina Microblog post, Managing Editor Ma Yimu announced*:
“Han Han brought wine for the successful release of the second issue, but now it will be sealed up for a few years.
Today is not April Fool’s Day, it’s Mao’s Birthday. And we are announcing that the team of the Party has been dismissed.
Long years lie ahead, my clothes are thin**
Classmates***, so long for now, I love you all.@hanhan @zhouyunzhe @Patycailei @youthxiaofan @now @huma @jinyiyuling @hehe
I’m not willing to believe this is true. I strongly believe we’ll be back. We’ll be back.
As of the time of this CDT post, Ma’s post had received 7443 comments and was reposted 23243 times.
The Wall Street Journal’s China Real Time blog reports:
Other Sina Weibo users responded to the announcement with dismay. “You must return!!!” wrote one commenter by the name Qing Cong Ke_Opi. “Stand in silent tribute!” wrote another, by the name Zhang Wuji sigh.
The first issue of Party, which included 128 pages of essays, poetry and commentary from outside contributors and excerpts from one of Han Han’s novels, “1988 I Want to Talk with the World,” was released in July after being delayed over regulatory complications with officials, who strictly oversee all publishing in China.
At the time, Mr. Han—known for his outspoken writing on social reform —said on his blog that he had hoped to provide readers with “a good art publication with more free and wild writing, but it seems the idea is too good to be true,” China Radio International reported.
Here are some examples of other netizens’ reactions to this message, translated by CDT:
* 东坡篱: I just learned this. I can only sigh.
刚知道，只剩叹息。
* 赵涌: You are the Best!
你們最棒！
* 丶Saint_吴玮桐: (reposting) It does no matter. Like many readers, we will wait for you as long as it takes.
转发此微博:没什么关系 像众多读者一样的心理 多久都等。
* 致命水仙: Why? Why? Why?
为什么？为什么？为什么？
* @蔡康永: As a contributor to the Party, I am happy I participated. Please no apologies. We just write, it is much easier than you. When opportunity comes, we will collaborate again.
做為幫「獨唱團」雜誌寫稿的人，我很高興有參加哦。請不要道歉啦，我們只要管寫東西，比你們輕鬆太多了。有機會、再合力做東西吧
* lixiaotx: Why do all authentic and beautiful things have no way to survive?
为什么独特美丽的都无法存活
* 闻燕起舞: In the end still dismissed. When can we have freedom of speech!
终于还是解散了，什么时候才能言论自由啊！
* 雪珂Ciel: I feel so sad, but you must feel worse. Han Han is a strong man, I support him no matter what, as always!
心痛啊心痛。但是一定不及你们难过的。韩寒是硬汉，无论如何都支持，一如既往！
See also a report from Global Times. Read more about Han Han via CDT.
* Section in bold translated by CDT, the rest by China Real Time blog.
UPDATE: Han Han also wrote a blog post entitled “We will meet again” about the closure of his magazine, with his signature humor. The last paragraph is translated by CDT:
Thanks to all the readers, thanks to all editors and staff. Our regret is that as a literary magazine which should have been given plenty of time for preparation, the first issue was not good enough, but unfortunately everyone has seen it. We have made sufficient improvements in the second issue , but unfortunately no one can see it now.
What I would like to reminder readers is: Party failed, but those successfully on the market – Party small edition, Party #2, Party #3, Party Tomorrow and so on – are all pirated copies, so please be careful when purchasing.
Finally, I wish all friends a Happy New Year, since this event is not about death, nor about farewell. A flower dies when winter comes, and it will blossom again in the Spring. This is life, no need for pity here. We will meet again.
感谢所有的读者，感谢所有的主创人员和工作人员，我们的遗憾是作为一本准备时间足够被充分的文艺读物，第一期做的不够好，不幸让大家给看见了，第二期有了长足的进步，不幸大家都没能看见。需要提醒读者的是,虽然独唱团失败了，但市面上在成功销售的小开本独唱团，独唱团第二期，独唱团第三期，合唱团各期，明天独唱团等均是盗版，请谨慎购买。最后希望朋友们新年快乐，因为此事既无关死亡，也无关永别，而冬至花败，春暖花开，都是生活常态，所以并无需惋惜。后会有期。
