Wei An (1960-1999), is the pseudonym of Ma Jianguo, born January 1960 in Beixiaoying Village, Changping, Beijing. In 1978, he was admitted to the Philosophy Department of Renmin University of China’s first branch. After graduation, he taught at the Beijing Changping Vocational Education School. In 1982, he published his first poem “Qiu fen” (Autumn Equinox) in Chou Xiaoya. In 1988, he began to write a series of prose entitled “Dadi shang de shiqing” (Things on Earth), which became a representative work of New Generation Prose. In 1998, to write the "Twenty- Four Solar Terms of 1998," Wang chose a location in the farmland near his residence, and proceeded to observe, photograph, and record on the spot. In 1999, he wrote his last essay, "Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Grain Rain," while ill. He died on May 19 at the age of thirty-nine from liver cancer. In accordance with his final wishes, his relatives and friends scattered his ashes in the wheat fields, woods, and rivers of his hometown, Beixiaoying Village. 

苇岸（1960-1999），原名马建国，一九六〇年一月生于北京昌平北小营村。一九七八年考人中国人民大学一分校哲学系，毕业后任教于北京昌平职业教育学校。一九八二年在《丑小鸭》发表第一首诗歌《秋分》，一九八八年开始写作系列散文《大地上的事情》，成为"新生代散文"的代表性作品。一九九八年，为写作《一九九八 廿四节气》，选择居所附近农田一处固定地点，实地观察、拍摄、记录，进行廿四节气的写作。一九九九年在病中写出最后一则《廿四节气·谷雨》，五月十九日因肝癌医治无效谢世，享年三十九岁。按照苇岸遗愿，亲友将他的骨灰撒在故乡北小营村的麦田、树林和河水中。