Lu Xun
Published on Nov 18, 2015
Culture Presentation
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Lu xun
China's Greatest Modern Writer
Lu xun - basic facts
- Born on September 25, 1881
- Died on October 19, 1936
- Pen name - Zhou Shuren
- Novelist, editor, translator, literary critic, essayist, & poet
- Held a high title in the League of Left-Wing Writers
League of Left-Wing Writers - was an organization of writers formed in Shanghai, China, on March 2, 1930, at the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party and the influence of the celebrated author Lu Xun
Early life of Zhou Zhang shou
He grew up in a very well-educated family. His father's early death in his adolescence made him want to study medicine. LuXun distrusted traditional Chinese medicine and went to Japan at the Sendai Medical Academy in Sendai, Japan.
Education
Sendai Medical Academy
First foreign student and became very close to lecturer Fujino Genkurō (藤野厳九郎).
Moving to Tokyo in spring 1906, he came under the influence of scholar and philologist Zhang Taiyan and with his brother Zuoren, also on scholarship, published a translation of some East European and Russian Slavic short stories. He spent the next three years in Tokyo writing a series of essays in classical Chinese on the history of science, Chinese and comparative literature, European literature and intellectual history, Chinese society, reform and religion, as well as translating the literature of various countries into Chinese.
Moving to Tokyo in spring 1906, he came under the influence of scholar and philologist Zhang Taiyan and with his brother Zuoren, also on scholarship, published a translation of some East European and Russian Slavic short stories. He spent the next three years in Tokyo writing a series of essays in classical Chinese on the history of science, Chinese and comparative literature, European literature and intellectual history, Chinese society, reform and religion, as well as translating the literature of various countries into Chinese.
Sympathetic Communist?
A Leftist and Liberal Communist Sympathizer
His writing had substantial influence after May 4 Movement in 1916 - He never really joined the communist party - and was a leftist liberal - which was like many of the May Fourth Movement leaders
May Fourth Movement - an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially allowing Japan to receive territories in Shandong which had been surrendered by Germany after the Siege of Tsingtao. These demonstrations sparked national protests and marked the upsurge of Chinese nationalism, a shift towards political mobilization and away from cultural activities, and a move towards a populist base rather than intellectual elites. Many political and social leaders of the next decades emerged at this time.
May Fourth Movement - an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially allowing Japan to receive territories in Shandong which had been surrendered by Germany after the Siege of Tsingtao. These demonstrations sparked national protests and marked the upsurge of Chinese nationalism, a shift towards political mobilization and away from cultural activities, and a move towards a populist base rather than intellectual elites. Many political and social leaders of the next decades emerged at this time.
He began teaching in secondary schools. The republic allowed for him to have a post in the Ministry of Education. This job gave him time to write and take on part time teaching jobs in Nanjing.
Last Days and Death
- His lungs weakened from tuberculosis - same as his father
- Chronic smoker - got so sick - became 83 lbs
- After his death he was made into a Communist party member
- for his efforts at the May Fourth Movement
Style and Thought
- versatile-writing both traditional Chinese and 19th C European
- conveyed "sympathetic engagement" and "ironic detachment"
- criticizes the follies of his character
- while sympathizing with the character as well
- regarded as the most successful and influential writer - by MaoZeDong
Random Facts
as usual
There are more Chinese internet users in China than there are in America - it is more integral in their society than in ours (if you can believe it)
If internet access is now seen as a fundamental, legal, human right…when are they going to make it free?
Bomb and Knife attack
at a railway station in Western XinJiang region
A bomb and knife attack at a railway station in China's western Xinjiang region has killed three and injured 79 others, officials and state media say.
The attackers used explosives and knives at Urumqi's south railway station on Wednesday, officials said.
The local government described it as a "violent terrorist attack" but said the situation was now under control.
China's President Xi Jinping, who has just visited the region, has promised to step up "anti-terrorism" efforts.
President Xi urged "'decisive actions' against violent terrorist attacks" following the incident, Xinhua news agency said.
Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled.
The attackers used explosives and knives at Urumqi's south railway station on Wednesday, officials said.
The local government described it as a "violent terrorist attack" but said the situation was now under control.
China's President Xi Jinping, who has just visited the region, has promised to step up "anti-terrorism" efforts.
President Xi urged "'decisive actions' against violent terrorist attacks" following the incident, Xinhua news agency said.
Verifying reports from the region is difficult because the flow of information out of Xinjiang is tightly controlled.
AzalEa Blossoms
TOURIST VIEW IN CHINA :)
