Shen Congwen
Encyclopedia
Shen Congwen was the pen name of a Miao
Chinese
writer from the May Fourth Movement
. He was known for combining the vernacular style of writing with classical Chinese writing techniques, and his writing also reflects a strong influence from western literature. He was born as Shen Yuehuan (沈岳煥) on 1902 December 28 in Fenghuang County
(凤凰县) in Hunan Province. He died on 1988 May 10 in Beijing
. He is described as "a novelist, short-story writer, lyricist and passionate champion of literary and intellectual independence.... Although almost entirely unknown to Western readers, Mr. Shen's oeuvre, much of it embued with the folklore and customs of his native western Hunan, has been compared to that of William Faulkner."
Shen was initially trained for a career in the military. As a soldier in the Chinese army, he observed border fighting and the lives of the Miao
tribesmen, which later became the subject matter of his early short fiction stories. He began writing fiction in 1922 and wrote almost continually until 1949. He taught Chinese literature
at various universities during the Second Sino-Japanese War
out of monetary necessity.
Originally an apolitical writer, he suffered a breakdown after the Communist Revolution
in 1949 and the subsequent restrictions on writing. He recovered by 1955, but he never again published another work of fiction. He was given a staffing post at the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City in Beijing, about which he wrote a non-fiction work in 1957. Afterwards, he also published a famous study of Chinese costume and dress.
Changhe (长河, “The Long River”), written during the Sino-Japanese War
, is generally considered the best of his long fiction.
Chundeng Ji (春灯集, “Lamp of Spring”) and Heifeng Ji (黑凤集, “Black Phoenix”) are his most important collections of short stories.
"The Border City", also known as "The Frontier City" (《边城》拼音：Bian Cheng) is considered his masterwork，a beautifully written pastoral ode to love. This novel has been translated into nine different languages. It is now possible to visit his former residence in Fenghuang County.
Miao people
The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
Chinese
Zhonghua minzu
Zhonghua minzu , usually translated as Chinese ethnic groups or Chinese nationality, refers to the modern notion of a Chinese nationality transcending ethnic divisions, with a central identity for China as a whole...
writer from the May Fourth Movement
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was 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 the Shandong Problem...
. He was known for combining the vernacular style of writing with classical Chinese writing techniques, and his writing also reflects a strong influence from western literature. He was born as Shen Yuehuan (沈岳煥) on 1902 December 28 in Fenghuang County
Fenghuang County
Fenghuang County is located in Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China. It has an exceptionally well-preserved ancient town that harbors unique ethnic languages, customs, arts as well as many distinctive architectural remains of Ming and Qing styles. The town is placed in a...
(凤凰县) in Hunan Province. He died on 1988 May 10 in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He is described as "a novelist, short-story writer, lyricist and passionate champion of literary and intellectual independence.... Although almost entirely unknown to Western readers, Mr. Shen's oeuvre, much of it embued with the folklore and customs of his native western Hunan, has been compared to that of William Faulkner."
Shen was initially trained for a career in the military. As a soldier in the Chinese army, he observed border fighting and the lives of the Miao
Hmong people
The Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China...
tribesmen, which later became the subject matter of his early short fiction stories. He began writing fiction in 1922 and wrote almost continually until 1949. He taught Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
at various universities during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
out of monetary necessity.
Originally an apolitical writer, he suffered a breakdown after the Communist Revolution
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949 and the subsequent restrictions on writing. He recovered by 1955, but he never again published another work of fiction. He was given a staffing post at the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City in Beijing, about which he wrote a non-fiction work in 1957. Afterwards, he also published a famous study of Chinese costume and dress.
Changhe (长河, “The Long River”), written during the Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, is generally considered the best of his long fiction.
Chundeng Ji (春灯集, “Lamp of Spring”) and Heifeng Ji (黑凤集, “Black Phoenix”) are his most important collections of short stories.
"The Border City", also known as "The Frontier City" (《边城》拼音：Bian Cheng) is considered his masterwork，a beautifully written pastoral ode to love. This novel has been translated into nine different languages. It is now possible to visit his former residence in Fenghuang County.
External links
- Encyclopædia Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, article- "Shen Ts'ung-wen"