Wei Wei
Encyclopedia
Wei Wei (January 16, 1920 – August 24, 2008), originally known as Hong Jie , was a poet
, a prose writer
, a literary report writer, a journalist
, a vice-editor-in-chief and the editor
of various newspaper
s in China
and a propagandist
. His works are noted for their themes of patriotism
, communism
, and nationalism
. Apart from using the name Wei Wei, he once used the pen name Hong Yangshu (紅陽樹) in some of his publications. He changed his name from Hong Jie to Wei Wei in 1937 when he had started a new page of his life --- a political one.
, Henan
, and received a rudimentary primary education
. He showed early interest in calligraphy
and literature
, but was unable to receive much education after elementary school
, when both of his parents died. He was largely self-taught and was greatly influenced by the radical Chinese literature
of the 1920s and 30s, including works by authors like Lu Xun
and Mao Dun
.
Wei Wei joined the Eighth Route Army
at the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War
in 1937 and was educated to be a propagandist
and journalist
. After joining the Chinese Communist Party
in 1938, he rose quickly through party ranks. He became known for reporting from the front line
s, which continued throughout the Korean War
and the Vietnam War
. He also became known for composing a series of Communist-themed
novel
s, short stories
, and opera
s.
Wei died on August 24, 2008 in Beijing
.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, a prose writer
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
, a literary report writer, a journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, a vice-editor-in-chief and the editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of various newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and a propagandist
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. His works are noted for their themes of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, and nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. Apart from using the name Wei Wei, he once used the pen name Hong Yangshu (紅陽樹) in some of his publications. He changed his name from Hong Jie to Wei Wei in 1937 when he had started a new page of his life --- a political one.
Biography
Wei Wei was born into a poor family in ZhengzhouZhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
, and received a rudimentary primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
. He showed early interest in calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, but was unable to receive much education after elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, when both of his parents died. He was largely self-taught and was greatly influenced by the radical 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...
of the 1920s and 30s, including works by authors like Lu Xun
Lu Xun
Lu Xun or Lu Hsün , was the pen name of Zhou Shuren , one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century. Considered by many to be the leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in baihua as well as classical Chinese...
and Mao Dun
Mao Dun
Mao Dun was the pen name of Shen Dehong , a 20th century Chinese novelist, cultural critic, and journalist. He was also the Minister of Culture of China from 1949 to 1965. He is currently renowned as one of the best realist novelists in the history of modern China...
.
Wei Wei joined the Eighth Route Army
Eighth Route Army
The Eighth Route Army was the larger of the two major Chinese communist forces that formed a unit of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China which fought the Japanese from 1937 to 1945. In contrast to most of the National Revolutionary Army, it was controlled by the Communist...
at the outbreak of 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...
in 1937 and was educated to be a propagandist
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
and journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. After joining the Chinese Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in 1938, he rose quickly through party ranks. He became known for reporting from the front line
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
s, which continued throughout the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He also became known for composing a series of Communist-themed
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s, short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s.
Wei died on August 24, 2008 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...
.
Poetry
- (蛔蛔，你喊起他們吧) Huihui, You Wake Them Up!
- (好夫妻歌) The Good Couple Song
- (黎明的寄張家口) Evening of ZhangjiakouZhangjiakouZhangjiakou, also known also by several other names, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hebei province of North China, adjacent to Beijing to the southeast. Its administrative area has a population of 4.35 million, and covers...
- (開上前線) Go to Frontier
- (塞北晚歌)(1945) The Northern Boundary Evening Song
- (三合川)(1945) Sanhechuan
- (好兄弟歌) The Good Brothers Song
- (秋千歌辭) The Autumn Song
- (英雄的防綫) A Hero's Bottom Line
- (兩年)(1951) Two Years
- (黎明的風景) Dawn View
- (不斷集)(1963) Never Ending Collection
Novels
- 《東方》 In the East (1978)
- 《地球的紅飄帶》 The Earth's Red Flying Ribbon (1987)
- 《火鳳凰》 Fire Phoenix (1997)
- 《我們唾棄那種中國人》 We Despise those Kinds of Chinese (1999)
- 《我的朋友:短篇小說集》 My Friends (1956)
Novellas
- 《老煙筒》 The Old Chimney (1954)
- 《魏巍散文集》 Wei Wei Novella Collection (1982)
- 《魏巍散文選》 Wei Wei Novella Collection (Selected) (1991)
Short Stories
- 《長空怒風》 Angry Winds of the Sky (published with Bai Ai 白艾/ in 1952).
- 《志願軍叔叔和朝鮮姑娘》 Volunteer Soldiers and Korean Girls (1952)
Opera
- 《打擊侵略者》 Conquer the Invaders (with Song Zhidi 宋之的 and Ding YiDing YiDing Yi , style name Zhengli , a native of Pei , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history....
丁毅in 1952)
Anthologies
- 《誰是最可愛的人》, Who are the Most Beloved People? (1951)
- 《幸福花為勇士而開》 The Flowers Are Opened for the Warriors (1956)
- 《壯士行集》 Journal of the Strong People (1980)
- 《魏巍雜文集》 Collection Book (1985)
Essays
- 《雁宿涯戰鬥小景》 Fighting in the Yansu Cliff (1939)
- 《黃土岭戰鬥日記》 Wangtuling Fighting Journal (1939)
- 《依依惜別的心情》 We Really Missed It (1949)
- 《故士和祖國》 The Earth and My Country
- 《自豪吧祖國》 Be Proud, My Country
- 《年輕人, 讓你的青春更美麗》 Young People Let Your Youth be more Beautiful (1951)
- 《在漢江南岸的日日夜夜》 The Days and Nights of the Southern Shores of Han RiverHan River (Korea)The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
(1951) - 《春天漫笔》 Spring Time (1954)
- 《夏日三題》 The Summer Three Titles (1954)
- 《祝福走向生活的人們》 Blessings Goes to the People (1954)
- 《路標》 The Road Sign (1954)
- 《在歡樂的鼓聲中前進》 Moving forward in the Happy Sounds of the Drum
- 《在洪流中》 In Quick Water
- 《懷念小川》 Missing Xiaochuan
- 《新的長征》 The New Long MarchLong MarchThe Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
Biographies
- 《鄧中夏傳》 Deng Zhongxia Biography (with Qian Xiaohui 錢小惠 in 1980)
- 《青年彭德懷》 The Youth, Peng Deng Quai (with Yeng Ruiguang 楊瑞廣主編, in 1995)
Literary Reports
- 《燕嘎子》 (1944)
- 《平原雷火》 Firings on the Plain (1945)
- 《攻克獨流鎮》 (1945)
- 《前進吧祖國》 Move forward, My Country (1952)
- 《擠垮它》(1952)
- 《女將軍》 The Female General (1958)
- 《晉察冀詩抄》 Chen Zhen Yi Poetry (1959)
- 《魏巍文論集》(1984)
Further reading
- 《魏巍專集》廣西師範學院中文系編(1979)
- 《魏巍評傳》楊柄, 田怡, 方東著 (2000)
- 《中華散文珍藏本》〈魏巍卷〉(2000)
- 《魏巍文集》(魏巍主編2000)