Youren Yu
Encyclopedia
Yu Youren; (April 11, 1879 – November 10, 1964) was an educator, scholar, calligrapher, and politician in the Republic of China
.
, Shaanxi Province north of Xian, China
. His father was Xin Sangong and his mother surnamed Zhao. In 1880, while his father was on business in Sichuan
, his mother died and so his aunt brought him to live with her in the village of Yangfu where they lived together for 9 years. After a short stint as a goat herder, he went to a private school at the Mawang Temple in Yangfu and studied under Mr. Diwu. In 1889, he returned with his aunt to Sanyuan and entered the school of Mao Banxiang, under whom he began to study archaic and modern forms of poetry. On occasion, he also had the chance to read a few poems by such Southern Song patriots as Wen Tianxing and Xie Fangde. At the age of 17, he came in first place on entrance examinations and went on to study at the schools like the Dao Academy in Sanyuan, Weijing Academy in Jingyang, and Guanzhong Academy. In 1898, he married Miss Gao Zhonglin.
, imploring him to take the opportunity of assassinating the Empress Dowager Cixi
who was fleeing to Xi'an
during the Boxer Rebellion
, which would provide the impetus for true reform of the government, but Yu was stopped from sending it by his classmate Wang Linsheng. Yu wrote many poems venting anger and frustration with the government. These were collected into a book entitled Poetry Drafts from the Hall of Tears and Mockery. His friend Meng Yimin helped Yu to have it published.
In 1903, he passed the civil service examinations to become a Provincial Graduate (juren), but due to the satiric contents of Poetry Drafts from the Hall of Tears and Mockery, the government branded him a revolutionary. Wanted by the Qing government, Yu fled and sought refuge in Shanghai
. With help from Ma Xiangbo
, he was able to enter Zhendan Public School (later Aurora University
) under the assumed named of Liu Xueyu. Along with Ye Zhongyu and others, Yu established the Fudan Public School (later Fudan University
) in memory of his days at Zhendan (using the same character dan and adding the Fu for reviving China). Ma Xiangbo was elected as school president.
In 1906, Yu fled to Japan and while there was able to meet Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Tongmenghui
through the introduction of Kang Xinfu and he thereafter officially joined the Tongmenghui. After returning to China in 1907, Yu started a newspaper called The National Herald (also known as the Shenzhou Daily), but its facilities were destroyed in a fire less than a year later. In the following year, Yu's father died. In March 1909, Yu established another newspaper called The People's Voice (Minzhu Bao) in Shanghai, strongly condemning the culture of corruption in government. Attracting the attention of officials, he was arrested and sent to jail, and the newspaper was closed in June 1909. Released from jail and still undaunted, he established another newspaper called The People's Sigh (Minxu Bao) but less than two months later it was shut down and he was thrown in jail again. In 1910, he established yet another newspaper called the Min Li Pai, the offices of which virtually served as the contact headquarters for the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance.
In 1912, Yu Youren is nominated to and accepts the post of Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communication, but less than three months later is forces the resign along with Dr. Sun Yatsen's government. After Yuan Shikai took control of the government and the Min Li Bao is shut down, Yu was placed on the wanted list by Yuan Shikai
's government. In 1918, Yu returns to his native Shaanxi Province, where he becomes commander of forces responsible for revolutionary activities in the northwest. In 1922, his post as commander is disbanded and he returns to Shanhai where he established Shanghai University along with Ye Chucang and assumes the post as president of the school. In 1925, he is ordered to organize along with Wu Zhihui, Wang Jingwei, and others the political affairs committee to handle party affairs. In 1927, Yu becomes a standing member of the Nationalist government committee. In ther following year, he is also appointed as the Director of Audit. In 1932, Yu assumed the post of Director of the Control Yuan.
In 1936, Yu collects examples of Chinese characters and compiles them into the "Thousand character essay in Standard Cursive Script" as the book Standard Cursive Script, the first edition of which is published. Yu also donated his entire collection of more than three hundred rubbings from Stele to the Xian Forest of Stele Museum
.
In 1941, along with other members of the art and cultural world, Yu takes the initiative to name the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year as Poets' Day. Yu also meets the modern painting master Zhang Daqian at Dunhuang
in Northwest China and comes to realize the amount of destruction that has occurred to the art and cultural heritage at Dunhuang. After returning to the government headquarters in Chongqing, he immediately proposes that a Dunhuang Art Academy be established.
Following the loss of Mainland China to Communist forces, Yu follows the Chinese Nationalist
government to Taiwan
in 1949 at the age of 71.
(Chinese Nationalist Party) committee, Yu became a member of its review committee. In 1956, Yu received the first National Literary Award presented by the Ministry of Education. In arranging his diaries in 1962, Yu wrote poetry revealing pain at not being able to return to his hometown in China. Yu died from pneumonia in 1964 at Taipei Veteran's Hospital and in 1967 his remains were interred at Datun Mountain in Taipei
's Yangmingshan National Park. In 1966 a large bronze statue of Yu Youren was placed at the summit of Yushan
. The statue remained there until 1996 when it was cut down and thrown into a ravine by Taiwan independence
activists.
, his writing style is very popular and his works are considered very desirable by collectors. Yu completed numerous inkworks, stone carvings, and title plaques while living in Taipei
including works for the National Museum of History
, Din Tai Fung
, Xingtiang Temple, and the Shilin Official Residence
.
The Pamir Snow Gnawing Association (帕米爾齧雪同志會) established a cultural park known as the Pamir Cultural Park in a quiet and secluded mountainous area of Taipei City called Wuzhishan. The park commemorates about 300 KMT soldiers who hid out in the Pamir Mountains
after the Chinese Civil War and were able to eventually escape to Taiwan
. It had engraved at the site examples of the titles and poetry of Yu Youren into stones and rocky outcroppings, forming a beautiful outdoor garden of his calligraphy. Among the hills of the area is an open space where the association erected a monument. Each of the characters for the title calligraphed by Yu Youren was engraved into individual slabs of marble and then inlaid into a concrete pillar.
Image:行天宮3.jpg|Title Plaque by Yu Youren at Xingtian Temple in Taipei
Image:Yu_Youren_Tomb_Taipei.jpg|Chinese guardian lions
at the entrance to the Tomb of Yu Youren in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei
Image:Yu_Youren_Tomb_Taipei_Huabiao.jpg|Shendaozhu
at the tomb of Yu Youren in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei
Image:Yu0825.jpg|Statue of Yu Youren at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
in Taipei
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
Early life
He was born on April 11, 1879 in the town of Hedaogang in Sanyuan CountySanyuan County
Sanyuan County is a county of Xianyang, Shaanxi, China.-Transportation:*China National Highway 210*China National Highway 211...
, Shaanxi Province north of Xian, 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...
. His father was Xin Sangong and his mother surnamed Zhao. In 1880, while his father was on business in Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, his mother died and so his aunt brought him to live with her in the village of Yangfu where they lived together for 9 years. After a short stint as a goat herder, he went to a private school at the Mawang Temple in Yangfu and studied under Mr. Diwu. In 1889, he returned with his aunt to Sanyuan and entered the school of Mao Banxiang, under whom he began to study archaic and modern forms of poetry. On occasion, he also had the chance to read a few poems by such Southern Song patriots as Wen Tianxing and Xie Fangde. At the age of 17, he came in first place on entrance examinations and went on to study at the schools like the Dao Academy in Sanyuan, Weijing Academy in Jingyang, and Guanzhong Academy. In 1898, he married Miss Gao Zhonglin.
Revolutionary beginnings
In 1900, at the age of 22, Yu Youren wrote a letter for the Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi, Cen ChunxuanCen Chunxuan
Cen Chunxuan was the governor of Shanxi , governor-general of Sichuan , Liangguang , Yungui , and Tibet and chairman of the Governing Committee of the Military Government of China .-Biography:He was under the protection of General Lu Rongting's Old...
, imploring him to take the opportunity of assassinating the Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
who was fleeing to Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, which would provide the impetus for true reform of the government, but Yu was stopped from sending it by his classmate Wang Linsheng. Yu wrote many poems venting anger and frustration with the government. These were collected into a book entitled Poetry Drafts from the Hall of Tears and Mockery. His friend Meng Yimin helped Yu to have it published.
In 1903, he passed the civil service examinations to become a Provincial Graduate (juren), but due to the satiric contents of Poetry Drafts from the Hall of Tears and Mockery, the government branded him a revolutionary. Wanted by the Qing government, Yu fled and sought refuge in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. With help from Ma Xiangbo
Ma Xiangbo
Ma Xiangbo , also known under his style Ma Liang , was a Chinese scholar and educator during the late Qing dynasty and the Republic of China.-Biography:Ma was born in Dantu, Jiangsu province to a prominent Catholic family...
, he was able to enter Zhendan Public School (later Aurora University
Aurora University
Aurora University is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. Additional university locations include the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and the Woodstock Center in Woodstock, Illinois...
) under the assumed named of Liu Xueyu. Along with Ye Zhongyu and others, Yu established the Fudan Public School (later Fudan University
Fudan University
Fudan University , located in Shanghai, is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, and is a member of the C9 League. Its institutional predecessor was founded in 1905, shortly before the end of China's imperial Qing dynasty...
) in memory of his days at Zhendan (using the same character dan and adding the Fu for reviving China). Ma Xiangbo was elected as school president.
In 1906, Yu fled to Japan and while there was able to meet Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Tongmenghui
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
through the introduction of Kang Xinfu and he thereafter officially joined the Tongmenghui. After returning to China in 1907, Yu started a newspaper called The National Herald (also known as the Shenzhou Daily), but its facilities were destroyed in a fire less than a year later. In the following year, Yu's father died. In March 1909, Yu established another newspaper called The People's Voice (Minzhu Bao) in Shanghai, strongly condemning the culture of corruption in government. Attracting the attention of officials, he was arrested and sent to jail, and the newspaper was closed in June 1909. Released from jail and still undaunted, he established another newspaper called The People's Sigh (Minxu Bao) but less than two months later it was shut down and he was thrown in jail again. In 1910, he established yet another newspaper called the Min Li Pai, the offices of which virtually served as the contact headquarters for the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance.
Post Xinhai Revolution
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
's government. In 1918, Yu returns to his native Shaanxi Province, where he becomes commander of forces responsible for revolutionary activities in the northwest. In 1922, his post as commander is disbanded and he returns to Shanhai where he established Shanghai University along with Ye Chucang and assumes the post as president of the school. In 1925, he is ordered to organize along with Wu Zhihui, Wang Jingwei, and others the political affairs committee to handle party affairs. In 1927, Yu becomes a standing member of the Nationalist government committee. In ther following year, he is also appointed as the Director of Audit. In 1932, Yu assumed the post of Director of the Control Yuan.
In 1936, Yu collects examples of Chinese characters and compiles them into the "Thousand character essay in Standard Cursive Script" as the book Standard Cursive Script, the first edition of which is published. Yu also donated his entire collection of more than three hundred rubbings from Stele to the Xian Forest of Stele Museum
Stele Forest
The Stele Forest, or Xi'an Beilin Museum , is a museum for steles and stone sculptures which is located in Xi'an, China. Founded in 1944, it was the principal museum for Shaanxi province on the site of what was formerly an 11th century Confucius Temple...
.
In 1941, along with other members of the art and cultural world, Yu takes the initiative to name the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year as Poets' Day. Yu also meets the modern painting master Zhang Daqian at Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
in Northwest China and comes to realize the amount of destruction that has occurred to the art and cultural heritage at Dunhuang. After returning to the government headquarters in Chongqing, he immediately proposes that a Dunhuang Art Academy be established.
Following the loss of Mainland China to Communist forces, Yu follows the Chinese Nationalist
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
government to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1949 at the age of 71.
In Taiwan
In 1950, after the establishment of the KuomintangKuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(Chinese Nationalist Party) committee, Yu became a member of its review committee. In 1956, Yu received the first National Literary Award presented by the Ministry of Education. In arranging his diaries in 1962, Yu wrote poetry revealing pain at not being able to return to his hometown in China. Yu died from pneumonia in 1964 at Taipei Veteran's Hospital and in 1967 his remains were interred at Datun Mountain in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
's Yangmingshan National Park. In 1966 a large bronze statue of Yu Youren was placed at the summit of Yushan
Yushan
-Mainland China:* Yushan County , a county of Shangrao City in the northeast of Jiangxi* Yushan District , Ma'anshan, AnhuiTowns* Yushan, Jinxiang County , in Jinxiang County, ShandongWritten as "玉山镇":* Yushan, Jian'ou, in Jian'ou City, Fujian...
. The statue remained there until 1996 when it was cut down and thrown into a ravine by Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
activists.
Calligraphy
Yu was a scholar of calligraphy and is regarded as one China's modern masters. His works in cursive and semi-cursive manner are intensely animated. He is perhaps best known for his calligraphy and published related works on the topic. Because his later years were spent in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, his writing style is very popular and his works are considered very desirable by collectors. Yu completed numerous inkworks, stone carvings, and title plaques while living in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
including works for the National Museum of History
National Museum of History
The National Museum of History is located in the Nanhai Academy in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan and exhibits Chinese historical items...
, Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is an award-winning restaurant originating in Taiwan, specialising in xiaolongbao . Outside its native Taiwan, Din Tai Fung also has its restaurant chains in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, Canada, and...
, Xingtiang Temple, and the Shilin Official Residence
Shilin Official Residence
The Shilin Official Residence is the former residence of late Republic of China President Chiang Kai-Shek located on Zhongshan North Road in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan.-History:...
.
The Pamir Snow Gnawing Association (帕米爾齧雪同志會) established a cultural park known as the Pamir Cultural Park in a quiet and secluded mountainous area of Taipei City called Wuzhishan. The park commemorates about 300 KMT soldiers who hid out in the Pamir Mountains
Pamir Mountains
The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable...
after the Chinese Civil War and were able to eventually escape to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It had engraved at the site examples of the titles and poetry of Yu Youren into stones and rocky outcroppings, forming a beautiful outdoor garden of his calligraphy. Among the hills of the area is an open space where the association erected a monument. Each of the characters for the title calligraphed by Yu Youren was engraved into individual slabs of marble and then inlaid into a concrete pillar.
Gallery
Image:行天宮3.jpg|Title Plaque by Yu Youren at Xingtian Temple in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
Image:Yu_Youren_Tomb_Taipei.jpg|Chinese guardian lions
Chinese guardian lions
Chinese guardian lions, known as Shishi lions or Imperial guardian lion, and often incorrectly called "Foo Dogs" in the West, are a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China...
at the entrance to the Tomb of Yu Youren in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
Image:Yu_Youren_Tomb_Taipei_Huabiao.jpg|Shendaozhu
Huabiao
Huabiao is a type of ceremonial columns used in traditional Chinese architecture. Huabiaos are traditionally erected in front of palaces and tombs. The prominence of their placement have made them one of the emblems of traditional Chinese culture. When placed outside palaces, they can also be...
at the tomb of Yu Youren in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
Image:Yu0825.jpg|Statue of Yu Youren at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
The National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located in Taipei, Republic of China . It is a memorial to the Republic of China's National Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and was completed on 1972. The total building area covers in an open space of...
in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
See also
- Lawrence Lau - Yu Youren's Grandson.
- Pu RuPu RuPu Ru also known as Pu Hsin-Yu was a member of the Qing Dynasty ruling Aisin Gioro family and grandson the Daoguang Emperor. The last emperor of China, Pu Yi, was his cousin...
- Chang Dai-chien
- Chatham Square, ManhattanChatham Square, ManhattanChatham Square is a major intersection in Manhattan's Chinatown. The square lies at the confluence of seven streets: Bowery, East Broadway, St. James Place, Mott Street, Oliver Street, Worth Street and Park Row. The postal ZIP Code is 10038.-History:...