Yu Guangzhong
Encyclopedia
Yu Guangzhong is a modern Taiwan
ese writer, poet, educator, and critic. He was born in Nanjing
, China
but forced to flee with his family owing to the Japanese Army's invasion during World War II. After returning to Nanjing many years later, he again was forced to flee on account of the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War
. Yu and his family fled to Taiwan
via Hong Kong
in 1950 with the Kuomintang
Government. Yu entered into University of Nanking for English Major in 1947,and then transferred into Xiamen University. He enrolled in National Taiwan University
and was one of the first students to graduate with a degree in foreign languages. He also holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa
. After graduation, he began his career as a university teacher in 1956. He is currently Professor Emeritus at National Sun Yat-sen University
in Kaohsiung
. He has also taught several times in the United States, including at Gettysburg College
.
He has published 17 poetry collections and 12 prose collections. Yu's poetry since the 1970s has focused on the theme of longing for China felt by many Mainland Chinese soldiers and Nationalist Government workers who fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War
.
As a versatile writer, Yu in his works often refers himself as focusing on 4 aspects of literature, namely poetry, prose, translation, and commentary; which he calls 'the 4 dimensions'(四度空間). Amongst the writers using Chinese, Yu Kwangzhong has made himself exceptionally well-received to readers by showing innovative humour in his essays, exhibiting unsurpassing wit in his appreciations, and evincing his profound understanding in humanistic culture in his poetry.
As a former professor at the Chinese language and literature faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yu is internationally acclaimed for his command in traditional Chinese as well as modern literature. On the other hand, besides the English language, for which proficiency he has been appointed professors at the departments of English in Taiwan and the USA, Yu is also an eager and outstanding learner of languages, especially occidental ones. He speaks French, German, Spanish, and Italian, languages which he sometime cite in his Chinese essays when juxtaposing the Chinese and Western cultures. He has also learned Russian, of which, according to his own account in jest, his 'mind of oblivious sift' has only retained several Cyrillic alphabets, no more than a dozen.
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...
ese writer, poet, educator, and critic. He was born in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, 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...
but forced to flee with his family owing to the Japanese Army's invasion during World War II. After returning to Nanjing many years later, he again was forced to flee on account of the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. Yu and his family fled 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...
via Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1950 with the Kuomintang
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. Yu entered into University of Nanking for English Major in 1947,and then transferred into Xiamen University. He enrolled in National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
and was one of the first students to graduate with a degree in foreign languages. He also holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. After graduation, he began his career as a university teacher in 1956. He is currently Professor Emeritus at National Sun Yat-sen University
National Sun Yat-sen University
The National Sun Yat-sen University is a public university located in Kaohsiung, Republic of China . The university is known as NSYSU ....
in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
. He has also taught several times in the United States, including at Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
.
He has published 17 poetry collections and 12 prose collections. Yu's poetry since the 1970s has focused on the theme of longing for China felt by many Mainland Chinese soldiers and Nationalist Government workers who fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
.
As a versatile writer, Yu in his works often refers himself as focusing on 4 aspects of literature, namely poetry, prose, translation, and commentary; which he calls 'the 4 dimensions'(四度空間). Amongst the writers using Chinese, Yu Kwangzhong has made himself exceptionally well-received to readers by showing innovative humour in his essays, exhibiting unsurpassing wit in his appreciations, and evincing his profound understanding in humanistic culture in his poetry.
As a former professor at the Chinese language and literature faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yu is internationally acclaimed for his command in traditional Chinese as well as modern literature. On the other hand, besides the English language, for which proficiency he has been appointed professors at the departments of English in Taiwan and the USA, Yu is also an eager and outstanding learner of languages, especially occidental ones. He speaks French, German, Spanish, and Italian, languages which he sometime cite in his Chinese essays when juxtaposing the Chinese and Western cultures. He has also learned Russian, of which, according to his own account in jest, his 'mind of oblivious sift' has only retained several Cyrillic alphabets, no more than a dozen.