Biography of Hu Shi

Author: Li Ao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: Li Ao said that this Biography of Hu Shi, should not be solely a biography of Hu Shi himself; it is a biography of the era, it is a biography of the era with Hu Shi as one of its main protagonists. Therefore, it is likely that many readers of this biography will feel surprised and astonished. From the main text, it might seem literary; from the footnotes, it might seem historical; from the interstices, it might seem all-pervading and shocking to the world. As someone who has some knowledge of methodological training and historical training, and as someone who has once breathed the air of the new era, I now volunteer to undertake this major work. The author's purpose is not only to "paint" the "portrait" of Hu Shi but also to paint the portrait of this era, to depict the grand stage of this era, to depict its comedy and tragedy, to depict the main and supporting characters in the play, to depict the stage settings, to depict the myriad figures behind the scenes, and also to depict the countless historical eyes in front of the stage. This book is divided into chapters such as About the Biography of Hu Shi, Prologue, The (Poor County Magistrate), The (Poor Widow), Half a Taiwanese, The Twisted Meat Era, Striving to Be a Hu Camel, Follow Me, The Competitive Weekly, The Young Poet, Never Forget the Alliance Under the City Walls, From Visiting Brothels to Going to Beijing, etc. The Biography of Hu Shi is not a poeticized book and is quite readable, but it also has a certain distance from the taste of the masses. Its significance may lie more in methodology. In About the Biography of Hu Shi, the author has a sentence that is very interesting: "Over the past ten years, I have read all the works related to Hu Shi and found that they are basically of two types: one is close to a diatribe, and the other is excessive praise. The common flaw of both is that they cannot use strict methods to engage with and interpret historical materials. As soon as the banner is unfurled, when Hu Shi appears on stage, the cries of condemnation and praise rise one after another. On one hand, Hu Shi is cursed to the heavens and earth; on the other hand, he is praised to the heavens and the earth. The result is that the emotional factors of both sides are satisfied, but what is being manipulated is not the true Hu Shi!" Li Ao wrote this in 1964, over 30 years ago, and it still feels very relevant to read today. It can be considered a very apt remark. Li Ao said that this Biography of Hu Shi, should not be solely a biography of Hu Shi himself; it is a biography of the era, it is a biography of the era with Hu Shi as one of its main protagonists. Therefore, it is likely that many readers of this biography will feel surprised and astonished, from the main text, it might seem literary, from the footnotes, it might seem historical, from the interstices, it might seem all-pervading and shocking to the world.