High Shi Qi Paintings Biography

Author: Gao Zhiqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-01
Features: What I can do is limited, but what I want to do is infinite. From the days of my life to the last breath, I shall strive to extend the finite toward the infinite. — Gao Shiqi
Gao Shiqi is one of the most respected Chinese people in modern times and a true hero universally revered by all humanity. — Preface by the Author
Gao Shiqi (1905–1988), originally named Gao Shizhen, was a native of Fuzhou, a biologist, chemist, and renowned science popularizer. During his youth, deeply influenced by the spirit of the May Fourth Movement—"Democracy and Science"—and driven by the ideal of "saving the nation through science," he went to the United States for advanced studies. In 1928, while pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago's Medical School, he tragically contracted encephalitis during an experiment, leaving him with a lifelong disability. Yet, with astonishing perseverance, he completed his medical doctorate and joined the American Chemical Society and the American Public Health Association. After returning to China, Gao Shiqi worked at Nanjing Central Hospital. He despised the corruption between the hospital and the corrupt officials of the Guomindang regime. He changed his name to "Gao Shiqi," solemnly declaring, "Without the person radical, I will not be an official; without the gold radical, I will not seek money," and resigned, moving to Shanghai. Inspired by the new literary form "scientific sketches," he began science popularization, finding a way to dedicate science to the masses.
In 1937, Gao Shiqi, alone and facing numerous hardships, joined the revolutionary base in Yan'an. In September 1949, he attended the session of the, marking the beginning of a new life. From 1954 onwards, he was elected as a national representative in every session. In 1979, he was appointed as a member of the China Literature and Art Committee and a councilor of the China Writers' Association. In 1978, he, along with other science popularization figures, initiated the preparation for the establishment of the China Association for Science and Technology Popularization. This proposal quickly gained attention and support from central leaders and was officially established in 1979. In 1980, he was elected as a member, consultant of the China Association for Science and Technology, and honorary chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology Popularization.
From the age of 23 to 83, Gao Shiqi wrote millions of words over 60 years of disability. He said, "I am willing to become a ripple in the ocean of knowledge, a wave, a breeze, and together with everyone, raise the sails of science, sail forward with all speed!" He not only spoke like this but also acted accordingly. After 1949, he wrote approximately 750,000 words of science sketches and popular science essays, composed over 2,800 lines of science poetry, and authored 18 books. His major works include: The Secret of the Little People's Country, The Origin of Life, Combating Infectious Diseases, Our Mother Soil, On Glasses, The Story of Steelmaking, Collected Works of Gao Shiqi's Scientific Sketches, and Selected Works of Gao Shiqi's Science Popularization.
On January 20, 1955, Fuzhou was bombed by aircraft from Taiwan, causing a massive fire. On May 30, 1955, Gao Shiqi was dispatched by the National People's Congress to Fuzhou for an inspection. During his 12 days in Fuzhou, he extensively listened to opinions from all sectors and strata of the city's populace. Based on his findings, he submitted a comprehensive report on his inspection work, focusing on grain distribution, education and health, disaster relief, and urban construction, titled Comprehensive Report on the Inspection of Fuzhou. His deep affection for his hometown was evident in every word.
In 1935, Gao Shiqi wrote a science sketch titled The Food, Shelter, and Habits of Bacteria, which was published in the bimonthly Reading Life. From this time until August 1937, when he left Shanghai, it can be said that this was the most productive period in his career as a science sketch writer. With a somewhat stiff and trembling hand, he wrote nearly 100 science sketches. Although he wrote many more science sketches and poems afterward, I believe his most brilliant works were created during this period.
In April 1936, Gao Shiqi's science sketch collection Our Anti-Japanese Heroes (co-authored with others) was published by Reading Life. In June 1936, his science sketch collection The Great Restaurant of Bacteria was published by Popular Culture. In early 1937, his fourth science sketch collection War and Epidemic Prevention (later renamed Capturing the Little Demon and The World of Microorganisms) was published by Reading Life. From 1936, he serialized The Autobiography of a Bacterium in the Primary and Secondary Schools magazine, publishing one chapter per issue until he completed the last chapter in August 1937. These articles were later compiled into the book The Autobiography of a Bacterium, published by Kaiming Publishing House in January 1941.
At the invitation of Tao Xingzhi, Gao Shiqi wrote The Grand View of Microorganisms. At the invitation of the Zhongshan Cultural and Educational Quarterly, he translated The History of Bacteriology Development. He also accepted invitations from Kaiming Middle School Student Handbook, Mass Science, Shanghai Daily, New Youth (bimonthly), Reading (bimonthly), Women's Handbook, Luo Bao, and Yan Lin to write numerous science sketches.
A striking feature of Gao Shiqi's works is their combativeness. He wrote to fight. His works were like sharp daggers, piercing the Guomindang reactionaries. In his second science sketch, Our Anti-Japanese Heroes, he expressed his profound political passion, praising leukocytes: "Leukocytes, these are the heroes we admire in our fight against the enemy. These little heroes do not know anything about the doctrine of non-resistance. When the enemy invades, they always stand firmly in the front line. The moment they encounter a strange object, they attack, surround, and devour it without hesitation. Truly admirable." "Leukocytes especially hate bacteria. This fierce thing, once it invades the human body, mobilizes immediately, no matter how far, to encircle and eliminate it." Without any annotations, readers could easily grasp the author's intention in writing this article.
Gao Shiqi's science sketches are vivid, lively, vivid, and fresh in language. For example, in his science sketch Listening to the Girl Who Plays the Flower Drum Talk About Mosquitoes, he skillfully used the tune of the Fengyang Flower Drum to describe the harm of mosquitoes, portraying the suffering of the working people in the old society, creating strong artistic.
A photo and text book, The Illustrated Biography of Gao Shiqi, highlights his growth environment and background, embodying an "original ecological" writing style, striving to restore the true essence of Mr. Gao Shiqi.