Lin Yutang: A Biography

Author: Wang Zhaosheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Life's ups and downs, rises and falls, joys and sorrows, agile mind, profound and extensive spiritual richness, a true intellectual. He does not dwell on petty wisdom or private intelligence. In the 20th-century Chinese literary world, Lin Yutang was an extraordinary, highly individualistic, and globally influential figure. It has been said that most foreigners in the world only know two great Chinese literati: one is the Confucius who is worthy of heaven and earth, and the other is the Lin Yutang who is knowledgeable in both Eastern and Western cultures. In addition to leaving us invaluable cultural and literary heritage, Lin Yutang had an undeniable and indispensable life that was authentic, free, joyful, and happy. The author of this book records Lin Yutang's contradictory and legendary life with a heartfelt touch, presenting to us a real and vivid Lin Yutang. Lin Yutang was born into a rural Christian family with a farming background, a true countryman. He was an outstanding student at the Christian school, Saint John's University in Shanghai. He once taught at the English Department of Tsinghua University, studied abroad at Harvard University in the United States and Leipzig University in Germany, and obtained master's degrees in Comparative Literature and doctorates in Philology. He taught at prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and Xiamen University. He fought alongside Lu Xun and others as an outstanding freedom fighter. He founded magazines like The Analects with themes of "humor," "leisure," and "spiritual essence," which created significant tremors in Shanghai, China, and even in the cultural world worldwide. He lived in the United States and other places for over thirty years but never forgot his hometown and motherland, and later returned to his roots. He wrote renowned works such as My Country and My People, The Art of Living, A Dream of Red Mansions, The Red Peony, The Legend of Su Jiangpo, and The Island. Among these, A Dream of Red Mansions was even nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He introduced Western culture to the East and Chinese culture to the West, becoming a bridge for cultural exchange and communication between the East and West. He served as the president of Nanyang University in Singapore and the vice president of the International P.E.N. Club, and so on.
In the 20th-century Chinese literary world, Lin Yutang was an extraordinary, highly individualistic, and globally influential figure. It has been said that most foreigners in the world only know two great Chinese literati: one is the Confucius who is worthy of heaven and earth, and the other is the Lin Yutang who is knowledgeable in both Eastern and Western cultures. In addition to leaving us invaluable cultural and literary heritage, Lin Yutang had an undeniable and indispensable life that was authentic, free, joyful, and happy. The author of this book records Lin Yutang's contradictory and legendary life with a heartfelt touch, presenting to us a real and vivid Lin Yutang. Lin Yutang was born into a rural Christian family with a farming background, a true countryman. He was an outstanding student at the Christian school, Saint John's University in Shanghai. He once taught at the English Department of Tsinghua University, studied abroad at Harvard University in the United States and Leipzig University in Germany, and obtained master's degrees in Comparative Literature and doctorates in Philology. He taught at prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and Xiamen University. He fought alongside Lu Xun and others as an outstanding freedom fighter. He founded magazines like The Analects with themes of "humor," "leisure," and "spiritual essence," which created significant tremors in Shanghai, China, and even in the cultural world worldwide. He lived in the United States and other places for over thirty years but never forgot his hometown and motherland, and later returned to his roots. He wrote renowned works such as My Country and My People, The Art of Living, A Dream of Red Mansions, The Red Peony, The Legend of Su Jiangpo, and The Island. Among these, A Dream of Red Mansions was even nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He introduced Western culture to the East and Chinese culture to the West, becoming a bridge for cultural exchange and communication between the East and West. He served as the president of Nanyang University in Singapore and the vice president of the International P.E.N. Club, and so on.