Biography of Lu Xun

Author: Cao Juren
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: There are no fewer than a dozen versions of biographies and critical biographies of Mr. Lu Xun in China. Cao Juren's Lu Xun: A Critical Biography can be said to be the most individualistic one. The subject and the author were contemporaries and close literary friends at the time. Therefore, a prominent feature of Cao's Lu Xun: A Critical Biography is that the author's understanding, perception, and commentary on Mr. Lu Xun's thoughts, artistic views, social views, political views, and even personal temperament possess direct and vivid impressions and an in-depth insight that other authors cannot attain. He neither "needed to look up nor down," as the author personally told Lu Xun in autumn 1933: "It's better to portray you as a 'person' rather than a 'god.'" This book was written in Hong Kong in the 1950s. In the specific time and space of that era, the author's thoughts were also "unfettered," as the author himself put it, "I could freely write the Critical Biography of Lu Xun, including my own biography." These unique subjective and objective factors undoubtedly provide us with a valuable model for studying Lu Xun.
One evening in winter 1933, Mr. Lu Xun dined at my home and we talked until late at night. He was good at conversation and suddenly asked me in a series of stories, "Mr. Cao, are you planning to write a biography of me?" He was looking at a stack of books about his works and historical materials on my bookshelf. I said, "I know I am not the right person, but I also have my own ideas. I think it's better to portray you as a 'person' rather than a 'god.'" Lu Xun can be said to be a comet in modern Chinese literary circles. His vision was far-reaching, and his mind was clear—something we cannot match. But he was definitely not a perfect, all-knowing, and all-powerful god. I think it's better to portray you as a "person" rather than a "god."—Cao Juren's Answer to Lu Xun's Question
Cao Juren was a versatile figure in the cultural history of this century, a writer, journalist, and scholar all in one, with a wealth of writings. Some critics have noted: "Among modern Chinese intellectuals, there are few as productive as him, apart from Liang Qichao, Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and Lin Yutang."—Fang Hanqi, Preface to A Study of Cao Juren
Lu Xun: A Critical Biography is Cao Juren's most important and successful work. This book not only earned him respect but also ensured his name would live for at least a hundred years。——Han Shanbi (Hong Kong writer)
In Cao Juren's portrayal, Lu Xun is a serious person, an interesting person, a person of integrity, and someone worthy of respect。——Chen Shuyu (Lu Xun research expert at the Beijing Lu Xun Museum)