Selected Prose Works of Wang Tongzhao

Author: Wang Tongzhao Wang Jinquan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-08-01
Features:
1. This set of "Modern Prose Series" is a part of the "Hundred Flowers Prose Collection." It selects renowned and outstanding works of prose writers from 1917 to 1949, organized into individual volumes dedicated to each author.
2. The selected authors are all famous prose writers of that era, and the chosen works are carefully curated to reflect the development of each author's prose writing.
3. Each volume begins with an extensive critical preface exceeding 10,000 words, providing a brief introduction to the author's life and analyzing and evaluating their artistic characteristics, creative development, and influence, in conjunction with the selected prose.
4. The selected works are annotated with their original publication sources and dates where possible; necessary annotations are also provided for particularly challenging sections.
Wang Tongzhao (1897-1957), styled Jian San, once used the pen name Wang Xunru, and his other pen names include Jian Xian, Jian Xian, Jian Xian, Ronglu, Xunzi, Hongmeng, Tixi, Aiqian, and TC. He was a native of Xiangzhou Town, Xiangzhou Village, Shoucheng City, a renowned writer and poet. Born into a landlord family, he lost his father at the age of 7 and was taught by tutors at his mother's insistence. At 13, he entered the county high school, where he began studying modern subjects such as mathematics, history, and geography. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading novels like Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods), Jin Gu Qi Guan (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio), and Liaozhai Zhiyi (Strange Tales of Liaozhai). After graduation, he enrolled in Jinan Yuying Middle School in 1913. In 1916, to commemorate the first anniversary of the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic, he wrote and directed the play Yunnan Uprising, playing the role of Cai E himself. That same year, his short story Yifan (The Stray Hair) was published in The Women's Magazine, marking his first published work. In the summer of 1918, Wang Tongzhao came to Beijing and enrolled in the British Literature Department of China University, where he began reading progressive publications like New Youth and met figures such as Zheng Zhenduo and Geng Jizhi. During the May Fourth Movement, he participated in the patriotic actions of burning Zhaojialou and beating traitors, and actively engaged in the New Culture Movement. In January 1921, he co-founded the Literary Research Association with Zhou Zuoren, Shen Yanbing, Zheng Zhenduo, Qu Shiyi, Jiang Bili, Ye Shaojun, Zhu Xizu, Geng Jizhi, Guo Shaoyu, Sun Fuyuan, and Xu Dishan, serving as a key member throughout its existence. He poured his political enthusiasm for opposing imperialism and feudalism into his works, publishing short stories like Yiyin (Echoes) and poems such as Shengming de Huo Ran Le (The Fire of Life Has Ignited) and Shao Nian de Meng (The Dream of Youth) in the association's Xiaoshuo Yuebao (Monthly Novel Review) and Wenxue Xunkan (Literary Weekly). In 1922, he published poems like Weilai de Yinying (The Shadow of the Future) and Fanjie de Xinhe (The Agitated River of the Heart) in the Poetry magazine founded by the Literary Research Association. That same year, he graduated from China University and published his first full-length novel, Yiyè (A Leaf), in October. In January 1923, he published his second full-length novel, Huanghan (Twilight). In January 1924, he published the short story collection Chunyu de Ye (Night of Spring Rain). His novels were noted for their delicate prose and were well-received by readers, though they did not offer clear solutions to societal problems. Nevertheless, they strongly opposed the old society and old systems, exerting some influence in the early stages of the New Culture Movement. That same year, in August, he became a professor at China University and concurrently served as the head of the publishing department. In January 1925, he published his first full-length poetry collection, Tongxin (Childlike Heart). In July 1926, Wang Tongzhao resigned from Beijing and returned to his hometown due to his mother's illness. In 1927, he moved to Qingdao and taught at Qingdao Railway Middle School and City Middle School. In March 1931, at the invitation of friends, he traveled to Northeast China, which was on the brink of the "September 18th Incident." Witnessing Japanese imperialist aggression, he became deeply concerned and wrote the reportage collection Beizhou de Chun (Spring in Northeast China), depicting the suffering of the people under enemy occupation. In 1933, his masterpiece, one of the most famous novels of the New Culture Movement, Shanyu (Mountain Rain), was published, followed by the poetry collection Zhe Shi Dai (This Era). Shanyu was well-received by readers and critics alike but also drew the attention of the Guomindang reactionaries. The Central Committee of the Guomindang's Propaganda Department warned him for "containing class struggle consciousness" and ordered the prohibition of its distribution, listing Wang Tongzhao as a "dangerous figure." In 1934, Wang Tongzhao went abroad to Europe. He first visited London, where he studied and copied materials at the British Museum, then went to Cambridge University to research literature, and later traveled to Africa, visiting Egypt before returning to Italy. Later, his travel writings were compiled into Ou You San Ji (Notes on a European Journey) and published in 1937. In the spring of 1935, Wang Tongzhao returned to China after his European tour, and in the autumn of 1936, he moved to Shanghai to take over as the editor-in-chief of the major literary journal Wenxue (Literature). That same year, in October, as the situation in North China worsened, Wang Tongzhao, along with Ba Jin, Mao Dun, Guo Moruo, and Lu Xun, signed a declaration calling for solidarity against aggression and freedom of speech. In December, he joined the Shanghai Cultural Salvation Society. That year, he published the full-length novel Chunhua (Spring Flowers). In June 1937, he edited and published Wang Tongzhao's Short Story Collection. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Wang Tongzhao continued his literary activities alongside Xu Guangping, Zheng Zhenduo, Tang Tao, and others. In 1938, he taught at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and served as a professor at the Chinese Department of Jinan University, while also editing the supplement July for the Da Ying Evening News and contributing to the supplement Shiji Feng (Century Wind) of the Wenbao (Literary News). In December 1941, with the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japanese troops stormed the Shanghai concessions on the morning of December 8. Wang Tongzhao gave his students their last lesson, urging them to "have ambition and the spirit to break through the darkness." From then on, he hid in Shanghai under the pen name Wang Xunru, translating and writing in poverty. In 1945, he returned to Qingdao and served as the editor-in-chief of the supplement Yiwen (Arts and Literature) for the Min Yan Bao (People's Voice Newspaper). In August 1946, he became a professor and the head of the Chinese Department at Shandong University. In 1947, he was dismissed for openly supporting students' struggles against hunger, war, and persecution. In July 1949, he attended the National Congress of Literary Workers in Beijing and was greeted by central leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, later being elected as a member of the National Federation of Literary and Art Workers and a councilor of the Writers' Association. In September, he attended the first conference of representatives from all sectors of society in Qingdao and was elected as a member of the presidium and a standing committee member. That same autumn, he was appointed as a professor and the head of the Literature Department at Shandong University. In 1950, he became the deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Education and a member of the Shandong Provincial People's Government. In 1951, he was elected as the chairman of the Shandong Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Workers, and in 1952, he became the director of the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Culture. He was later elected as a representative to the first and second sessions of the National People's Congress, a member of the National Federation of Literary and Art Workers, a councilor of the Writers' Association of China, a central committee member of the Democratic League, and the director of the Democratic League in Jinan. Wang Tongzhao passed away in Jinan on November 29, 1957. His main works after the liberation include the poetry collection Quehua Xiaoji (A Collection of Poems from Quehua) and the literary criticism collection Lubian Wenta (Talks by the Hearthside). This book selects 27 prose pieces written by Wang Tongzhao from the early 1920s to the late 1940s.