High Shiqi Complete Works · 1

Author: Gao Shiqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-11-04
Features: The major feature of this reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi is the addition of nearly 200,000 words of memoirs, personally written by Gao Shiqi during his later years in the hospital. These memoirs reveal his extraordinary life and inner journey to the public. Gao Shiqi was a pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement and a great disabled figure in human history, enjoying high prestige both domestically and internationally. Despite being completely paralyzed, he wrote millions of words of science popularization works. In recognition of his contributions, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid No. 3704 "Gao Shiqi" in 1999.
Gao Shiqi was a renowned scientist, science popularizer, and educator in China. He was also a great disseminator of scientific thought and a pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement. Over nearly 60 years of paralysis, he overcame immense physical pain and unimaginable difficulties, writing millions of words of science popularization works. From 1991 to 1994, Anhui Children's Publishing House published The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi in four volumes. The publication of the complete works sparked widespread social response and received numerous highest honors, enriching China's scientific and cultural treasury. However, due to various reasons, only 500 sets were published at the time. These 500 sets were snapped up during the The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi news conference and are now treasured by people from all walks of life. Since then, many libraries and universities have sought to purchase copies but found none, calling for a reedition. On the occasion of the centennial of Gao Shiqi's birth, we have decided to reprint The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi. This reprinted edition is divided into five volumes: Volume I contains science popularization works created before 1949, Volume II contains science popularization works after 1949, Volume III includes poems written throughout Gao Shiqi's life, Volume IV features his essays and speeches, and Volume V consists of his late-life memoirs, messages, congratulations, and dedications.
The major feature of this reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi is the addition of nearly 200,000 words of Gao Shiqi's memoirs. This is a special memoir, personally written by the late Gao Shiqi during his hospitalization. It provides a complete account of some lesser-known years, events, and stories in his life, from his birth to the founding of the People's Republic of China. Thus, it offers a vivid and complete image of Gao Shiqi and his life journey. With plain and sincere language, he reveals his extraordinary life and inner thoughts. From this memoir, it is clear that Gao Shiqi's life was filled with suffering and tragedy, yet he navigated this external journey with an inner spirit of humor and optimism. In the memoirs, Gao Shiqi provides a complete and truthful account of his life, earnestly analyzing his inner world. This is his to posterity. Later, the () of Beijing Hospital and the demolition of the South Building caused dust to flood his room, leading to severe aspiration pneumonia. From then on, he was confined to bed. Three years later, he left this world that he deeply loved.
From Gao Shiqi's memoirs, we clearly sense why he was called the "pioneer and founder of China's science popularization movement" and why he said "handing science to the people" was his mission. He did not earn these titles or honors by chance; they were the result of his extensive engagement with science, culture, philosophy, religion, and literature. He was not only a model of the fusion of science and literature but also a pioneer of the combination of science and social sciences. He was a model of the integration of natural sciences and social sciences, as well as a model of the fusion of science and philosophy. He poured everything he experienced and learned into his science popularization and literary works, including folk customs from his childhood, which he transformed into Yanhuaguguxi (). He wove myths and fairy tales he encountered into the plots and characters of his stories, such as Three Fairy Grandmothers and The Island of Many Legs. He incorporated traditional Chinese culture, the Four Books and Five Classics into his works, even naming the opening of The Autobiography of a Mushroom "My Name." He included the Taoist deities like the Supreme Lord Lao and the Three Great Patriarchs, as well as the myths of Investiture of the Gods, into his works, along with Christianity, Buddhism, and the Adam and Eve of Christianity, which he used as the opening of one of his articles. Buddhist ideas, philosophy, and spirit are also subtly reflected in the content of his works. Western science, medicine, literature, art, and history—from the spread of the Black Death in the Middle Ages to the World War—are all presented in his vast works. He even predicted the Japanese imperialist bacteriological warfare, its reality, and preventive measures. He described the state of national emergency mobilization and infused the essence of Marxist thought into his works, mercilessly critiquing society. He even included Engels' Dialectics of Nature in his long science poem Ode to the Sky, creating a renowned chapter that once again foretold the progress of the times and the victory of the people.
Gao Shiqi dedicated everything he explored, experienced, and learned to his scientific creation, serving as a means to "hand science to the people." His goals were clear, his direction unwavering, and his aspirations realistic and great. In this sense, Gao Shiqi was a true master—a master who integrated ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign science, culture, and philosophy. Therefore, I believe the criticisms, ridicule, and mockery of some people toward Gao Shiqi's works in 2002 were extremely absurd and laughable, but this absurdity and laughter were based on their lack of true understanding of Gao Shiqi's life experiences, thoughts, and profound knowledge.
Gao Shiqi was proficient in English and deeply versed in German, French, Russian, and Latin. In his youth, he once said, "Actually, my English writing skills were better than my Chinese." At the time, he had no confidence in his Chinese writing skills (see Dai Botao's memoirs). He thoroughly read the literary works of Western countries and was familiar with the works of famous poets and writers such as Shakespeare, Shelley, Byron, Stendhal, and Goethe. Thus, he could effortlessly quote maxims, philosophies, and anecdotes from Western classics.
The reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi, especially the compilation of his memoirs, was made possible with the great support and assistance of his life-long friends. Notably, Comrade Ye Yonglie provided invaluable materials, such as the 5,000-character Childhood memoirs dictated by Gao Shiqi in September 1947 and recorded by Bai Hua, as well as the Biography of an Unfortunate Scientist—Gao Shiqi by Mr. Dai Botao. Additionally, Comrade Pu Manting's newly published Research Materials on Gao Shiqi included relevant materials such as A Brief Biography of Gao Shiqi and Chronological Table of Gao Shiqi's Life and Literary and Science Popularization Activities.
Moreover, many young friends devoted their weekends and holidays to contributing to the editing and publication of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi. Staff from the Aeronautical Industry Press gave up their national holiday rest to work overtime. It can be said that the reprinted edition of The Complete Works of Gao Shiqi was refined through countless hours of effort and sweat in the days leading up to the centennial of Gao Shiqi's birth.