Xu Dishan

Xu Dishan

Xu Dishan (February 3, 1893-august 4, 1941), male, was named zankun (K ū n), with the name of Dishan and pen name of luohuasheng (in ancient times, "Hua" was the same as "Hua", so it was also called luohuasheng). He was born in Jieyang, Guangdong Province. Born in a patriotic family in Taiwan.

Most of Xu Dishan's literary works are set in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Southeast Asia and India. His main works include "falling bamboo from a dangerous nest" and "falling flowers"; his translations include "twenty night questions", "the fall of the sun" and "Bengal folktales", which are related to Indian literature.

His wife, Zhou Shousong, was the sixth daughter of Zhou dalie, a poet in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

Life of the characters

Xu Dishan was born in Tainan, Taiwan on February 3, 1893. In 1894, when the Sino Japanese War of 1894 broke out and Taiwan was occupied, his family moved back to the mainland and settled in Longxi, Fujian Province. When he was three years old, Xu Dishan settled down with his father in Zhangzhou. He went to a private school at the age of four. Not long after, Xu Dishan's family declined and began to make a living on his own. He worked as a teacher in Shima Meilu primary school, and also taught in the second Provincial Normal School. In 1913, Xu Dishan was employed to work in the Chinese school founded by overseas Chinese in Yangon, Myanmar. In December 1915, Xu Dishan returned to China and lived in daanding (now Cangyuan Street) of Zhangzhou. Later, he taught in Zhangzhou Huaying middle school. In 1917, he returned to the second provincial division and concurrently served as the principal of the affiliated primary school. In 1917, he was admitted to the school of Arts of Yanjing University. in 1920, he graduated and stayed in school to teach. In January 1921, he, Shen Yanbing, Ye Shengtao, Zheng Zhenduo and other 12 people initiated the establishment of the literature research association and the novel monthly in Peiping. On February 10, 1922, Xu Dishan published his short story the spider in the net, which is his early masterpiece. In August 1922, Xu Dishan, Liang Shiqiu and Xie WANYING studied in the Philosophy Department of Columbia University in New York. in 1924, he received a master's degree in literature and entered Mansfield College of Oxford University to study religious history, Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, anthropology and folklore. Two years later, he received a bachelor's degree in literature from the Graduate School of Oxford University. in 1927, he returned to China and worked as an associate professor and professor in the school of Arts and the school of religion of Yanjing University. In 1937, after the July 7th incident, he published articles and speeches to promote anti Japanese and oppose surrender. When the "Southern Anhui Incident" took place, he and Zhang Yichan jointly called Chiang Kai Shek, calling for unity, peace and cessation of war. At the same time, he served as the executive director of the Hong Kong Branch of the all China Association of literary and art circles against the enemy, calling for the cause of resisting Japan and saving the nation, and carrying out various organizational and educational work. In March 1938, Xu Dishan, Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Ba Jin, Xia Yan and other 45 members of the all China Anti enemy Association of literary and art circles were elected as directors of the association. At that time, a large number of intellectuals and young students went into exile to Hong Kong, and the "Hong Kong member communication office of the all China literary and art anti enemy Association" was established. Xu Dishan served as executive director and general affairs officer. On August 4, 1941, he died of overwork.

Features of works

From the beginning of his creation, he looked at the society and even everything around him from the perspective of the weak. On the one hand, he thinks that he is sympathetic to the weak, which determines that his emotional color is realistic; on the other hand, he germinates the desire to change the status quo with his own feelings of social injustice, trying to find a way to a bright future for this corrupt society. Therefore, from the perspective and motivation of entering religion, we can feel that Xu Dishan entered religion only because he felt the injustice of human beings and the darkness of life. Xu Dishan was born just for the purpose of joining the world. His religious emotion based on real suffering is essentially a sense of suffering. Although Xu Dishan is familiar with Buddhism and Taoism classics, he never wants to live in seclusion. He always takes transforming society and saving mankind as his goal. Xu Dishan's simple belief that "heaven is strong, and a gentleman is constantly striving for self-improvement" runs through his life. His works show not only his understanding and interpretation of Buddhist culture, but also his multiple thinking and recognition of Christian culture, Taoist culture and even realistic culture. To accept the emptiness of Buddhism is not to lead to the negation of real life and the disappearance of right and wrong, but to admit limitations, open oneself and embrace the world.

Main works

Related works

Character evaluation

In the new Annals of Longxi (the annals of Zhangzhou prefecture), the national government gave a commendatory order: "Xu Dishan traveled to Europe and the United States early, learned a lot, and returned home to be a teacher in various universities in Peking. In recent years, we have been in Hong Kong to promote our culture, advocate education for overseas Chinese, and do our best to help in public welfare. When he hears that he has passed away, he is deeply mourned and should be praised Shi Jianfeng: Lao She's guide is Xu Dishan, and bole is Zheng Zhenduo

Character achievement

Xu Dishan has translated Tagore's poems, novels and prose, such as Gitanjali, on the way to Calcutta, master, take my lute. In 1928, he translated Bengal folktales. In 1930, he published his monograph Indian literature. In 1934, he also translated Indian stories the sun sets and twenty night questions, thus becoming a famous expert in Indian literature. After years of hard work, Xu Dishan's efforts for cultural exchanges between China and India have yielded fruitful results. Xu Dishan wrote 8 academic papers and 5 academic works in the years after he returned from studying in Britain (from 1927 to 1935). Among them, Indian literature, published in 1930, is the first monograph on the history of Indian literature written by the Chinese themselves. In the early 1930s, Ke Zhenghe, the chief editor of Peking Chinese music society, edited a collection of 100 world famous songs, which is divided into ten volumes, with ten songs in each volume. The lyrics of the first volume are all translated by Xu Dishan. In the front of the book are Xu Dishan's Preface and Ke Zhenghe's preface, and in the back of the book are Xu Dishan's explanation of the lyrics. He is good at pipa, composing music and composing words. At the same time, Xu Dishan is proficient in temperament, western music and Western folk songs. Xu Dishan is one of the representatives of the problem novels in 1920s. His works are different from other famous problem novelists such as ye Shaojun, Bing Xin, Wang Tongzhao and Lu Yin.

People's Memorial

Xu Dishan's former residence

Xu Dishan's former residence is located in Shuqian street of Xuwen County. It was built in the Qing Dynasty. It is a brick and wood structure house with a small courtyard in front of the door. Although Xu Dishan's former residence is not very eye-catching, and the old Qing style house with courtyard is a bit dilapidated, it still retains its original style. Because of Xu Dishan's position in the history of modern Chinese literature, it will surely become a place for writers to cherish the past.

Recalling my father Xu Dishan

Recalling my father Xu Dishan is written by Xu Yanshan's daughter in memory of her father.

Xu Diban

Xu Dishan's class originated from Mr. Xu Dishan, a famous writer who wrote such classic works as "a life of fallen flowers". His wife, Ms. Zhou housong, was once the vice president of Nanjing No.5 Middle School. In order to inherit Mr. Xu Dishan's humanistic spirit, No. 5 middle school specially set up "Xu Dishan class".

Xu Dishan scholarship of Nanjing No.5 Middle School

In 1990, the city organized a 90th birthday celebration for Xu Dishan's wife Zhou housong. At the meeting, she happily announced that she would donate again to establish the "xudishan scholarship of Nanjing No.5 Middle School". Over the past 20 years, the scholarship has become a banner to lead and motivate many students to strive for the first place in the campus of No.5 Middle School.

member of family

His wife, Zhou Shousong, was the sixth daughter of Zhou dalie, a poet in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. His daughter Xu Yanji (January 1933 - January 13, 2014) was the author of his autobiography I am the daughter of luohuasheng. She died at about 21:00 p.m. on January 13, 2014 at the age of 81.

Chinese PinYin : Xu Di Shan