Bing Xin, formerly known as Xie Wanying, was originally from Changle County, Fujian Province, and was born in Fuzhou City on October 5, 1900. During her childhood, she spent seven or eight years in Yantai, living in the mountains and seas. Bing Xin's early works often wrote about the sea affectionately. As a child, she read extensively Chinese classical novels and foreign works translated into Chinese. In 1912, she was admitted to Fuzhou Women's Normal College Preparatory College. In 1913, she went to Beijing with her family and entered Beiman Girls' Middle School, a missionary school. In 1918, Bing Xin was admitted to the Preparatory Department of Concordia Women's University with the purpose of studying medicine. Later, she changed her original intention and switched to literature. In 1923, she graduated from Yenching University in liberal arts with honors.
Bing Xin is one of the first batch of modern writers to emerge from the May 4th New Literature Movement. She is one of the most famous female writers and an important member of the Literary Research Association. Stirred by the new trend of thought, she published her first novel "Two Families" under the pen name "Bing Xin" in September 1919, revealing the necessity of improving family life for the sake of career. Later, she published "problem novels" that revealed life issues such as society, family, and women, such as "The Man Is Alone and Haggard." At the same time, she wrote prose. "Laughter", published in 1921, is considered a typical beautiful essay in the early days of the New Literature Movement. She was also influenced by Rabindranath Tagore's "Birds" and wrote more than 300 untitled aphoristic free-style poems, which were collected into "Stars" and "Spring Water". The writer's unique thoughts, feelings and aesthetic consciousness are very popular among readers.
In the autumn of 1923, Bing Xin went to the Graduate School of Wellesley Women's University in the United States to study English literature. From then to 1926, she successively wrote about her travels and experiences in foreign countries, as well as her memories of the past. 29 intimate and sincere letters to children were published in the "Children's World" column of "Morning Post" and were compiled into "To Little Readers" and published in 1926. This is a representative work of Bing Xin's early prose and the earliest children's literature work in modern China. Her prose has higher achievements than novels and poems, and was called the magical "Bing Xin Style" at the time.
In 1926, Bing Xin returned to China after receiving a Master of Arts degree in the United States and taught at Yenching University, Tsinghua University and Beijing Women's College of Arts and Sciences. There were few creative works during this period, but some influential works include "Returning to the South", "Fate", "Dong'er Girl", "Our Wife's Living Room", etc. These works have more profound social content, showing Bing Xin's new understanding of life.
In the summer vacation of 1936, she traveled to Europe and the United States, passing through Japan, the United States, the Soviet Union, Italy, Britain, France, Germany and other countries. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Bing Xin went to Chongqing and hosted the bimonthly "Women's Culture".
From 1941 to 1947, she served as a political councilor of the Political Suffrage Conference. In the summer of 1946, I returned to Peiping. In the winter of that year, my family went to Japan. In 1950, Bing Xin became the first female professor at the University of Tokyo, teaching Chinese New Literature at the school.
In 1951, Bing Xin returned to China from Japan. In the new socialist China, her life and creation opened a new page.
After 1958 and 1978, she wrote "Re-Send to Little Readers" and "Three Posts to Little Readers" for children, and also wrote the essays "After Returning" and "Into the Great Hall of the People" ”, “Cherry Blossom Praise”, etc. These prose not only maintain her unique artistic style, but also show colorful pictures of life on a broad background rich in the flavor of the times, showing a bright and optimistic tone.
In 1980, her short story "Empty Nest" won the National Outstanding Short Story Award. Her children's literature selection "Little Orange Lamp" and other works won the honorary award in the 1980 National Children's Literary Creation Awards.
In 1982, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House began to publish the five-volume "Collected Works of Bing Xin" and the three-volume "Selected Works of Bing Xin" in the same year.
Bing Xin has also translated and published Rabindranath Tagore's poems, plays and works of other foreign writers. In her spare time, she is committed to safeguarding world peace, foreign friendship and cultural exchanges, and has visited many countries abroad. She has been elected as a representative of the National People's Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairman of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, a director of the Chinese Writers Association, a member, vice chairman and honorary chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
In his preface to the book "The Biography of Bing Xin" on July 28, 1988, Ba Jin called her "the last veteran of our new literature"; at the same time, he also said that "her mind is younger than that of others." She is more awake, her thoughts are sharper, and she has a deeper love for her country and people."
Main works include the prose collection "For Young Readers", the poetry collections "Spring Water" and "Stars", and the children's literature collection "Little Orange Lantern". There are also "Selected Translations of Bing Xin's Works" (three volumes), "Collected Works of Bing Xin" (six volumes), etc.
Main translations include: (narrative) Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" (People's Literature Publishing House, 1957), Mulla Anand's "Collection of Indian Fairy Tales" (Shanghai Children's Publishing House, 1955) Year) (India) Tagore's "Gitanjali" (People's Literature Publishing House, first edition in 1955, reprinted in 1983), "Selected Works of Tagore" (People's Literature Publishing House, 1958), "The Gardener's Collection" (People's Literature Publishing House, 1958) Literary Publishing House, 1961), "Collected Poems" (co-translation, People's Literature Publishing House, 1958), "Selected Poems" (co-translation, People's Literature Publishing House, 1980), "Selected Lyrical Poems of Rabindranath Tagore" (Hong Kong Wanli) Bookstore, 1959), "Collected Works of Tagore" (China Drama Publishing House, 1959), "Selected Novels of Tagore" (co-translation, Guizhou People's Publishing House, 1981), "Selected Poems of Tagore" (Gitanja "Li", "Gardener's Collection", Hunan People's Publishing House, 1982), Mahendra "Mahendra's Poems" (co-translation, Writers Publishing House, 1966), Anton Buttigieg "The Lamp Burner" ( People's Literature Publishing House, 1981), etc.
Bing Xin believed in the philosophy of love and praised nature throughout her life, which was the eternal theme of her lifelong creation
1. Love of hometown (1900-1913)
The river head at dawn is covered with white mist;
It’s the weather in Jiangnan
The rain is coming——
I only know There is a blue sea,
but it turns out there is also a green river,
This is the hometown of my parents!
——Bing Xin: "Stars"
Bing Xin is a famous modern and contemporary Chinese writer, poet, children's writer, translator and outstanding social activist. Her original name was Xie Wanying. She was born into a naval family in Longpu Camp, Fuzhou, Fujian on October 5, 1900 (leap August 12, the Gengzi Year in the lunar calendar). Her ancestral home is Changle, Fujian. Bing Xin was 7 months old and left Fuzhou with her parents when she was in her infancy. It was not until 1911, when she was 11 years old, that her father Xie Baozhang resigned from the position of principal of the Yantai Naval School and the family returned to the south and returned to their hometown. The following year, she ranked first in the Fuzhou Women's Normal College Preparatory College.
“Fuzhou will always be my hometown in my heart, because it is the hometown of my parents.”
2. The Sea in Yantai (1903-1911)
The sea!
Which star
has no light?
Which flower
does not have fragrance?
When has there ever been a time when my thoughts were filled with the clear sound of your waves?
——Bing Xin: "Stars"
In May 1901, Bing Xin's family moved to Shanghai. In 1903, his father Xie Baozhang was appointed commander of the naval training camp and was also responsible for organizing the naval school. At this time, he moved to Yantai with his father. Bing Xin lived in Yantai for eight years and spent her happy and colorful childhood. Yantai, Bing Xin calls her second hometown. The sea and mountains of Yantai, the sailors and lighthouses of Yantai gave Bing Xin the initial influence on her "marine-oriented" character and patriotism, and also gave her her initial literary enlightenment.
3. Zhongjianzi Alley (1913-1923)
The thunder of the May 4th Movement
shocked me onto the path of writing... …
——Bing Xin: From "May Fourth" to "Fourth Five-Year Plan"
In 1913, Xie Baozhang became the director of the Military Science Department of the Ministry of Navy. His family moved north and lived in Entered the Sanheyuan at No. 14 Jianzi Lane, Tieshizi Hutong, Dongcheng, Beijing. Bing Xin lived in this courtyard for 10 years until she went to study in the United States.
The 10 years in Jianzi Lane were the most precious years of youth in Bing Xin's life, especially the thunder of the "May 4th" movement that "shocked" her into the literary world. Her "problem novels" represented by "Superman", Vernacular prose represented by "Laughter" and free-style poems represented by "Stars" and "Spring Water" established an important position in the Chinese literary world and began to form her "philosophy of love" ideologically.
4. Studying in the United States (1923-1926)
Just give me some advice,
My friend!
I am a swallow across the sea,
looking for a nest across the water.
——Bing Xin: "Stars"
Bing Xin graduated from Yenching University with honors and received a scholarship from Wellesley Women's University in the United States. In August 1923, Bing Xin crossed the Pacific and came to Boston. Three years of studying abroad further broadened Bing Xin's horizons and enriched her with new knowledge. At the same time, she made many friends and met her lifelong partner, Mr. Wu Wenzao. The famous "For Young Readers", the foundation work of Chinese children's literature, was born here. In the form of communication, Bing Xin lovingly and emotionally presents her longing for her motherland, exotic customs, feelings during illness, and thoughts about life in front of children, and has become a famous novel that has influenced and nurtured generations of young people.
5. Stormy Yanyuan (1926-1938)
Thousands of words still come back to one sentence: the essence of life is pain, and the source of pain is still excessive love. But we still cannot drink poison to quench our thirst, and we still seek comfort from the painful love of life. What foolishness, what a contradiction!
——Bing Xin: "Return to the South"
It was already autumn when Bing Xin returned to her motherland and Yanyuan. The seemingly peaceful campus and home cannot block the shocks that have occurred one after another in the world, from the Beibu War to the "April 12th Incident" to the fall of the three eastern provinces in the "March 18th". Bing Xin's "love" she has always advocated "Philosophy" has been reflected on and incorporated with new content. Since 1929, Bing Xin and Wu Wenzao have built a warm home in Yannan Garden. Bing Xin's creative achievements and Wu Wenzao's academic achievements have had a great influence at home and abroad.
6. Footprints of the Anti-Japanese War (1938-1946)
I am leaving, I want to go to the end of the sky and the corner of the earth, shaking off the resentment and hatred on my body, deeply Breathe in the excitement and freshness.
——Bing Xin: "Molu Test Writing"
In the autumn of 1938, Bing Xin left Peiping and came to Kunming, Yunnan, the rear area during the war. At this time, although there was a short period of peace, But the country was shattered, and Bing Xin was still in love with Peiping. She wished she could carry the flag and fight into Peiping's "beautiful and dignified body!" In this mood, in the winter of 1940, Bing Xin came to Chongqing and began a busy war. time life. However, the "Southern Anhui Incident" happened, and Bing Xin became suspicious and disappointed with the Kuomintang. She went to the top of the mountain and lived a noble and austere life. Guo Moruo praised her as: "Slightly pitiful for the loose stone and thin, pure and quiet standing on the top of the mountain."
7. Living in Japan (1946-1951)
The world is peaceful and human beings are free. Only love and mutual help can achieve permanent happiness and peace.
——Bing Xin: "For Women in Japan"
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Bing Xin went to Japan as a dependent. Because of her works such as "Stars" and "About Women", Introduction and translation, as the arrival of Xie Bingxin, the most famous female writer in China, has attracted the attention of Japanese writers, students and society. Bing Xin, who suffered greatly from the war, also saw the disaster that the war brought to the Japanese people. She took advantage of the opportunity of contact with post-war Japanese society to call for love, compassion, peace and happiness in the face of Japanese youth, women and people.
8. After Return (1951-1966)
How did Chun ever speak?
But her great hidden power,
has been so
gentle to the world! ——Bing Xin: "Spring Water"
In the autumn of 1951, Bing Xin and Wu Wenzao returned to their new motherland and were sincerely welcomed by the party and the people. Facing the five-star red flag flying high, Bing Xin was extremely excited. She enthusiastically praised the new and ancient motherland, the hardworking and kind people, and the lively and innocent children. At the same time, as an envoy of peace and friendship, she frequently visited countries around the world. , sowing the seeds of peace and friendship.
9. The Ten Years of the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-1976)
Live until you are old, learn until you are old, and work until you are old.
Revolutionary youth will never grow old. .
...Young man,
You are the sun at eight or nine o'clock in the morning,
I am not the golden dusk. ——Bing Xin: ""Because we are still young""
Since the "Cultural Revolution" that began in 1966, for ten years, madness and ignorance, turmoil and suffering, Bing Xin during the "Cultural Revolution" was impacted. and criticism, and in the face of suffering, she never wavered in her belief in the party and her love for the motherland and the people. She used her meager efforts to work wholeheartedly for the suffering motherland. She firmly believes that spring always belongs to the people and youth always belongs to workers.
10. Life begins at the age of 80 (1976-1999)
A Western proverb goes: "Life begins at the age of 40." I want to start practicing writing and walking in 1981 after I recover from my illness. "Life begins at the age of 80", strive to move forward with the children!
——Bing Xin: "Life Begins at the Age of 80"
After crushing the "Gang of Four", Bing Xin was extremely happy. Facing the new life of the motherland's "four modernizations" construction, she was once again ignited. creative passion. At this time, Bing Xin was already in her seventies, but she planned to "start her life at the age of 80." Like young people, she visits abroad, she keeps writing, and she often meets guests at home and abroad; she appeals for education, speaks to children, advises women, and makes unremitting efforts for the prosperity of the motherland; she often writes new works. When it came out, shocking aphorisms appeared from time to time, which often attracted the attention of the literary world and society. After the age of 80, Bing Xin once again reached another creative peak and formed a magnificent landscape in his later years.
11. Farewell to Bing Xin
With love, there is everything.
——Bing Xin
At 9 pm on February 28, 1999, Bing Xin passed away in Beijing Hospital at the age of 99. Bing Xin's passing has attracted widespread attention from people from all walks of life at home and abroad. Various newspapers, periodicals and media have published a large number of articles to report and commemorate this outstanding Chinese literary master, loyal patriot and Chinese leader in the 20th century. Regarding the death and achievements of Bing Xin, a close friend of the Communist Party and a famous social activist, at the same time, people bid farewell to their beloved Bing Xin in a unique way of roses.
12. All for children
Thousands of angels,
will rise up to sing praises to children;
Children!
His small body contains a great soul.
——Bing Xin: "Stars"
Bing Xin regarded children as the hope of the nation and the future of the motherland throughout her life. She wrote for children for more than seventy years. Her works , has influenced generations of children. She worked hard to water and cultivate the flowers of the motherland. She donated her royalties to her children and the Hope Project. It can be said that Bing Xin dedicated her whole life to her children. When many people mention Bing Xin, they think of her education, influence and artistic influence they received as children, and they feel a sense of purity and warmth.
13. Roses and Cats
Not only do I like the color, fragrance, and taste of roses, I also like the sharp thorns on the branches! ...I think flowers, like people, must have their own character!
——Bing Xin: "Preface to "Rose Flowers""
Bing Xin has two major hobbies in her life, her love of flowers and her love of cats. She believes that there is no evil person who loves flowers. She likes all kinds of flowers, and her favorites are roses and roses. I love cats in my later years. When my juniors go out to work on weekdays, they are usually accompanied by cats. The status of cats in the family is getting higher and higher, becoming "first-class citizens". Bing Xin will never forget it in front of guests. Praising her cat, Mimi's name and photo became widely circulated at home and abroad, just like Bing Xin.
14. Family and Friendship
Family is the cell of society. Only with healthy cells can there be a healthy society and even a healthy country.
——Bing Xin: "On Marriage and Family"
As early as her teenage years, due to the influence and education of her family, Bing Xin valued a healthy and happy family and sincere and like-minded friendship. .
Bing Xin treats others with kindness, enthusiasm, easy-going, equality and sincerity. Her friends have no boundaries of age or nationality, and they are all over the world, and her own life, whether it is peaceful days or turbulent years, , and they all live in a healthy and happy family and sincere friendship.
From "Bingxin.com"