Fortress Besieged
Encyclopedia
Fortress Besieged was written by Qian Zhongshu
, published in 1947, and is widely considered as one of the masterpieces of twentieth century Chinese literature
. The novel is a humorous tale about middle-class Chinese society in the late 1930s. It is also one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese novels in China, and was made into a popular television series in the early 1990s.
and wife Yang Jiang
were living in Shanghai
during the Japanese occupation
. According to Yang Jiang
, the successful production of several of her plays inspired Qian
to write a full length novel.
The novel was begun in 1944, and completed in 1946. Much of the characters and plot are taken from the experiences of Qian
and Yang
abroad and in China. For example, the opening scene at sea reflects their journey from France to China onboard the ship Athos II.
The title is based on a French
proverb
:
The novel is known for its acerbic asides, such as describing one young lady in the following way:
The novel was published in Shanghai in 1947. The second edition was published 1948. The third edition in 1949. After the Communist Revolution
, the book was not printed again in mainland China until 1980. In the mean time, it was also banned in Taiwan because of its satire of the Nationalist government.
The novel has been translated into many languages. These include the Russian version which appeared in 1979, the American English version in 1979; and the German version in 1982.
series adaptation of 1990 and later radio
series adaptation.
Aspects of the novel have entered the Chinese idiom
atic lexicon. For example, "Carleton University", from which the novel's character obtained his PhD paper, is used as an idiom meaning an illegitimate foreign degree qualification or academic institution. Likewise, the novel's title, deriving from the French proverb, has given rise to a similar proverb in Chinese
.
Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages...
, published in 1947, and is widely considered as one of the masterpieces of twentieth century Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. The novel is a humorous tale about middle-class Chinese society in the late 1930s. It is also one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese novels in China, and was made into a popular television series in the early 1990s.
Origin and History
The book was begun while Qian ZhongshuQian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages...
and wife Yang Jiang
Yang Jiang
Yang Jiang , born Yang Jikang , is a Chinese playwright, author, and translator. She has written several successful comedies, and was the first Chinese person to produce a complete Chinese version of Don Quixote from the Spanish original.-Biography:Yang Jiang was graduated from The University Of...
were living in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
during the Japanese occupation
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. According to Yang Jiang
Yang Jiang
Yang Jiang , born Yang Jikang , is a Chinese playwright, author, and translator. She has written several successful comedies, and was the first Chinese person to produce a complete Chinese version of Don Quixote from the Spanish original.-Biography:Yang Jiang was graduated from The University Of...
, the successful production of several of her plays inspired Qian
Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages...
to write a full length novel.
The novel was begun in 1944, and completed in 1946. Much of the characters and plot are taken from the experiences of Qian
Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages...
and Yang
Yang Jiang
Yang Jiang , born Yang Jikang , is a Chinese playwright, author, and translator. She has written several successful comedies, and was the first Chinese person to produce a complete Chinese version of Don Quixote from the Spanish original.-Biography:Yang Jiang was graduated from The University Of...
abroad and in China. For example, the opening scene at sea reflects their journey from France to China onboard the ship Athos II.
The title is based on a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
:
- Marriage is like a fortress besieged: those who are outside want to get in, and those who are inside want to get out. "
The novel is known for its acerbic asides, such as describing one young lady in the following way:
- At first, they called her "truth" because "the truth is naked". But then, she's not actually completely naked. So they amended it to "partial-truth".
The novel was published in Shanghai in 1947. The second edition was published 1948. The third edition in 1949. After the Communist Revolution
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, the book was not printed again in mainland China until 1980. In the mean time, it was also banned in Taiwan because of its satire of the Nationalist government.
The novel has been translated into many languages. These include the Russian version which appeared in 1979, the American English version in 1979; and the German version in 1982.
Influences
Since its re-publication in 1980 in mainland China, Fortress Besieged has become internationally famous. Part of its popularity grew from its popular televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series adaptation of 1990 and later radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
series adaptation.
Aspects of the novel have entered the Chinese idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
atic lexicon. For example, "Carleton University", from which the novel's character obtained his PhD paper, is used as an idiom meaning an illegitimate foreign degree qualification or academic institution. Likewise, the novel's title, deriving from the French proverb, has given rise to a similar proverb in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
.