Pierre Ryckmans
Encyclopedia
Pierre Ryckmans who also uses the pen-name Simon Leys, is a writer
, sinologist, essayist and literary critic.
He studied law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
(Louvain
), Chinese language, literature and art in Taiwan
. He went to Hong Kong
, before settling down in Australia
in 1970. He taught Chinese literature at the Australian National University
, where he supervised the honours thesis of former Australian Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd
and later was Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Sydney
, from 1987 to 1993.
In 1971, on the advice of his publisher, he decided to adopt a pseudonym before publishing Les habits neufs du président Mao, in order to avoid the risk of becoming a persona non grata in the People's Republic of China. He chose "Leys" after the main character of Victor Segalen
's novel René Leys (published in 1922).
In 2004, he was awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
.
. He is also a translator of Chinese literature, such as the Analects of Confucius
, and The Treatise on Painting by Shi Tao
. Pierre Ryckmans writes in French and English.
, was based on Leys' novel The Death of Napoleon. Ley's expressed distaste for The Emperor's New Clothes however; stating in an afterword accompanying a reprint of "The Death of Napoleon" that "This latter avatar [The Emperor's New Clothes], by the way, was both sad and funny: sad, because Napoleon was interpreted to perfection by an actor (Ian Holm) whose performance made me dream of what could have been achieved had the producer and director bothered to read the book."
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, sinologist, essayist and literary critic.
He studied law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
), Chinese language, literature and art in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. He went to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, before settling down in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1970. He taught Chinese literature at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, where he supervised the honours thesis of former Australian Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
and later was Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, from 1987 to 1993.
In 1971, on the advice of his publisher, he decided to adopt a pseudonym before publishing Les habits neufs du président Mao, in order to avoid the risk of becoming a persona non grata in the People's Republic of China. He chose "Leys" after the main character of Victor Segalen
Victor Segalen
Victor Segalen was a French naval doctor, ethnographer, archeologist, writer, poet, explorer, art-theorist, linguist and literary critic....
's novel René Leys (published in 1922).
In 2004, he was awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
The Prix mondial Cino Del Duca is an international literary award.-Origins and operations:It was established in 1969 in France by Simone Del Duca to continue the work of her husband, publishing magnate Cino Del Duca .Designed to recognize and reward an author whose work constitutes, in a...
.
Works
Ryckmans wrote a series of famous books about Chinese Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. He is also a translator of Chinese literature, such as the Analects of Confucius
Analects of Confucius
The Analects, or Lunyu , also known as the Analects of Confucius, are considered a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples, as well as the discussions they held....
, and The Treatise on Painting by Shi Tao
Shi Tao
Shi Tao is a mainland Chinese journalist, writer and poet, who in 2005 was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years for releasing a document of the Communist Party to an overseas Chinese democracy site after Yahoo! China provided his personal details to the Chinese government.-Brief history:Shi Tao...
. Pierre Ryckmans writes in French and English.
Movies
The 2001 movie The Emperor's New Clothes, directed by Alan TaylorAlan Taylor (director)
Alan Taylor is an American television and film director, television producer, and screenwriter. Taylor has directed for numerous programs on both network television and premium cable, most notably on HBO...
, was based on Leys' novel The Death of Napoleon. Ley's expressed distaste for The Emperor's New Clothes however; stating in an afterword accompanying a reprint of "The Death of Napoleon" that "This latter avatar [The Emperor's New Clothes], by the way, was both sad and funny: sad, because Napoleon was interpreted to perfection by an actor (Ian Holm) whose performance made me dream of what could have been achieved had the producer and director bothered to read the book."
External links
- Simon Leys: The burning forest: "Human Rights in China"
- IMDb entry for The Emperor's New Clothes
- Warren, David, How evil triumphs, Ottawa CitizenOttawa CitizenThe Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
, June 10, 2007. - Extract from the 1996 Boyer Lectures - Pierre Ryckmans
- An Interview with Pierre Ryckmans, Chinese Heritage Quarterly, June 2011