Xu Dishan
Encyclopedia
Xu Dishan (February 3, 1893 - August 4, 1941) is a Chinese
author, translator and folklorist. He is best known for his chinese novels that focuses on the people of the southern provinces of China and Southeast Asia.
Xu was born in Tainan, Taiwan to a family of nationalists. He accompanied his father to Fujian
and settled down there. He also taught in a Chinese School in Myanmar. Xu was an active participant and one of the pioneers of the May Fourth Movement
. He was interested in Indian literature, and liked Rabindranath Tagore
's works. He would translate many of his works and become one of the very few Indian Literature experts in China during the 1930s.
After obtaining a BA degree from the Yenching University
, he continued his studies at Columbia University
and Oxford University. He is also remembered as an educationalist and professor at Yenching University, Peking University
and Tsinghua University
. His association with Hong Kong
began in 1936 when he was appointed by Hong Kong University to be dean of the department of Chinese literature. Soon after the appointment, he devoted himself to the reformation of the education system. He was also active in cultural circles in Hong Kong, forming literature societies in Hong Kong.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War
, Xu devoted himself to the Anti-Japanese cause, delivering speeches in Nationalist rallies and promoting Anti-Japanese sentiment
s. Xu also write patriotic novels that were well received by critics. Despite this, Xu's health deteriorated and his heart condition worsened. On the fourth of August, 1941, Xu suffered a heart attack and died. He was 49.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
author, translator and folklorist. He is best known for his chinese novels that focuses on the people of the southern provinces of China and Southeast Asia.
Xu was born in Tainan, Taiwan to a family of nationalists. He accompanied his father to Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
and settled down there. He also taught in a Chinese School in Myanmar. Xu was an active participant and one of the pioneers of the May Fourth Movement
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...
. He was interested in Indian literature, and liked Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
's works. He would translate many of his works and become one of the very few Indian Literature experts in China during the 1930s.
After obtaining a BA degree from the Yenching University
Yenching University
Yenching University was a university in Beijing, China. It integrated three Christian colleges in the city in 1919. Yenching is an alternative name of Beijing - derived from its status as capital of Yan state, one of the seven Warring States from 5th century BC to 3rd century BC.The university...
, he continued his studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Oxford University. He is also remembered as an educationalist and professor at Yenching University, Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
and Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
. His association with 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...
began in 1936 when he was appointed by Hong Kong University to be dean of the department of Chinese literature. Soon after the appointment, he devoted himself to the reformation of the education system. He was also active in cultural circles in Hong Kong, forming literature societies in Hong Kong.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, Xu devoted himself to the Anti-Japanese cause, delivering speeches in Nationalist rallies and promoting Anti-Japanese sentiment
Anti-Japanese sentiment
Anti-Japanese sentiment involves hatred, grievance, distrust, dehumanization, intimidation, fear, hostility, and/or general dislike of the Japanese people and Japanese diaspora as ethnic or national group, Japan, Japanese culture, and/or anything Japanese. Sometimes the terms Japanophobia and...
s. Xu also write patriotic novels that were well received by critics. Despite this, Xu's health deteriorated and his heart condition worsened. On the fourth of August, 1941, Xu suffered a heart attack and died. He was 49.