Icons: China's Cultural Heroes

Cao Wenxuan: Respecting Young Readers

Cao Wenxuan, a famous Chinese children’s fiction writer, took the Hans Christian Andersen Award at the 53rd Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy in 2016. This was the first time a Chinese author had ever won the award. As the jury chair commented, “The book’s narrative surrounding a bitter childhood sets a good example for children to face tough challenges in life, which won wide favor with young readers.”

In 2015, the ratio between domestic original works for children and imported works for children measured 1:1. Ten years ago, it was 3:7.

Guo Pei: Embroidery En Vogue

In 2016, Time magazine listed Guo Pei, a Chinese fashion designer, as one of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world, honoring her couture work highlighted by traditional Chinese embroidery and national costumes in her line, Chinese Wedding Dresses. She shot to international stardom when American R&B superstar Rihanna wore her design to the Met Gala in 2015.

“I’m a native Chinese designer. All my work is themed around Chinese culture.”

Jia Zhangke: Copyright Protector

Jia Zhangke, a well-known Chinese film director, has won many international awards for films including Still Life and A Touch of Sin. On June 3, 2016, Jia was tapped to serve as vice president of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, the first Chinese person to hold the office.

“I hope that copyright owners become more aware of their rights and how to protect themselves. Still, I want to arouse consciousness in regard to respecting intellectual property rights in all relevant companies as well as consumers.” 

Lang Ping: Miracle Maker

At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team under head coach Lang Ping took the gold after 12 years of coming up short. Her nickname “Iron Hammer” has been synonymous with women’s volleyball miracles from the moment she emerged as the ace spiker of the national team that won five successive world titles in the 1980s to the day she became head coach of the national team.

The Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team became the first to obtain five consecutive worldtitles: 1981 and 1985 World Cups, 1982 and 1986 World Championships and gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Since then, the team has gone on to win several world championships including the 2003 and 2015 World Cups and the 2004 and 2016 Olympics.

“We’ve always carried on the spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team, but that’s not enough. We can’t win with spirit alone; we must be competitive enough to beat others technically.”

Wang Anyi: Shanghai Litterateur

On September 21, 2016, Chinese writer Wang Anyi won the 5th Newman Prize for Chinese Literature, greatly enhancing the strength and influence of Chinese literature in European and North American countries. Her most notable works include The Song of Everlasting Sorrow and Documentary and Fiction, both historical narratives of Shanghai. Professor David Der-wei Wang of the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University called her “the other inheritor of the Shanghai Literature after Eileen Chang.”

“Writing a novel is of simple fun; otherwise, why have I been engaged in writing for over 30 years? Breakthroughs and changes must be made, or work will become meaningless and lack creativity.”

Fu Yuanhui: Viral Athlete

Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui took the bronze in the Women’s 100-meter Backstroke at the Rio Olympics. She became an overnight sensation when her reference to her “prehistoric power” in an interview after advancing to the finals went viral on the internet. In October 2016, she was voted one of the “Most Influential People Born in the 1990s in China” by Chinese netizens.

“I have used all my prehistoric powers to swim.”

Mei Baojiu: Mei School Inheritor

Mei Baojiu (1934-2016), the ninth child of Mei Lanfang, was a master performer of Peking Opera. He began performing with his father at the age of 18 and became committed to the inheritance and development of the Mei School of Peking Opera. Despite the waning popularity of Peking Opera, he insisted on passing the authentic art to future generations while innovating a modern performing art pattern by absorbing various expressive methods and different means of dissemination. He died on April 25, 2016, at age 82.

“Not only should we worship and enshrine Peking Opera as a national treasure and a quintessential piece of Chinese culture, but we must mine its great potential and carry it forward.”

Chen Zhongshi: A Novel Record of China

Chen Zhongshi (1942-2016) was a renowned Chinese writer who became known for White Deer Plain, a modern classic of Chinese literature. In 1998, Chen was awarded the Mao Dun Literature Prize, the highest honor in Chinese literature. His novel, White Deer Plain, has been translated into many languages. The book was hailed as the “best and most influential grand narration of the Chinese nation over the last 30 years.” Chen died on April 29, 2016, at the age of 73.

“I want to use my book as the pillow in my coffin.”

Yang Jiang: Centenarian Talent

Yang Jiang (1911-2016) was a Chinese playwright, translator, and researcher of foreign literature. Her most representative works include Baptism and Six Chapters from My Life “Down Under.” She was well-versed in English and French, and her translation of Don Quixote from Spanish into Chinese won her the Civil Order of Alfonso X, awarded by Spanish King Juan Carlos in 1986. She married Qian Zhongshu, a great Chinese writer and historian, who called her the “most talented woman and worthiest wife.” Yang died on May 25, 2016, at age 105.

“Marriage or career is like a fortress besieged: Those who are outside want to get in, and those who are inside want to get out. It happens to most of us.”

— Foreword to Fortress Besieged, the magnum opus of Qian Zhongshu

Lu Gusun: English-Chinese Lexicographer

Throughout his life, Lu Gusun (1940-2016) was committed to teaching, researching and translating British and American language and literature and won widespread fame for his English-Chinese Dictionary. Composed of 15 million words, the influential reference book was the first comprehensive English-Chinese dictionary compiled by Chinese scholars. Lu passed away on July 28, 2016, at the age of 76.

“Compiling dictionaries is an art of regret.”