Shen Congwen, a name, a legend. He, a son of Fenghuang County, Hunan, was born on December 28, 1902 and died on May 10, 1988. This literary giant, who has worked hard all his life, has left countless precious literary treasures for future generations.
Shen Congwen's early life was not all smooth sailing. At the age of 15, he chose to join the military and began a hard life in the military camp. However, he did not give up his love for literature. In the barracks, he continued to read and write. This persistence laid a solid foundation for later literary creation.
In 1923, Shen Congwen's life ushered in a turning point. Influenced by the Xinwen movement, he embarked on a journey to Beijing. In the bustling city, he went deep into the bottom of society and gained insight into life. All this became a source of inspiration for his future creations. Shen Congwen's brushstrokes are delicate, and he is good at portraying the inner world of characters through detailed descriptions. His works, such as "Border City" and "The Long River", have not only been widely praised in China, but also caused great repercussions in the international literary circle.
Lu Xun once praised Shen Congwen as "one of the best writers since the beginning of the Xinwen Movement". This assessment is not unfounded. Shen Congwen's writing is simple and deep, and his insight into human nature goes deep into the bone marrow. His characters are vivid and real, as if they are living all around us. It is this sense of realism that allows readers to resonate with the work and feel the beauty and bitterness of life.
In addition to his outstanding achievements in literary creation, Shen Congwen also has profound attainments in the field of cultural relics research. In the early 40s, he was hired by Southwest Associated University as a professor. Here, he not only imparted literary knowledge, but also delved into the history of Chinese material culture. In the early 80s, his research result "Research on Ancient Chinese Costumes" came out, filling a gap in the field of cultural relics research.
However, for a period of time after 1949, Shen Congwen encountered a low point in his life. For various reasons, he was forced to leave the literary and religious worlds. But that didn't break him. Instead, he devoted himself to the study of cultural relics, devoting himself to the history of China's material culture. In the field of cultural relics research, Shen Congwen has made remarkable achievements. His research results not only fill the academic gap, but also provide valuable information for the world to understand ancient Chinese culture.
In his later years, Shen Congwen was already an expert in literature and cultural relics. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, an honor that undoubtedly affirmed his life's work. On May 10, 1988, the literary giant passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 86. Although Shen Congwen has left us, his works and spirit will live on forever.
Shen Congwen's life is full of legends. He has grown from a young man in a small town in Xiangxi to a world-renowned literary giant and an expert in cultural relics research. His story tells us that as long as you have dreams and perseverance, you can shine your own light no matter where you are or what kind of difficulties you encounter.
Now, when we open Shen Congwen's works, it seems that we can travel through the tunnel of time and space and return to that innocent and hopeful era. Let us pay tribute to the memory of this great writer and expert in cultural relics research - Mr. Shen Congwen!Shen Congwen