Biography celebrates pioneering literary figure of the 20th century

A seminar on The Biography of Zhu Ziqing by Chen Wu was held on Thursday in Beijing as part of the 2026 Beijing Book Fair, offering attendees an immersive journey into the celebrated writer's spiritual world.

A famous essayist, poet, scholar, and educator, Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948) was a pioneering literary figure who helped advance China's modernism in the early 20th century.

Published last year by Beijing Times Chinese Press, the biography presents a panoramic account of Zhu's lifelong pursuit of truth, his devotion to writing, and his unwavering commitment to scholarship.

At the event, author Chen shared insights into his research process. To uncover nuanced details, he collected nearly 100 precious photographs, letters and manuscripts to substantiate historical records; traced the lesser-known evolution of the Zhu family's surname; mapped the writer's life journey; and explored the restive backdrop behind Zhu's iconic prose piece, Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond.

Structured chronologically, the book is divided into distinct phases: Zhu's childhood in Jiangsu, studies at Peking University, teaching years in Zhejiang province, academic life at Tsinghua University, the war-era period at the National Southwestern Associated University, and his later return to Tsinghua. Through these stages, the work paints a multidimensional portrait of Zhu's life.

Li Er, chairman of the Beijing Writers Association, says the biography goes beyond a conventional personal narrative. With its meticulous prose, it reconstructs historical moments, enabling readers to sense the pulse of the era and appreciate the perseverance and resistance of Chinese intellectuals in times of adversity.

Li notes that the book invites reflection on the past, draws strength from literary classics, and fosters greater cultural confidence.