Cheng Youshu

Summary

Cheng Youshu (Chinese: 成幼殊; pinyin: Chéng Yòushū; 1924 – 5 May 2021[1]) was a Chinese diplomat and poet. Cheng was fluent in English and Danish.[2]

Cheng Youshu
Native name
成幼殊
Born1924 (1924)
Beijing, China
Died5 May 2021 (aged 96–97)
Beijing, China
Pen nameJin Sha (金沙)
OccupationDiplomat, poet
LanguageChinese, English, Danish
Alma materSaint John's University, Shanghai
Period1937–2022
GenrePoetry
Notable worksThe Surviving Rice
Nb – Some Memories of Niels Henrik David Bohr
Notable awardsThe Surviving Rice
2005 3rd Lu Xun Literary Prize
Spouse
Chen Luzhi
(m. 1948)
Children4
RelativesFather: Cheng Shewo
sister: Cheng Zhifan
brother: Cheng Siwei
half-sister: Lucie Cheng
half-sister: Cheng Chia-lin

Biography edit

Cheng was born in Beijing in 1924, with her ancestral hometown in Xiangxiang, Hunan.[2] Her father Cheng Shewo was a newspaperman. She is the second of five children.[2] Her sister, Cheng Zhifan (Chinese: 成之凡) (born in 1928), is French Chinese.[2] Her brother Cheng Siwei is a Chinese politician.[2][3][4][5]

Cheng Youshu began writing poems at the age of 13. After high school, Cheng was accepted into Saint John's University, Shanghai, where she joined the Wenhui Fellowship—a Christian Fellowship.[2][3][4]

In 1945, Cheng and her schoolmate founded the Yehuo Poetry Club (Chinese: 野火诗社).[2] In May 1945, Cheng joined the Chinese Communist Party, and served in the New Fourth Army in Shanghai.[2]

In 1948, Cheng went to Hong Kong to work as a reporter.[2] While in Hong Kong, Cheng met her future husband, Chen Luzhi.[2] Cheng married Chen (Chinese: 陈鲁直) in Hong Kong. They have four children.[2]

In October 1949, Cheng moved in Guangzhou, her father went to Taiwan with Kuomintang.[2]

After the founding of the Communist State, Cheng worked in the Chinese Foreign Ministry.[2] From 1955 to 1961, Cheng worked in India as a diplomat.[2] In 1984, Cheng went to Denmark with her husband when he served as China's Ambassador to Denmark.[2]

Cheng died in Beijing on 5 May 2021.[6]

Works edit

Poems edit

  • The Surviving Rice (Chinese: 幸存的一粟)[7]

Translation edit

  • Nb—Some Memories of Niels Henrik David Bohr (Chinese: NB—关于尼尔斯·波尔的一些回忆)

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ 成幼殊纪念馆 (in Chinese)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Cui Shuwei (2012). 《成幼殊:诗歌伴随我一生》. 《老年人》 (in Chinese). 4: 24–26. ISSN 1007-2616.
  3. ^ a b 成幼殊:一生与诗相伴. Zhang Bing (in Chinese). People. 2007. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  4. ^ a b 成幼殊:一生与诗相伴(图) (in Chinese). Sohu. 2007.
  5. ^ 成幼殊:一生与诗相伴 (in Chinese). People. 2007. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  6. ^ "My beloved aunt the last time I was able to visit with her, and who passed away in Beijing this morning. Cheng Youshu 成幼殊 (1924-2021): Poet, wartime Shanghai Communist underground member, journalist, diplomat, UN envoy, Lu Xun Prize winner for poetry at age 81, opera lover". Eileen Chengyin Chow on Twitter. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  7. ^ 沧桑岁月不老情——成幼殊的诗歌创作 (in Chinese). China Writers Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2013-11-27.