Wu Zuguang

Wu Zuguang (Chinese: 吴祖光; pinyin: Wú Zǔguāng; Wade–Giles: Wu Tsu-kuang; 21 April 1917 – 9 April 2003) was a Chinese playwright, film director and social critic who has been called a "legendary figure in Chinese art and literary circles".^[1] He authored more than 40 plays and film scripts,^[2] including the patriotic drama City of Phoenix, one of the most influential plays during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and Return on a Snowy Night, which is generally considered his masterpiece. He directed The Soul of the Nation, Hong Kong's first colour film, based on his own historical drama Song of Righteousness.

He was also well known as an outspoken critic of China's cultural policies,

At the outset of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Wu wrote the patriotic war play City of Phoenix (凤凰城), which made him well known in China at age 20. It was one of the most performed dramas during the eight-year war.^[4] He later wrote several critically acclaimed plays, including Return on a Snowy Night, which is generally considered his masterpiece. His works are strongly influenced by the May Fourth New Culture Movement.^[1]

As eastern China fell to the Japanese, he moved to the wartime capital

After the

During this period he made the Peking opera film Goddess of the Luo River (洛神) and Mei Lanfang and His Stage Art, a documentary about Mei Lanfang. He also wrote the Peking operas Three Beatings of Tao Sanchun (三打陶三春) and San Guan Yan (三关宴).^[4]

Persecution

During

Wu returned to Beijing after three years of hard labour, but six years later, China fell into the even greater turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, which began in 1966.^[9] Xin Fengxia and Wu Zuguang were both denounced at the beginning of the period. She became disabled below her left knee after a severe beating. Their friend Lao She drowned himself after being similarly tortured.^[8] During the tumultuous decade Wu and Xin both served years of forced labour.^[2][10] In December 1975, she became paralyzed after suffering a stroke, and Wu took care of her for the rest of her life.^[10]

Post-Cultural Revolution

After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Wu was politically rehabilitated in 1980^[3] and inducted into the Communist Party, an event he described as "neither an occasion for laughter or tears",^[12] and his publication ban was lifted after two decades.^[3] His play Itinerant Players (闯江湖), based on Xin Fengxia's experiences,^[4] was performed that year.^[2] In 1983, Wu traveled to the University of Iowa in the U.S. to attend the International Writing Program.^[13]

Wu was in general loyal to

Xin Fengxia died on 12 April 1998, during a trip to Changzhou, Wu's ancestral hometown.[8] He was devastated by the loss and his health quickly deteriorated. He suffered three strokes in the next few years, and died on 9 April 2003.^[4]

Children

Wu Zuguang and Xin Fengxia had three children.^[8] Their son Wu Huan is also a writer, painter, and calligrapher. After the deaths of Wu Zuguang, he organized the exhibition "A Hundred Years of the Wu Family" at the Poly Art Museum in Beijing. It was also held in France, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.^[5]

References