Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t9: Zheng Zhenduo
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t9
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Zheng Zhenduo
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Zheng Zhenduo (December 19, 1898-October 17, 1958) is a Chinese writer and scholar, with pseudonym of Xi Di (C.T.), or Guo Yuanxin, etc.
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Lifetime
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He was originally from Fujian province, and was born in Yongjia County (present-day Wenzhou) of Zhejiang province. He went to primary school and middle school in Yongjia County from 1905-1916. In 1917, he was admitted in the Beijing Railway Administration School (present-day Beijing Jiaotong University). In 1919, Qu Qiubai, Xu Dishan and Zheng Zhenduo founded 10-day periodical *New Society*, and wrote the first poem *I am a Teenager*. In 1921, 12 people including Shen Yanbing (Mao Dun), Xu Dishan and he set up the Literary Research Association and established the 10-day periodical *Literature*, with him being chief editor. After graduation, he returned to Shanghai and served as editor of Commercial Press. In 1923, he succeeded Shen Yanbing as chief editor of *Novel Monthly*. From 1925-1926, he wrote various literary works, such as novel, poetry, prose and literary criticism. He went to Europe in 1927, and returned to China in 1928. From 1931-1934, he served as the professor of
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Zheng Zhenduo
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Yenching University in Beiping (present-day Beijing) and kept writing besides teaching. He also got acquainted with Lu Xun and many other celebrities in cultural circle. He came back to Shanghai in 1935, and served as dean of College of Liberal Arts of Jinan University. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, he wrote commentations etc and actively joined in the propaganda of the Anti-Japanese War. Meanwhile, he worked on literary studies, and published *Greek mythology* (1935), *History of Chinese Literature* (1938) and other works. From 1942-1945, he lived in seclusion at home and was engaged in literary study. In 1949, he went to Beijing to participate in the founding ceremony of People’s Republic of China. He served as the director of the Institute of Archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Science in 1950, the director of the Institute of World Literature of Peking University in 1953, the vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China in 1954. He died in an aircraft accident in 1958.
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**Predestined relationship with India**: The predestined relationship of Zheng Zhenduo with India is mainly manifested in three points. First, he met Rabindranath Tagore. Since 1921, he translated Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry on *Novel Monthly*.
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Group photo taken on the occasion of the founding of the Literary Research Association. Front row from right: Yi Jiayue, Qu Shiying, Wang Tongzhao, Huang Ying, Yang Weiye, Guo Mengliang. Middle row from right: Jiang Baili, Zhu Xizu, Fan Yongyu, Xu Guangdi, Bai Yong, Jiang Xiaojian. Back row from right: Sun Fuyuan, Geng Jizhi, Su Zongwu, Li Yajin, Xu Dishan, Song Jie, Zheng Zhenduo, Wang Xinghan
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His translation of Tagore's poetry *Stray Birds* was published by Commercial Press in 1922. It was the first of Tagore's poetry to be introduced in China, producing great influence upon many Chinese educated youths, among them, Xie Bing Xin was the most prominent. In 1923, his translation of Tagore's poetry *The Crescent Moon* was published by Commercial Press, and *Novel Monthly* with him as
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*Collected Works of Zheng Zhenduo (Zheng Zhenduo wenji)*, front cover
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chief editor also published in two consecutive issues of Tagore's poetry in September and October. Shen Yanbing, Xu Zhimo, Wang Tongzhao, Hu Yuzhi and he, published all articles and translations in a bid to invite Tagore to visit to China. On April 12, 1924, Tagore arrived in Shanghai, received a warm welcome from the literary and academic circle in Shanghai with Zheng Zhenduo representing the Literary Research Association that went on to greet Tagore in the wharf. During Tagore's visit to Beijing, Zheng Zhenduo also went to Beijing to participate in Tagore's farewell party hosted by Mei Lanfang and others. Among the modern Chinese writers, Zheng Zhenduo was the one who was the most influenced by Tagore. Second, he visited India twice. He first visited India as a member of the delegation of Chinese culture and art in 1951. In 1952, he served as the director of China-India Friendship Association, and published the article *Congratulations on “Asian Week” Held around India* in *People's Daily*. In 1953, he published *China-India Cultural Exchanges* in *Journal of Literature and Art*. In 1954, 67 people of Chinese cultural delegation, with him as the head, visited India for 41 days. In 1955, he published the article *Everlasting Artistic Creation of Indian People* in *Xinhua Monthly* to talk about and praise Ajanta Caves art. Third, he carried on the comparative study on Indian and Chinese literature. He wrote many articles such as *Coincidences and Variations of Folk Tales in Different Cultures*, *Milkmaid*, *Adaptation of the Fable of the Zhongshan Wolf* to compare Chinese stories with Indian ones. He once said, "there are many funny and foolish jokes in *Twenty-five Stories of Demon (Vetālapahcavimsatika)*, *Seventy-two Stories of Parrot (Sukasaptati)* and *Five Buddhist Scriptures (Panchatantra)* of India's huge stories collection *Katharsitsagar*". In his works, he also talked about how Indian literature has influenced Chinese literature through Buddhism. He said that, "The origin of Bianwen cannot not be credited to India", and that "Our important folk literatures, such as Tanci, Buddha song and Guci, are also created under the influence from India." His researches have provided a model for the subsequent researchers of comparative literature in China.
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(*Xue Keqiao*)
Linked texts (4)
- Kathāsaritsāgara — Somadeva Bhaṭṭa, Sanskrit
- Pañcatantra — Viṣṇuśarman, Sanskrit
- Śukasaptati — Sanskrit
- Vetālapañcaviṃśatikā — Sanskrit