Peking University, Apr, 24, 2012: Yu Guangzhong, a renowned contemporary poet, writer and critic in the Chinese language world, was awarded as "Poet-in-residence" at Peking University (PKU) on April, 20.
Yu's poems,with the theme of nostalgia have deeply touched the heartstrings of numerous Chinese. Nostalgia is one of the most famous poems written by him. His poetry collections include Blue feather, In the Cold war and Tug-of-war with eternity etc. He has also published many volumes of essays and literary criticism.
Yu, now aged 84, was admitted to PKU in 1947, but stayed in Nanjing University because of the war. Then, he went to Xiamen University and graduated from National Taiwan University. After 65 years of seperating, he finally came back to PKU as "Poet-in-residence".
Interestingly, the then-president of National Taiwan University was PKU graduate Fu Sinian when Yu was there. Besides, PKU professor Hu Shi had ever given Yu some advice on his to-be published work "Chinese Modern Poems". When teaching at Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yu heard that the former PKU president Cai Yuanpei was buried in Hong Kong. He then paid a visit there and wrote the poem: "The buried one once cradled the May Fourth Movement".
Yu plans to stay at PKU for a month every year and deliver three lectures during the tme. “I am hoping I will be able to write some poems by Weiming Lake”, Yu sai, “PKU students who have interests in poem may come to me and I would like to share my experiences with them”.
Zhu Shanlu, Chairman of PKU Council, expressed his expectation that Yu would take the responsibility of promoting the Chinese culture communication, passing it on and bringing the magnificent Chinese culture to the world.
Extended Reading:
Nostalgia
-----by Yu Guangzhong
When I was a child,
Nostalgia seemed a small stamp:
"Here am I
And there …my mother."
Then I was a grown-up,
Nostalgia became a traveling ticket:
"Here am I
And there…my bride."
During the later years,
Nostalgia turned to be a graveyard:
"Here am I
And yonder…my mother."
And now at present,
Nostalgia looms large to be a channel:
"Here am I
And yonder…my Continent!"
Written by: Fang Runiu
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
