Lao She - Lao She

Chinese novelist and playwright. Born a Manchu bannerman, his real name was Shu Qingchun. In 1900, his father was killed in battle against the Eight-Nation Alliance, and he grew up alone in the poor back alleys of Beijing. In 1918, he graduated from Beijing Normal School and became a teacher to support his family. In 1924, he was appointed as a Chinese teacher at the Oriental School, University of London, and during his five years there he published three full-length novels, including The Philosophy of Mr. Zhang (1926), and is known for his unique style of humor and satire. After returning to China in 1930, he taught at Qilu University in Jinan, and from 1934 at Shandong University in Qingdao, while energetically writing many long and short novels. He is known for his novels "Cat City Records" (1933) and "Divorce" (1933), his representative work "Camellia Xiangzi" (1936), and the short story collections "Kanshu" (1934), "Oukaishu" (1935), and "Kousoshu" (1936). During the war of resistance against Japan, he became the head of the All-China Literary and Artistic Society of the Anti-Enemy Association, and was active in publishing the journal "Anti-War Literature" and creating anti-Japanese popular literature. He also wrote the masterpiece "Four Generations in One Hall" (trilogy, 1945-50), which depicts Beijing under Japanese occupation.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he turned to playwriting, and was awarded the title of Beijing People's Artist for "Longshugou" (1950), and wrote about 20 plays, including "Tea House" (1957) and "Divine Fist" (1961), leaving a significant mark on the Chinese new drama world. His style of writing, which applied the techniques of popular literature to novels and new dramas, and behind the humorous and pathos-filled eloquence of a comic writer, there was a brilliant vivid depiction of the lives of the poor common people, a calm recognition of reality, nationalistic passion, and a strong sense of justice for the common people, which captured the hearts of a wide range of readers. Shortly after the start of the Cultural Revolution on August 24, 1966, he was persecuted by the Red Guards as the chairman of the Beijing Municipal Literary Union and died an untimely death.

[Keiichi Ito]

"The Complete Works of Lao She, 10 volumes (1982-83, Gakken)" ▽ "The Jewels of Lao She, translated by Li Bo (1982, Taishukan Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国の小説家、劇作家。満州旗人の出身で、本名は舒慶春(じょけいしゅん)。1900年父は八か国連合軍との戦いで戦死、母の手ひとつで北京(ペキン)の貧しい路地裏に育つ。18年北京師範学枚を卒業、教職について家計を支える。24年ロンドン大学東方学院に中国語教師として赴任、5年滞在する間に『張(チャン)さんの哲学』（1926）など長編3編を発表、独自のユーモアと風刺の作風で知られる。30年帰国後、済南の斉魯(せいろ)大学、34年から青島(チンタオ)の山東大学で教鞭(きょうべん)をとりつつ多くの長・短編小説を精力的に執筆。長編『猫城記(もうじょうき)』（1933）、『離婚』（1933）、代表作『駱駝祥子(ロートーシアンツ)』（1936）、短編集『趕集(かんしゅう)』（1934）、『桜海集(おうかいしゅう)』（1935）、『蛤藻集(こうそうしゅう)』（1936）などが著名。抗日戦中は中華全国文芸界抗敵協会の責任者となり、機関誌『抗戦文芸』の刊行や抗日大衆文芸の創作に活躍、また日本軍占領下の北京を描いた大作『四世同堂』（三部作。1945～50）を書く。

　新中国成立後は劇作に転じ、『龍鬚溝(りゅうしゅこう)』（1950）で北京人民芸術家の称号を受けたほか、『茶館(ちゃかん)』（1957）、『神拳(しんけん)』（1961）など約20編の劇作があり、中国新劇界に大きな足跡を残す。彼の作風は、大衆文芸の技法を小説や新劇に生かし、ユーモアとペーソスを交えた戯作者(げさくしゃ)的饒舌(じょうぜつ)の裏に、貧しい庶民生活のみごとな活写、冷静な現実認識、民族主義的情熱、強烈な庶民的正義心などがあって、広範な読者の心をとらえた。1966年8月24日文化大革命が始まってまもなく、彼は北京市文連主席として紅衛兵の迫害を受け非業の死を遂げた。

［伊藤敬一］

『『老舎小説全集』全10巻（1982～83・学習研究社）』▽『黎波訳『老舎珠玉』（1982・大修館書店）』

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