Hsia Chih-tsing
Encyclopedia
Hsia Chih-tsing (also C. T. Hsia; born 1921) is a renowned Chinese
literary critic and an academic. He was born in Pudong
, Shanghai
. Hsia graduated at the defunct University of Shanghai. At September 1946, he followed his brother to Peking University
to be a teacher's aide. During this period of time, he continued to study Western literature. Hsia, through an excellent thesis on the William Blake
Archive was awarded a scholarship to Yale University
. He went to the United States
in 1947, and received his Ph.D. from Yale University
in 1951. Hsia then went to teach at the University of Michigan
, State University of New York
and the University of Pittsburgh
. Due to the Cold War, there was very little information about Chinese literature then. Hsia was thus considered a pioneer in this aspect, and his work remains one of the major textbooks in the study of modern Chinese literature
.
In "A History Of Modern Chinese Fiction", Hsia praised the works of several less-known and established Chinese authors then, including Qian Zhongshu
, Eileen Chang
and Shen Congwen
. Through Hsia's work, more people began to pay attention to these authors' works, so that they entered mainstream recognition.
Despite his ground-breaking seminal work receiving great recognition and praise, Hsia's work was criticized for various reasons. Hsia did not give the renowned Lu Xun
a very favourable opinion in "A History Of Modern Chinese Fiction". This was criticized by Czech critic Jaroslav Prusek, who denounced Hsia's research and writing as being "unscientific".
at the age of 85, making him the oldest person ever so named to which Hsia joked that he felt like was "a new bride". .
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
literary critic and an academic. He was born in Pudong
Pudong
Pudong |Bank]]") is an area of Shanghai, China, located along the east side of the Huangpu River, across from the historic city center of Shanghai in Puxi. Formerly a little-developed agricultural area linked only by ferries, Pudong has grown rapidly since the 1990s and emerged as China's financial...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Hsia graduated at the defunct University of Shanghai. At September 1946, he followed his brother to Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
to be a teacher's aide. During this period of time, he continued to study Western literature. Hsia, through an excellent thesis on the William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
Archive was awarded a scholarship to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1947, and received his Ph.D. from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1951. Hsia then went to teach at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
and the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
A History of Modern Chinese Fiction
His seminal work, A History of Modern Chinese Fiction, published in 1961, is credited with introducing the West to the literary movements of the 1930s and 1940s in mainland ChinaMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. Due to the Cold War, there was very little information about Chinese literature then. Hsia was thus considered a pioneer in this aspect, and his work remains one of the major textbooks in the study of modern Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
.
In "A History Of Modern Chinese Fiction", Hsia praised the works of several less-known and established Chinese authors then, including Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages...
, Eileen Chang
Eileen Chang
Eileen Chang was a Chinese writer. Her most famous works include Lust, Caution and Love in a Fallen City....
and Shen Congwen
Shen Congwen
Shen Congwen was the pen name of a Miao Chinese writer from the May Fourth Movement. He was known for combining the vernacular style of writing with classical Chinese writing techniques, and his writing also reflects a strong influence from western literature. He was born as Shen Yuehuan on 1902...
. Through Hsia's work, more people began to pay attention to these authors' works, so that they entered mainstream recognition.
Despite his ground-breaking seminal work receiving great recognition and praise, Hsia's work was criticized for various reasons. Hsia did not give the renowned Lu Xun
Lu Xun
Lu Xun or Lu Hsün , was the pen name of Zhou Shuren , one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century. Considered by many to be the leading figure of modern Chinese literature, he wrote in baihua as well as classical Chinese...
a very favourable opinion in "A History Of Modern Chinese Fiction". This was criticized by Czech critic Jaroslav Prusek, who denounced Hsia's research and writing as being "unscientific".
Current Status
In 2006, he was elected to the Academia SinicaAcademia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
at the age of 85, making him the oldest person ever so named to which Hsia joked that he felt like was "a new bride". .