Huang Xiang
Encyclopedia
Huang Xiang was born on December 26, 1941 in Guidong County
of Hunan Province. Xiang is currently one of the greatest poet
s of the 20th century and a master calligrapher. Beginning at a young age Xiang began to write poetry touching areas such as: “politics, philosophy, the beauty of the rural provinces, spiritual life, and his beloved literary ancestors.” In a few of the articles written about it is suggested that he may have been influenced to write poetry after finding a piece that his father had written before he got killed. Growing up Xiang had to face a lot of barriers due to being raised in China
.
. The revolution was spear-headed by the then ruler, Mao Zedong
. Mao was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and disagreed with the recent trend of capitalism
in the nation. Mao had ruled since 1949, all the while creating unease throughout the country.
Xiang's social class prohibited him from finishing school past elementary school
which troubled him. At a young age his father was captured and shot towards the end of the Communist Revolution. Around the age of nine Xiang was accused of poisoning the well, so he was punished by being kept in a dark room for three days, and paraded through the streets during the day. Between 1959 and 1995 Huang Xiang was imprisoned six times, doing a total of twelve years in Chinese prison
s and labor camp
s. In 1995 the Writers Publishing House
in Beijing
signed a contract to publish a series of his works.” Unfortunately after the release of his first edition, his writing was banned in China for forty years. This did not stop him though; he continued to write poetry although he had to rely on his memory since was not allowed to write it on paper. Later in 1978, Xiang began the movement for democracy
by traveling 1,500 miles to post on the Democracy Wall
in Beijing. This movement helped gather respect for human rights
and democracy. After all Xiang went through from writing poetry he really began to get noticed. In 1994 and 2007, he received the Hellman-Hammett award for his work. In 1996, two years after receiving his first Hellman-Hammett award Xiang was once again named the "leader of counterrevolutionary clique," because of his literary pursuits. Because of this Xiang and his wife had to leave China, luckily they were granted asylum in the United States
. (Hutton, 2)
In October 2004 Huang was asked to be a guest writer in Pittsburgh for the North American Network of Cities of Asylum. Xiang stayed with the City of Asylum in Pittsburgh for a total of two years to write poetry. After completing his residency with the City of Asylum, Xiang moved to New York
with his wife Zhang Ling. In 2008, he returned to china to visit his friends and family he has not seen in eleven years. Today Xiang's mission is to use art to build a bridge between East and West in order to promote a universal humanity; this is what got him and William Rock together to work on the Century Mountain
Project. The two of them have come together in order to do a collaboration of art that "creates a 'visual dialogue across humanity'."
. The City of Asylum "provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment, or persecution in their native countries." When Xiang became a guest writer for the City of Asylum he was put in a furnished house, given a living stipend, medical coverage, and was given help adjusting to the changes. Shortly after coming to Sampsonia way Xiang started something that became motivation to the new writers in exile. On the outside of his house he showed his work by painting huge calligraphers of his poetry from top to bottom. Although Xiang moved on and is no longer with the City of Asylum the house he once lived in is still painted with his work and was given the title, "House Poem." He is the first of four poets that designed the outside of their home to demonstrate their work. Because of what Xiang has started Sampsonia Way has became an alley of beautiful artwork that show a little about who these writers are that live or lived in the houses.
2. Ald, Masha. January 10, 2010. Artist of the Week-Huang Xiang and William Rock. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.public-republic.net/artist-of-the-week-huang-xiang-and-william-rock.php/.
3. Century Montian. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century-Mountain.
4. City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://www.cityofasylumpittsburgh.org/
5. Honigman, Brian. June 2, 2010. Walk Down Sampsonia Way: House Poem by Huang Xiang. Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http://www.sampsoniaway.org/blog/2010/06/02/walk-down-sampsonia-way-house-poem-by-huang-xiang.
6. Huang Xiang, a brief biography. In ICORN. Retrieved August 29, 2011, from http://www.icorn.org/articles.php?var=71.
7. Hutton, Susan. Writing on the Wall. Retrieved August 31, 2011, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/article/178260.
8. Joseph, William A. "China's Cultural Revolution: A Brief Overview." New York: Oxford Press. 2. (2001): n. page. Print. http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/brief-intro.html.
Guidong County
Guidong County is a county of Hunan, China. It is under the administration of Chenzhou city.-References:*...
of Hunan Province. Xiang is currently one of the greatest poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s of the 20th century and a master calligrapher. Beginning at a young age Xiang began to write poetry touching areas such as: “politics, philosophy, the beauty of the rural provinces, spiritual life, and his beloved literary ancestors.” In a few of the articles written about it is suggested that he may have been influenced to write poetry after finding a piece that his father had written before he got killed. Growing up Xiang had to face a lot of barriers due to being raised in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Biography
There was great turmoil in China especially during the Great Politarian Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. The revolution was spear-headed by the then ruler, Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. Mao was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and disagreed with the recent trend of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in the nation. Mao had ruled since 1949, all the while creating unease throughout the country.
Xiang's social class prohibited him from finishing school past elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
which troubled him. At a young age his father was captured and shot towards the end of the Communist Revolution. Around the age of nine Xiang was accused of poisoning the well, so he was punished by being kept in a dark room for three days, and paraded through the streets during the day. Between 1959 and 1995 Huang Xiang was imprisoned six times, doing a total of twelve years in Chinese prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s and labor camp
Labor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
s. In 1995 the Writers Publishing House
Writers Publishing House
The Writers Publishing House is a large-scale publishing house in mainland China. It was established in 1953, and was attached to the Chinese Publishing Association . It publishes mostly contemporary literature, and has published several bestselling novels...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
signed a contract to publish a series of his works.” Unfortunately after the release of his first edition, his writing was banned in China for forty years. This did not stop him though; he continued to write poetry although he had to rely on his memory since was not allowed to write it on paper. Later in 1978, Xiang began the movement for democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
by traveling 1,500 miles to post on the Democracy Wall
Democracy Wall
The Democracy Wall was a long brick wall on Xidan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, which became the focus for democratic dissent. Beginning in December 1978, in line with the Communist Party of China's policy of "seeking truth from facts," activists in the Democracy movement—such as Xu...
in Beijing. This movement helped gather respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and democracy. After all Xiang went through from writing poetry he really began to get noticed. In 1994 and 2007, he received the Hellman-Hammett award for his work. In 1996, two years after receiving his first Hellman-Hammett award Xiang was once again named the "leader of counterrevolutionary clique," because of his literary pursuits. Because of this Xiang and his wife had to leave China, luckily they were granted asylum in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (Hutton, 2)
In October 2004 Huang was asked to be a guest writer in Pittsburgh for the North American Network of Cities of Asylum. Xiang stayed with the City of Asylum in Pittsburgh for a total of two years to write poetry. After completing his residency with the City of Asylum, Xiang moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with his wife Zhang Ling. In 2008, he returned to china to visit his friends and family he has not seen in eleven years. Today Xiang's mission is to use art to build a bridge between East and West in order to promote a universal humanity; this is what got him and William Rock together to work on the Century Mountain
Century Mountain
The Century Mountain Project is an East/West collaboration of art between the Chinese poet and calligrapher Huang Xiang and American artist William Rock...
Project. The two of them have come together in order to do a collaboration of art that "creates a 'visual dialogue across humanity'."
City of Asylum
Huang Xiang was the very first guest writer during the summer of 2004, in the City of Asylum. This is a program that is located on the North Side of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The City of Asylum "provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment, or persecution in their native countries." When Xiang became a guest writer for the City of Asylum he was put in a furnished house, given a living stipend, medical coverage, and was given help adjusting to the changes. Shortly after coming to Sampsonia way Xiang started something that became motivation to the new writers in exile. On the outside of his house he showed his work by painting huge calligraphers of his poetry from top to bottom. Although Xiang moved on and is no longer with the City of Asylum the house he once lived in is still painted with his work and was given the title, "House Poem." He is the first of four poets that designed the outside of their home to demonstrate their work. Because of what Xiang has started Sampsonia Way has became an alley of beautiful artwork that show a little about who these writers are that live or lived in the houses.
Sources:
1. About Sampsonia Way. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://www.sampsoniaway.org/about-coa/.2. Ald, Masha. January 10, 2010. Artist of the Week-Huang Xiang and William Rock. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.public-republic.net/artist-of-the-week-huang-xiang-and-william-rock.php/.
3. Century Montian. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century-Mountain.
4. City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://www.cityofasylumpittsburgh.org/
5. Honigman, Brian. June 2, 2010. Walk Down Sampsonia Way: House Poem by Huang Xiang. Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http://www.sampsoniaway.org/blog/2010/06/02/walk-down-sampsonia-way-house-poem-by-huang-xiang.
6. Huang Xiang, a brief biography. In ICORN. Retrieved August 29, 2011, from http://www.icorn.org/articles.php?var=71.
7. Hutton, Susan. Writing on the Wall. Retrieved August 31, 2011, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/article/178260.
8. Joseph, William A. "China's Cultural Revolution: A Brief Overview." New York: Oxford Press. 2. (2001): n. page. Print. http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/brief-intro.html.