Science fiction in China
Encyclopedia
In China, science fiction (科幻, pinyin
: Kehuan) has had more than a century of history.
, was part of what attracted Chinese attention.
Liang Qichao
was the first to announce the arrival of science fiction in China with his translation of Jules Verne
's "Fifteen Little Heroes" into Classical Chinese
(wen yan wen). The May Fourth Movement
, with its advocacy of the cultural ideals of democracy and science, included the advancement of science fiction. Many famous Chinese scholars translated and wrote science fiction.
In 1903, Lu Xun
, then a young foreign student at the Kobun Gakuin (弘文學院; Kobun Institute) in Japan translated Jules Verne's "The Cannon Club" and "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" from Japanese into Classical Chinese. Lu Xun then also modified these into another traditional Chinese style (zhang wei ban) and added explanatory notes. He rendered these stories into a wholly Chinese literary form. He translated many of Verne's and H.G. Wells' classical stories, advancing science fiction by his periodical publications.
China's earliest purely literary periodical, "Xiao Shuo Lin" (小說林) ("Story Forest") founded by Xu Nianci (徐念慈) not only published translated science fiction, but also the original story "Xin Faluo Xiansheng Tan" (新法螺先生譚) ("New Mr. Tan Triton"). The famous writer Lao She
also composed a story called "Mao Cheng Ji" (貓城記) ("Tale of Cat City") containing SF characteristics.
, science fiction literature continued to flourish. In this period the genre adopted a popular science approach and directed the majority of its stories towards the younger reader. Besides popularizing science, SF promoted the country's wonderful socialist future. The theme is comparable to the contemporary Soviet style of socialist literature.
's "Xiao Lingtong's Travels in the Future" (小灵通漫游未来) marked the revival of science fiction literature in China.
Zheng Wenguang
, called the father of Chinese science fiction, dedicated himself to writing science fiction in the 50s, and in the 70s again devoted himself to this task. He composed many important science fiction works. In 1980 he became a member of the World SF Association. A representative work is "Flying to the Centaur."
Tong Enzheng
wrote "Death Ray on a Coral Island" which was made into China's first SF movie.
Other important writers of this period include Liu Xingshi, Wang Xiaoda, etc.
. He wrote numerous stories, many with the characters Wei Sili
and Yuan Zhenxia. He was famous in other fields and has been praised for the number of his works. A representative Ni Kuang story is "Blue Blood Man" ("Lan Xue Ren"). Many Hong Kong movies have been made from Ni's stories.
Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign
In 1983-1984 Biao Qian labelled science fiction "spiritual pollution" in the "anti-spiritual pollution" campaign, which had grave consequences for the economy and culture. Ye Yonglie, Tong Enzheng, Liu Xingshi and Xiao Jianheng were condemned for slander, and the science fiction genre almost expired during this campaign.
(Kehuan Shijie). In the early 1990s it grew to become the science fiction publication with the highest circulation in China. In its pages appeared a large group of outstanding Chinese science fiction writers, including Xing He, Liu Cixin
, Wang Jinkang, Qian Lifang, He Xi, and others. The magazine also presented major foreign authors and popularized science and science fiction.
On March 31, 2011, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television issued guidelines that strongly discouraged storylines including "fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking."
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Kehuan) has had more than a century of history.
Early translations
The history of science fiction in China began with the keen interest in the West that existed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth Centuries. Science fiction, a cultural phenomenon emerging from Western Europe's Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, was part of what attracted Chinese attention.
Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao |Styled]] Zhuoru, ; Pseudonym: Rengong) was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher and reformist during the Qing Dynasty , who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements...
was the first to announce the arrival of science fiction in China with his translation of Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
's "Fifteen Little Heroes" into Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese...
(wen yan wen). The May Fourth Movement
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...
, with its advocacy of the cultural ideals of democracy and science, included the advancement of science fiction. Many famous Chinese scholars translated and wrote science fiction.
In 1903, 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...
, then a young foreign student at the Kobun Gakuin (弘文學院; Kobun Institute) in Japan translated Jules Verne's "The Cannon Club" and "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" from Japanese into Classical Chinese. Lu Xun then also modified these into another traditional Chinese style (zhang wei ban) and added explanatory notes. He rendered these stories into a wholly Chinese literary form. He translated many of Verne's and H.G. Wells' classical stories, advancing science fiction by his periodical publications.
Early Original Chinese Science Fiction
China's earliest original science fiction was "Yueqiu Zhimindi Xiaoshuo" (月球殖民地小說) ("Lunar Colony"), published in 1904.http://book.sina.com.cn/review/f/2007-08-28/1811220180.shtml The writer's pen name was "Huang Jiang Diao Sou" (荒江釣叟) ("Secluded River's Old Fisherman"). The story concerns Long Menghua, who flees China with his wife after killing a government official who was harassing his wife's family. The ship they escape on is accidentally sunk and Long's wife disappears. However, Long is rescued by Otoro Tama, the Japanese inventor of a dirigible. They travel Southeast Asia searching for Long's wife, joining with a group of anti-Qing martial artists, and rescue her from bandits. Deciding that the nations of the world are too corrupt, they all travel to the moon and establish a new colony.China's earliest purely literary periodical, "Xiao Shuo Lin" (小說林) ("Story Forest") founded by Xu Nianci (徐念慈) not only published translated science fiction, but also the original story "Xin Faluo Xiansheng Tan" (新法螺先生譚) ("New Mr. Tan Triton"). The famous writer Lao She
Lao She
Shu Qingchun , better known by his pen name Lao She was a notable Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most significant figures of 20th century Chinese literature, and is perhaps best known for his novel Rickshaw Boy and the play Teahouse . He was of Manchu ethnicity...
also composed a story called "Mao Cheng Ji" (貓城記) ("Tale of Cat City") containing SF characteristics.
After Establishment of People's Republic of China
In 1949 with the founding of the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, science fiction literature continued to flourish. In this period the genre adopted a popular science approach and directed the majority of its stories towards the younger reader. Besides popularizing science, SF promoted the country's wonderful socialist future. The theme is comparable to the contemporary Soviet style of socialist literature.
The Deng Reform Era
In March 1978, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council convened a national scientific congress in Beijing, proclaiming to China, "Science's spring has come." Scientific enthusiasm and popular science followed, greatly promoting the development of science fiction in China. The publication of Ye YonglieYe Yonglie
Ye Yonglie is a Chinese writer of science fiction and biographies. A few of his stories have been translated into English in The Road to Science Fiction series and elsewhere. During the “Campaign Against Spiritual Pollution” his works were attacked and a story he wrote in 1985 was suppressed for...
's "Xiao Lingtong's Travels in the Future" (小灵通漫游未来) marked the revival of science fiction literature in China.
Zheng Wenguang
Zheng Wenguang
Zheng Wenguang was a Chinese science fiction writer.Zheng was born in Vietnam, but moved to China in 1947. He was first published in 1954 and continued to write until a stroke in 1983. That stated he had to quit writing science fiction during the Cultural Revolution due to official pressure.He...
, called the father of Chinese science fiction, dedicated himself to writing science fiction in the 50s, and in the 70s again devoted himself to this task. He composed many important science fiction works. In 1980 he became a member of the World SF Association. A representative work is "Flying to the Centaur."
Tong Enzheng
Tong Enzheng
Tong Enzheng was a prominent Chinese archaeologist, historian, designer, and science fiction author.- Career :Tong authored the textbook Cultural Anthropology and specialized in early southwest China. He also was involved in redesigning the Sichuan University Museum. He also became noted for his...
wrote "Death Ray on a Coral Island" which was made into China's first SF movie.
Other important writers of this period include Liu Xingshi, Wang Xiaoda, etc.
Ni Kuang
One major SF writer was Ni KuangNi Kuang
Ni Kuang , also known as Ngai Hong, I Kuang or Yi Kuang, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese novelist and screenwriter, with more than 300 published wuxia and science fiction novels and more than 400 film scripts. He is the brother of another romance novelist, Yi Shu.-Life:Born Ni Chong , he grew up in...
. He wrote numerous stories, many with the characters Wei Sili
Wisely
Wisely series , sometimes transliterated "Wesley", is a series of novels about the fictional character of the same name, created by author Ni Kuang....
and Yuan Zhenxia. He was famous in other fields and has been praised for the number of his works. A representative Ni Kuang story is "Blue Blood Man" ("Lan Xue Ren"). Many Hong Kong movies have been made from Ni's stories.
Anti-Spiritual Pollution CampaignAnti-Spiritual Pollution CampaignThe Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign was a Chinese political campaign spanning from October 1983 to December 1983, started by political factions in the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party that feared the spreading of Western liberal ideas among the Chinese populace, a product of the then...
In 1983-1984 Biao Qian labelled science fiction "spiritual pollution" in the "anti-spiritual pollution" campaign, which had grave consequences for the economy and culture. Ye Yonglie, Tong Enzheng, Liu Xingshi and Xiao Jianheng were condemned for slander, and the science fiction genre almost expired during this campaign.Science Fiction World
In 1978, the publication Scientific Literature was founded, becoming the most significant SF periodical. Its editorial office was in Chengdu, Sichuan. Its name was changed to Science Fiction WorldScience Fiction World
Science Fiction World , began in 1979, is a monthly science fiction magazine published in the People's Republic of China, headquartered in Chengdu, Sichuan...
(Kehuan Shijie). In the early 1990s it grew to become the science fiction publication with the highest circulation in China. In its pages appeared a large group of outstanding Chinese science fiction writers, including Xing He, Liu Cixin
Liu Cixin
Liu Cixin ， an eight-time winner of the Galaxy Award for science-fiction writing and an awardee of the Xingyun Awards, is the most prolific and popular science fiction writer in the People's Republic of China...
, Wang Jinkang, Qian Lifang, He Xi, and others. The magazine also presented major foreign authors and popularized science and science fiction.
1990s and early 21st century
In 1991 and 2000, China held international science fiction conventions in Chengdu and Beijing respectively.On March 31, 2011, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television issued guidelines that strongly discouraged storylines including "fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking."