Sheng Xue
Encyclopedia
SHENG, Xue is the pen name of ZANG, Xihong , a famous Chinese-Canadian journalist and writer, and human rights activist.
She also has an English name Reimonna Sheng (sometimes wrongly spelled as Remona Sheng), which was used in the two movies she starred.
).
SHENG Xue is a member of PEN Canada, and also a member of The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC), both of which belong to International PEN
. She is a member of the Writers in Prison Committee of ICPC.
SHENG Xue is the Canadian correspondent of Radio Free Asia
and the North American correspondent of Deutsche Welle
(Voice of Germany). She is also a regular commentator or columnist for a couple of media.
In 2001, she received the "Canadian Association for Journalists Award" for Investigative Journalism, and the Canada's "National Magazine Award", for an investigative report, The Smuggler's Slaves, on the lives of Chinese boat refugees published in the Canadian magazine Maclean's
. She is the first Chinese Canadian to win such prestigious awards.
In 2005, she won the Journalism and Media Award from the "National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada", which was for her outstanding achievements, contributions, and community service and in recognition of her efforts in promoting understanding the traditions and the interests of Chinese-Canadian communities, her leadership, courage and dedication for the promotion of multiculturalism, human rights, respect of human and cultural values, integrity and equality among all Canadians.
In 2001, Sheng Xue investigated China's most prominent smuggling case and published a book (in Chinese), Unveiling the Yuan Hua Case , which soon became a best seller in Chinese communities outside China and created shock waves both inside and outside China. China's Propaganda Ministry immediately banned the book.
A collection of SHENG Xue's poems (in Chinese), Seeking the Soul of Snow , was published in Jan 2008 by United Writers Press, Hong Kong. The poetry book has also been banned in China.
United Writers Press also published a collection of SHENG Xue's essays (in Chinese), Lyricism From a Fierce Critic in August 2008. This book has also been banned in China.
She also starred two Canadian movies, Small Pleasures in 1993, and Chinese Chocolate in 1995. She also starred a stage drama (in Chinese), He Zhu Xin Pei , in 1997.
SHENG Xue was the Writer In Residence at Carlton University, Ottawa
, in the winter of 2007, the Writer In Residence at McMaster University
for the winter of 2009, and the Writer In Exile of Edmonton
during Sept. 2009 - August 2010.
SHENG Xue is a key leader of overseas Chinese pro-democratic movement. She is the chairperson of June 4th Massacre Investigation; Vice-Chairperson of The Federation for a Democratic China
, Board member of Forum for Democratization of China and Asia. She established a group “Ten Dollar Can” in 2004, which is to encourage people to donate Ten Dollars per month and send to writers and journalists in prison, as well as other political prisoners, in China. She is also a founder of China Rights Network, a coalition of a number of organisations including Falundafa Human Right Association, Federation for a Democratic China
, Students for a Free Tibet
, Taiwanese Human Right Association of Canada, Tibetan Women's Association of Ontario, Tibetan Youth Congress
, Uyghur Canadian Association
, World Federalists of Canada, etc.
All of these three books have been banned in China.
from 1930–1931, and the president of Dongbei University from 1937-1947. He also held some other important government/academy positions in China before 1949, and in Taiwan after 1949.
Grand Mother WANG Shuqing
(Note: "Zang", an English translation of the Chinese surname
"臧", is also spelled as "Tsang", especially in Taiwan.)
She also has an English name Reimonna Sheng (sometimes wrongly spelled as Remona Sheng), which was used in the two movies she starred.
Background
SHENG Xue grew up in Beijing, and moved to Canada soon after the June Fourth Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 (see Tiananmen Square protests of 1989Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
).
SHENG Xue is a member of PEN Canada, and also a member of The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC), both of which belong to International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
. She is a member of the Writers in Prison Committee of ICPC.
SHENG Xue is the Canadian correspondent of Radio Free Asia
Radio Free Asia
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation that operates a radio station and Internet news service. RFA was founded by an act of the US Congress and is operated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors . The RFA is supported in part by grants from the federal government of the United States...
and the North American correspondent of Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
(Voice of Germany). She is also a regular commentator or columnist for a couple of media.
In 2001, she received the "Canadian Association for Journalists Award" for Investigative Journalism, and the Canada's "National Magazine Award", for an investigative report, The Smuggler's Slaves, on the lives of Chinese boat refugees published in the Canadian magazine Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
. She is the first Chinese Canadian to win such prestigious awards.
In 2005, she won the Journalism and Media Award from the "National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada", which was for her outstanding achievements, contributions, and community service and in recognition of her efforts in promoting understanding the traditions and the interests of Chinese-Canadian communities, her leadership, courage and dedication for the promotion of multiculturalism, human rights, respect of human and cultural values, integrity and equality among all Canadians.
In 2001, Sheng Xue investigated China's most prominent smuggling case and published a book (in Chinese), Unveiling the Yuan Hua Case , which soon became a best seller in Chinese communities outside China and created shock waves both inside and outside China. China's Propaganda Ministry immediately banned the book.
A collection of SHENG Xue's poems (in Chinese), Seeking the Soul of Snow , was published in Jan 2008 by United Writers Press, Hong Kong. The poetry book has also been banned in China.
United Writers Press also published a collection of SHENG Xue's essays (in Chinese), Lyricism From a Fierce Critic in August 2008. This book has also been banned in China.
She also starred two Canadian movies, Small Pleasures in 1993, and Chinese Chocolate in 1995. She also starred a stage drama (in Chinese), He Zhu Xin Pei , in 1997.
SHENG Xue was the Writer In Residence at Carlton University, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, in the winter of 2007, the Writer In Residence at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
for the winter of 2009, and the Writer In Exile of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
during Sept. 2009 - August 2010.
SHENG Xue is a key leader of overseas Chinese pro-democratic movement. She is the chairperson of June 4th Massacre Investigation; Vice-Chairperson of The Federation for a Democratic China
Federation for a Democratic China
Federation for a Democratic China is an interest group that advocates the democratization of China through opposition of the Communist Party of China and support of human rights. It was founded on September 22, 1989 in Paris, France, following the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Incident. It was a party of...
, Board member of Forum for Democratization of China and Asia. She established a group “Ten Dollar Can” in 2004, which is to encourage people to donate Ten Dollars per month and send to writers and journalists in prison, as well as other political prisoners, in China. She is also a founder of China Rights Network, a coalition of a number of organisations including Falundafa Human Right Association, Federation for a Democratic China
Federation for a Democratic China
Federation for a Democratic China is an interest group that advocates the democratization of China through opposition of the Communist Party of China and support of human rights. It was founded on September 22, 1989 in Paris, France, following the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Incident. It was a party of...
, Students for a Free Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet
Students For a Free Tibet is a global grassroots network of students and activists working in solidarity with the Tibetan people for human rights and freedom. The group uses education, advocacy, and nonviolent direct action with the goal of achieving Tibetan independence...
, Taiwanese Human Right Association of Canada, Tibetan Women's Association of Ontario, Tibetan Youth Congress
Tibetan Youth Congress
The Tibetan Youth Congress is an international non-governmental organization that advocates the independence of Tibet from China. With around 30,000 members in the Tibetan diaspora, it is the largest of the pro-independence organizations of Tibetan exiles...
, Uyghur Canadian Association
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
, World Federalists of Canada, etc.
Books
- Unveiling the Yuan Hua Case , Mirror Books, New York, USA, 2001. ISBN 962-8744-46-1.
- Seeking the Soul of Snow , United Writers Press, Hong Kong, Jan 2008. ISBN 978-988-17205-1-1.
- Lyricism From a Fierce Critic , United Writers Press, Hong Kong, August 2008. ISBN 978-988-17205-6-6.
All of these three books have been banned in China.
Starring
- Small Pleasures , 1993 film, Canada. (Reimonna Sheng as Zhao Qing)
- Chinese Chocolate , 1995 film, Canada. (Remona Sheng as Francis Huang)
- He Zhu Xin Pei , 1997 stage drama in Chinese, Canada. (Sheng Xue as He Zhu)
Family
Grand Father TSANG Chifang (The spelling of the English given name needs to be confirmed) was the Mayor of TianjinTianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
from 1930–1931, and the president of Dongbei University from 1937-1947. He also held some other important government/academy positions in China before 1949, and in Taiwan after 1949.
Grand Mother WANG Shuqing
- Father ZANG Pengnian
- Mother LI Guiqing
- Elder brother ZANG Sam
- Younger sister ZANG Grace
- Husband DONG Xin
- Aunt ZANG Mulian
- Aunt TSANG Susan
- Uncle TSANG Gregory
- Aunt TSANG Snow Lily is a retired computer programmer.
- Cousin Edward Tsang Lu (born July 1, 1963) is an American physicistPhysicistA physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, son of Snow Lily Tsang.
- Cousin Edward Tsang Lu (born July 1, 1963) is an American physicist
- Uncle TSANG Monty
(Note: "Zang", an English translation of the Chinese surname
Chinese surname
Chinese family names have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among overseas Chinese communities. In ancient times two types of surnames, family names and clan names , existed.The colloquial expressions laobaixing...
"臧", is also spelled as "Tsang", especially in Taiwan.)