[Civilian] Xiao Hong
Description:
Born:
1911, Heilongjiang
Death:
1942, Hong Kong
(Text by Tommy C. K. Tong)
Pre-war:
Xiao Hong, born as Zhang Naiying, came from a landlord family in Hulan Prefecture (later Hulan County), Heilongjiang. While her father Zhang Tingju was a local educator, she seemed to dislike having her life controlled by her parents, leading to multiple attempts to run away from home at a young age in pursuit of knowledge, freedom, and love. During this period, she experienced various life challenges including escaping an arranged marriage, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, being confined by her family, and living on the streets.
She met Xiao Jun in 1932, and together they moved to various places including Qingdao and Shanghai. While in Shanghai, they paid a visit to Lu Xun, who became their mentor and supporter in both career and life matters. "Xiao Hong" was the pen name she used when publishing "The Field of Life and Death" in 1935, which Lu Xun personally recommended to Shanghai Rongguang Publishing House and wrote a preface for. In July 1936, Xiao Hong traveled to Japan, lived there briefly for a few months before returning to Shanghai.
When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in July 1937, both Xiao Hong and Xiao Jun left Shanghai for Wuhan, though their relationship had already begun to show signs of strain. In early 1938, they separated in Shanxi - Xiao Hong joined the "Northwest War Zone Service Group" heading to Yuncheng, while Xiao Jun stayed in Linfen for guerrilla warfare. She later went to Xi'an, where she grew close to Duanmu Hongliang. When Xiao Jun arrived in Xi'an later, Xiao Hong formally ended their relationship and publicly acknowledged her relationship with Duanmu Hongliang.
Xiao Hong and Duanmu Hongliang then went to Wuhan together, but soon had to flee to Chongqing to escape the Japanese forces's advance. In December 1939, due to intense Japanese bombing in Chongqing, they decided to seek refuge in Hong Kong. On January 17, 1940, Xiao Hong arrived in Hong Kong, and three weeks later, on February 5th, she reported on Chongqing's food panic situation at a members' dinner held by the Hong Kong Branch of the All-China Literary and Art Circles' Resistance Association at the Tai Tung Hotel.
Before leaving Chongqing, writer Sun Hanbing had offered Duanmu Hongliang work at his newly opened Epoch (Dashidai) Bookstore, editing the "Literature Series," which provided them with a stable income in Hong Kong. After arriving, they initially found temporary accommodation on Knutsford Terrace, only 700 meters from the bookstore on Lock Road. Sun Hanbing later helped them find a house on Lock Road, where they relocated. The Dashidai Bookstore published several of their works, including Xiao Hong's essay collection "Xiao Hong Essays," her novel "Ma Bole," and Duanmu Hongliang's short story collection "Jiangnan Scenery." Their publication royalties and Duanmu's editing fees provided them with a stable life in Hong Kong, as Xiao Hong mentioned in a letter to writer Hua Gang that their "housing and food were quite good" in Hong Kong.
During her time in Hong Kong, Xiao Hong traveled extensively throughout Hong Kong. She actively participated in cultural groups, maintained frequent exchanges with members of the arts and literary circles, and gave lectures at the University of Hong Kong with Duanmu Hongliang. However, her health deteriorated during this period, suffering from insomnia and persistent coughing, and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis, requiring frequent hospital visits. While their income was sufficient for daily living expenses, it was inadequate for the costly medical bills. Fortunately, political figure Zhou Jingwen helped by covering all her medical expenses. Despite her illness, she continued writing, though gradually her physical strength declined, mobility became limited, her cough worsened, and her overall health continued to deteriorate.
Wartime:
When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong, Xiao Hong and Duanmu Hongliang fled from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. By this time, Xiao Hong was already having difficulty moving and needed to be carried. After the Japanese quickly occupied Kowloon, many refugees, including Xiao Hong's group, flooded into Hong Kong Island. Around the time of the Japanese landing on Hong Kong Island, Duanmu Hongliang and Yu Yifu carried Xiao Hong to Zhou Jingwen's mansion on Link Road. However, the place was already overcrowded and under fire, making it unsuitable for Xiao Hong's recovery.
They had to move her to the Gloucester Hotel on Ice House Street, where Duanmu Hongliang cared for her for several days. Before the war, Zhou Jingwen had opened Times Bookstore on Queen's Road Central for publishing "Times Critique" and had rented a two-story building on Stanley Street - one floor for staff dormitory and another for book storage. After consulting with Duanmu Hongliang, they moved Xiao Hong to the book storage area, which was quiet and spacious, suitable for her rest. By Christmas 1941, when Hong Kong fell, Xiao Hong's condition had severely deteriorated.
On January 12, 1942, Xiao Hong was admitted to Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, and a few days later transferred to Queen Mary Hospital. On January 21, when the Japanese Army took over Queen Mary Hospital, she was moved to St. Paul's Hospital, which was also taken over by the Japanese that same day. The doctors, knowing that the Red Cross had set up a temporary aid station at St. Stephen's Girls' College, transferred Xiao Hong there and placed her in a classroom opposite to what is now the music room. At 6 AM on the 22nd, Xiao Hong fell into a coma. At 9 AM, Duanmu Hongliang and Luo Binji rushed to the school. At 11 AM, Xiao Hong passed away. Her body was later cremated, and on January 25, Duanmu Hongliang and Luo Binji buried her ashes on the beach at Repulse Bay, marking the spot with a wooden tablet inscribed with the characters "Xiao Hong's Tomb."
Born:
1911, Heilongjiang
Death:
1942, Hong Kong
(Text by Tommy C. K. Tong)
Pre-war:
Xiao Hong, born as Zhang Naiying, came from a landlord family in Hulan Prefecture (later Hulan County), Heilongjiang. While her father Zhang Tingju was a local educator, she seemed to dislike having her life controlled by her parents, leading to multiple attempts to run away from home at a young age in pursuit of knowledge, freedom, and love. During this period, she experienced various life challenges including escaping an arranged marriage, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, being confined by her family, and living on the streets.
She met Xiao Jun in 1932, and together they moved to various places including Qingdao and Shanghai. While in Shanghai, they paid a visit to Lu Xun, who became their mentor and supporter in both career and life matters. "Xiao Hong" was the pen name she used when publishing "The Field of Life and Death" in 1935, which Lu Xun personally recommended to Shanghai Rongguang Publishing House and wrote a preface for. In July 1936, Xiao Hong traveled to Japan, lived there briefly for a few months before returning to Shanghai.
When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in July 1937, both Xiao Hong and Xiao Jun left Shanghai for Wuhan, though their relationship had already begun to show signs of strain. In early 1938, they separated in Shanxi - Xiao Hong joined the "Northwest War Zone Service Group" heading to Yuncheng, while Xiao Jun stayed in Linfen for guerrilla warfare. She later went to Xi'an, where she grew close to Duanmu Hongliang. When Xiao Jun arrived in Xi'an later, Xiao Hong formally ended their relationship and publicly acknowledged her relationship with Duanmu Hongliang.
Xiao Hong and Duanmu Hongliang then went to Wuhan together, but soon had to flee to Chongqing to escape the Japanese forces's advance. In December 1939, due to intense Japanese bombing in Chongqing, they decided to seek refuge in Hong Kong. On January 17, 1940, Xiao Hong arrived in Hong Kong, and three weeks later, on February 5th, she reported on Chongqing's food panic situation at a members' dinner held by the Hong Kong Branch of the All-China Literary and Art Circles' Resistance Association at the Tai Tung Hotel.
Before leaving Chongqing, writer Sun Hanbing had offered Duanmu Hongliang work at his newly opened Epoch (Dashidai) Bookstore, editing the "Literature Series," which provided them with a stable income in Hong Kong. After arriving, they initially found temporary accommodation on Knutsford Terrace, only 700 meters from the bookstore on Lock Road. Sun Hanbing later helped them find a house on Lock Road, where they relocated. The Dashidai Bookstore published several of their works, including Xiao Hong's essay collection "Xiao Hong Essays," her novel "Ma Bole," and Duanmu Hongliang's short story collection "Jiangnan Scenery." Their publication royalties and Duanmu's editing fees provided them with a stable life in Hong Kong, as Xiao Hong mentioned in a letter to writer Hua Gang that their "housing and food were quite good" in Hong Kong.
During her time in Hong Kong, Xiao Hong traveled extensively throughout Hong Kong. She actively participated in cultural groups, maintained frequent exchanges with members of the arts and literary circles, and gave lectures at the University of Hong Kong with Duanmu Hongliang. However, her health deteriorated during this period, suffering from insomnia and persistent coughing, and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis, requiring frequent hospital visits. While their income was sufficient for daily living expenses, it was inadequate for the costly medical bills. Fortunately, political figure Zhou Jingwen helped by covering all her medical expenses. Despite her illness, she continued writing, though gradually her physical strength declined, mobility became limited, her cough worsened, and her overall health continued to deteriorate.
Wartime:
When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong, Xiao Hong and Duanmu Hongliang fled from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. By this time, Xiao Hong was already having difficulty moving and needed to be carried. After the Japanese quickly occupied Kowloon, many refugees, including Xiao Hong's group, flooded into Hong Kong Island. Around the time of the Japanese landing on Hong Kong Island, Duanmu Hongliang and Yu Yifu carried Xiao Hong to Zhou Jingwen's mansion on Link Road. However, the place was already overcrowded and under fire, making it unsuitable for Xiao Hong's recovery.
They had to move her to the Gloucester Hotel on Ice House Street, where Duanmu Hongliang cared for her for several days. Before the war, Zhou Jingwen had opened Times Bookstore on Queen's Road Central for publishing "Times Critique" and had rented a two-story building on Stanley Street - one floor for staff dormitory and another for book storage. After consulting with Duanmu Hongliang, they moved Xiao Hong to the book storage area, which was quiet and spacious, suitable for her rest. By Christmas 1941, when Hong Kong fell, Xiao Hong's condition had severely deteriorated.
On January 12, 1942, Xiao Hong was admitted to Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, and a few days later transferred to Queen Mary Hospital. On January 21, when the Japanese Army took over Queen Mary Hospital, she was moved to St. Paul's Hospital, which was also taken over by the Japanese that same day. The doctors, knowing that the Red Cross had set up a temporary aid station at St. Stephen's Girls' College, transferred Xiao Hong there and placed her in a classroom opposite to what is now the music room. At 6 AM on the 22nd, Xiao Hong fell into a coma. At 9 AM, Duanmu Hongliang and Luo Binji rushed to the school. At 11 AM, Xiao Hong passed away. Her body was later cremated, and on January 25, Duanmu Hongliang and Luo Binji buried her ashes on the beach at Repulse Bay, marking the spot with a wooden tablet inscribed with the characters "Xiao Hong's Tomb."
Sources: 1940–1942年文學導賞計劃：蕭紅在香港寫作的日子 (https://cplphk.com/tst/)
Lo, Wai-luen, ed. A Literary Walk in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1991.
Lo, Wai-luen, ed. A Literary Walk in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1991.
