[Civilian] Shu Hong-shing
Description:
Born:
1921, Hong Kong
Death:
1999, Hong Kong
(Text by Tommy C. K. Tong)
Pre-war:
Shu Hong-shing, originally named Wong Shum Chuen, was born in Hong Kong and grew up in the Sai Wan Ho and Shau Kei Wan areas as the eldest son. His father owned a shop near their home. He was sent to study at a traditional private school at age seven, later attended Siu Wing Chinese School, and then won a scholarship to Ellis Kadoorie School, followed by Wah Yan College. From childhood, Shu showed interest in sports, music, films, and painting. After discovering modern literature, he became deeply passionate about it, though he couldn't attend university and had to self-study.
After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, when the Sino-Japanese War broke out fully, Hong Kong saw an influx of refugees. The population increase led to a flourishing cultural scene. During this time, while studying at Wah Yan College, influenced by friends and writers who had come from mainland China, he began submitting writings under pen names including Wang Luo, publishing both fiction and poetry.
Wartime:
In December 1941, when Hong Kong fell, Shu left his family the following year and fled to mainland China with a friend surnamed Yang. They traveled from Dongjiang and eventually reached Guilin. During this period, he reunited with his third uncle who had studied drama in Guangzhou. When Guilin fell in November 1944, Shu began a period of wandering. He documented his experiences during this difficult time, later publishing them under the pen name Qiu Jianghai in "The Difficult Journey." He worked as a translator for the American forces in Kunming, where he accessed their library and read many foreign works, including Hemingway's novels. He later traveled to Vietnam and worked in various Chinese cities including Shanghai, Tianjin, Northeast China, Beijing, and Nanjing. He finally returned to Hong Kong to reunite with his family in late 1948.
Post-war:
Upon returning to Hong Kong, Shu initially focused on making a living rather than pursuing a career as a professional writer. Between 1949 and 1950, he wrote a few short stories, including "The Fog at Lei Yue Mun." It wasn't until 1952 that he began publishing regularly in newspapers and magazines like "New Evening Post." "The Sun Has Set" was his first novel published under the pen name Shu Hong-cheng, which became his primary pen name thereafter.
Born:
1921, Hong Kong
Death:
1999, Hong Kong
(Text by Tommy C. K. Tong)
Pre-war:
Shu Hong-shing, originally named Wong Shum Chuen, was born in Hong Kong and grew up in the Sai Wan Ho and Shau Kei Wan areas as the eldest son. His father owned a shop near their home. He was sent to study at a traditional private school at age seven, later attended Siu Wing Chinese School, and then won a scholarship to Ellis Kadoorie School, followed by Wah Yan College. From childhood, Shu showed interest in sports, music, films, and painting. After discovering modern literature, he became deeply passionate about it, though he couldn't attend university and had to self-study.
After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, when the Sino-Japanese War broke out fully, Hong Kong saw an influx of refugees. The population increase led to a flourishing cultural scene. During this time, while studying at Wah Yan College, influenced by friends and writers who had come from mainland China, he began submitting writings under pen names including Wang Luo, publishing both fiction and poetry.
Wartime:
In December 1941, when Hong Kong fell, Shu left his family the following year and fled to mainland China with a friend surnamed Yang. They traveled from Dongjiang and eventually reached Guilin. During this period, he reunited with his third uncle who had studied drama in Guangzhou. When Guilin fell in November 1944, Shu began a period of wandering. He documented his experiences during this difficult time, later publishing them under the pen name Qiu Jianghai in "The Difficult Journey." He worked as a translator for the American forces in Kunming, where he accessed their library and read many foreign works, including Hemingway's novels. He later traveled to Vietnam and worked in various Chinese cities including Shanghai, Tianjin, Northeast China, Beijing, and Nanjing. He finally returned to Hong Kong to reunite with his family in late 1948.
Post-war:
Upon returning to Hong Kong, Shu initially focused on making a living rather than pursuing a career as a professional writer. Between 1949 and 1950, he wrote a few short stories, including "The Fog at Lei Yue Mun." It wasn't until 1952 that he began publishing regularly in newspapers and magazines like "New Evening Post." "The Sun Has Set" was his first novel published under the pen name Shu Hong-cheng, which became his primary pen name thereafter.
Sources: Shu, Hong-shing. Taiyang xiashanle 太陽下山了 [The Sun Has Set]. Hong Kong: Arcadia Press, 1999.
