老舍 (1899 - 1966)
Lao She (1899 - 1966)
Originally named Shu Qingchun, also known as Shu Sheyu; born in Beijing. Lao She entered Beijing Normal School in 1913. After graduation, he worked successively as principal of the No. 17 Beijing Primary School and a language teacher at Tianjin Nankai Secondary School. In 1924, he went to England and taught Chinese at the School of Oriental and Asian Studies, University of London, where he also started writing novels, publishing in succession Philosophy of Lao Zhang, Master Zhao Says, and Ma and Son. After his return to China in 1930, he taught successively at Qilu and Shandong Universities, and in the same period he wrote famous novels including The City of Cats, Divorce, and Camel Xiangzi. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, he started writing stage plays, producing major works including The Nation is Our Priority (co-authored with Song Zhide), A Matter of “Face”, The Spring Winds of Peach and Plum (co-authored with Zhao Qingge), Zhang Zizhong, Snakes and Dragons of the Great Earth, Who is the First to Arrive at Chongqing, and Homeward Bound. From 1944 Lao started writing a play of epical proportions, using Beijing as its background, titled Four Generations under One Roof. In 1951 he was granted the title of “People’s Artist” by the Beijing Municipal Government. Other plays written by him include Miss Pearl Fang, Dragon Beard Ditch, A Wonderful Boxer, and others. During the Cultural Revolution he came under persecution, and in 1966 he committed suicide by jumping into a lake. His complete works are published in the collection Lao She and His works in 16 volumes.