Broadcasting Time: 2006-08-27



Famous Chinese Writer—Su Shuyang

Su Shuyang is a renowned author and screenwriter in China who has so far composed more than a dozen influential contemporary works. His works are mostly about grassroots life in China. As such, they have enriched the lives of many, especially in the 1970s and 80s. Today, XXX will give us a brief profile of this respectable cultural figure,

Young people today may know of Su Shuyang through China Reader. It's an authoritative book about China, with about 12 million copies circulating since its publication in 1999. But for older generations, Su Shuyuang is a beloved author who had created many literary works that reflected the grassroots life in the transitional period of 1970s to the 80s. 

Born in 1938, Su Shuyang has always been a keen observer. In middle school, Su Shuyang devoted himself to writing plays. After graduating from university, he taught in several academic institutions. During his time at Beijing College of Chinese Medicine, Su Shuyang composed the play "Song of Loyal Hearts". It's a drama about intellectuals dedicating themselves to the research of the traditional Chinese medicine. His plays always had simple storylines about everyday life that the audience could identify with. "Song of Loyal Hearts" became a huge success in the 1970s and established Su Shuyang as a writer.

"I didn't feel that confident at the time. When newspapers all over the country started printing and praising 'Song of Loyal Hearts', I almost felt like they weren't talking about me. I never took advantage of my fame, although many positions were offered to me at the time. I never accepted any because I didn't think I was qualified."

The success of the "Song of Loyal Hearts" was the turning point for Su Shuyang. At age 40, he became a career screenwriter at Beijing Film Studio. At the time, the whole country was experiencing the changes from the economic reform. Chinese people's ideological pursuit had also changed with it. That's when Su Shuyang put out "Sunset Street". It traces the life of Beijing residents during that period.

"I noticed the changes when new things were replacing the old in Beijing. People were pursuing new dreams. But they were sad to let their old things and habits die. It's natural for people to feel this way. This sense of nostalgia is the most touching element in creative writing.

The story of "Sunset Street" took place in a narrow Hutong in Beijing. Several families were living there, each with their own dreams. An unemployed young man wanted to open a buffet selling traditional Beijing style bean curd. A young girl longed to go overseas to expand her horizons. A young couple who were model teachers needed a new flat… In the end, these old neighbors helped each other make their dreams into reality. The families had much to look forward to, but they watched wistfully as their old block was demolished.

Sunset Street became a huge hit because it perfectly described the social mentality of the time. After that, the writer wrote a number of screenplays and novels about the lives of Beijing residents, as well as Chinese intellectuals, like the novel "Homeland" and the poetry collection titled: "About Love"

Su Shuyang also produced two more popular plays, "The Booming China Roses" and "Drizzle in Spring".

Most of these works contained strong Beijing folk culture. Some have been translated into different languages and distributed worldwide.