Lao She

Shu Qingchun (February 3, 1899 - August 24, 1966), whose pseudonym was Sheyu, whose pen names were Lao She, Jie Qing, Hong Lai, Fei Wo, etc., was a modern Chinese novelist, essayist, playwright, folk artist, and collector. He is widely regarded as a representative figure of modern Chinese literature. His representative works include the novels "Camel Xiangzi" and "Four Generations Under One Roof", and the drama "Teahouse", etc. On February 3, 1899, Lao She was born into a poor Banner family in Beijing. In 1918, Lao She graduated from Beijing Normal School and served as a primary school principal and student counselor. He was baptized in a church in Gangwa City and became a Christian. In 1924, Lao She was recommended to serve as a Chinese lecturer at the Oriental College of the University of London. He wrote "Lao Zhang's Philosophy", "Zhao Ziyue" and "Two Horses", and began to engage in literary creation in the true sense. In December 1951, due to the huge influence of "Longxugou", he was awarded the title of "People's Artist" by the Beijing Municipal People's Government. During the Cultural Revolution in 1966, Lao She was forced to kneel in front of a fire that burned his Peking Opera costumes and was severely beaten (the "August 23 Incident"). He committed suicide by drowning himself in a lake the next day or was beaten to death and thrown into the lake. He was rehabilitated in early 1978.