Cheng Ch'ing-wen
Cheng Ch'ing-wen | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 16, 1932 Taoyuan City, Taiwan (under Japanese rule) |
| Died | November 4, 2017 (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Author, banker |
| Years active | 1958–1990s |
| Known for | Taiwanese nativist literature, Three-Legged Horse |
Cheng Ch'ing-wen (; born 16 September 1932, passed away 4 November 2017) was a distinguished Taiwanese author and alumnus of National Taiwan University. Originating from Taoyuan City during the period of Japanese governance, he was initially given the surname Li before being adopted by his uncle, after which he adopted the surname Cheng. He maintained a lengthy career spanning four decades at the state-owned Hua Nan Bank while simultaneously pursuing his literary endeavors.
Referred to in English as "Cheng Ch'ing-Wen" or "Tzeng Ching-wen," he played a pivotal role in the Taiwanese nativist literary movement and was proficient in the Taiwanese Hokkien language. His early education was conducted in Japanese, followed by mastery of Chinese. His 1998 collection titled Three-Legged Horse, translated into English, earned the 1999 Kiriyama Prize for fiction.
Cheng's literary output encompasses short stories, essays, and animal-themed fairy tales that anthropomorphize creatures. Prominent among his fairy tale compilations are Swallow Heart Berries, Sky Lanterns/Mother, and Picking Peaches. He died at the age of 85 on November 4, 2017.
Works
Cheng's debut publication, "Lonely Heart," appeared in 1958 within a supplement of the United Daily News. Inspired by editor Lin Hai-yin, he produced significant short stories such as Dustpan Valley (簸箕谷) and Gorge Landscape (峽地). Subsequently, he concentrated on Taiwanese fairy tales aimed at stimulating children's creativity. His fluency in Japanese allowed him to engage with Western literary classics through Japanese translations, which influenced his writing style. This style reflects Hemingway’s "iceberg theory," emphasizing concise language imbued with profound subtext. The English edition of Three-Legged Horse was issued by Columbia University Press in 2000.
His narratives frequently delve into personal conflicts set against societal transformations through introspective storytelling. Employing a clear and unadorned prose style, Cheng unveiled intricate psychological layers beneath the surface. Fellow writer Li Chiao commended him for effectively portraying the "process of tragedy." Recurring motifs in his work include references to "Old Town," a symbol representing his childhood environment in Hsinchuang.
References
- "A Royal Palm: Cheng Ch'ing-wen as a Writer for Twenty Years" by Peng Jui-Chin, Taiwan Literature October 1977, pp. 176–190
- "The Lonely Royal Palm-Discovering Cheng Ch'ing-wen's stories of Taiwan" by Hsu Su-lan, Taiwan Daily News December 31, 1997