Exhibition hall.
2018 marks the 120th birthday of Xu Guangping, partner, assistant and former student of Lu Xun (1881-1936), one of China’s greatest writers. Born in Guangzhou’s Panyu District, Xu Guangping was a brave, independent and progressive female writer in Chinese modern and contemporary history.
The exhibition tells Xu’s rebellious childhood, her love story and marriage with Lu Xun, and her personal growth.
Precious exhibits are shown, including correspondence between Lu Xun and Xu Guangping, rarely known photos of their family life and daily use articles in last century.
Time: 9:00 --- 17:00, 8th March --- 15th April
Address: Guangzhou Luxun Memorial Hall, No.215, Wenming Rd
Admission: free
Xu Guangping in 1920s.
Story of Xu Guangping
Xu Guangping was born in Panyu Country, in Guangdong Province in 1898 to a wealthy landlord family. In 1917, she manged to escape the unwanted marriage and went to northern city Tianjin to study.
During her time studying in Beijing Women's Normal, she met Lu Xun, teacher of Chinese fiction class and the two began correspondence in 1925.
Xu becomes Lu Xun's personal assistant, transcribing writings, translating speeches into Cantonese, etc. in fall of 1927.
On Sept. 27, 1929, she gave birth to their only offspring, Haiying (literally "Shanghai infant"). With the birth of Haiying, Xu's role shifted to that of mother.
Xu abandoned any literary ambitions she might have had for herself (she had written essays in Beijing and some in Guangzhou) and became, essentially, LX's personal secretary.
After LX's death in 1936, Xu focused her energies primarily on Lu Xun legacy. She did this out of a sincere respect and admiration for "the soul of China". Among other things, Xu was closely involved in the publication of the first Chinese edition of the complete works of LX (1938) and many other publishing ventures associated with LX and his writings. After 1949, in addition to continuing to develop the legacy of LX, Xu was also involved in the Chinese women's movement. She died of a heart attack in 1968.
Author: Sylvia
Editor: Olivia
Source: Newsgd & Life of Guangzhou
