The Three Literary Giants of Haining: Wang Guowei, Xu Zhimo and Jin Yong

Located in the northern Zhejiang Province of China, Haining is a renowned water town and a cultural hub. This ancient land has nurtured numerous outstanding historical figures who have left an indelible mark on China’s modern history. Among them, Wang Guowei, Xu Zhimo, and Jin Yong are three of the most celebrated personalities from the town.

A scholar of immense influence, Wang Guowei (1877-1927) was a pioneer in the field of Chinese studies and a bridge between Chinese and Western aesthetics. His scholarly achievements spanned literature, aesthetics, history, philosophy, ancient texts, and archaeology. Fluent in English, German, and Japanese, his unique approach to studying the Chinese theater with Western literary theories made him a trailblazer. Wang Guowei’s vast academic legacy includes over 60 works, immensely enriching the cultural treasure trove of China.

A prominent figure in modern Chinese poetry, Xu Zhimo (1897-1931) advocated for new poetic forms and co-founded the famous Crescent Moon Society. His influential works, such as ” Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again” and “A Night in Florence” have left a lasting impact in the annals of modern Chinese poetry. Beyond his literary contributions, Xu Zhimo was a dedicated social activist who actively promoted cultural exchange, hosting Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore during his visit to China in 1924 and traveling extensively throughout Europe and America.

Born Louis Cha, Jin Yong (1924-2018) was a renowned writer and scholar who achieved international acclaim under his pen name. A graduate with a Master’s and PhD in philosophy from Cambridge University, Jin Yong was also a successful journalist and social activist. However, his most celebrated achievements lie in the realm of wuxia (martial arts) fiction. He authored 15 captivating wuxia novels, including The Book and the Sword and Legends of Condor Heroes, which have been adapted into numerous movies and television series, captivating audiences worldwide. Jin Yong’s influence extends beyond language barriers, with his works translated into English, Japanese, French, and many other languages. His contributions were recognized with prestigious awards, including the Grand Bauhinia Medal, Hong Kong’s highest honor, and the French Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. In 2001, an asteroid was even named “Jin Yong” by the International Astronomical Union in his honor.

In this lecture, Mr. Liu Peiliang, a cultural and historical expert hailing from Haining, will delve into the lives of these three literary masters and explore their profound contributions to Chinese literature, history, and society.

位于中国浙江北部的海宁，是著名的江南水乡，也是一座人文荟萃之地。这片古老的土地孕育了众多杰出的历史人物，为中国近代史留下了浓墨重彩的篇章。王国维、徐志摩、金庸、蒋百里、穆旦、钱君匋、徐邦达、沙可夫、赵万里、沈鸿这些家喻户晓的名字，都是海宁的儿女。

华美人文学会于美东时间4月13日晚8时至9时半（北京时间4月14日早8时至9时半）特邀海宁文史专家刘培良做《海宁三杰》在线讲座，介绍海宁最有名的三位文化名人王国维、徐志摩和金庸。

王国维（1877年12月3日—1927年6月2日），浙江海宁人，字静安，又字伯隅，晚号观堂。国学大师，是中国新学术的开拓者，连接中西美学的大家，在文学、美学、史学、哲学、古文字、考古学等领域成就卓著。他精通英文、德文、日文，使他在研究宋元戏曲史时独树一帜，成为用西方文学原理批评中国旧文学的第一人。曾与梁启超、陈寅恪和赵元任一起号称清华国学研究院的“四大导师”。陈寅恪认为王国维的学术成就“几若无涯岸之可望、辙迹之可寻”。

著有《海宁王静安先生遗书》《红楼梦评论》《宋元戏曲考》《人间词话》《观堂集林》《古史新证》《曲录》《殷周制度论》《流沙坠简》等62种，为中华民族文化宝库留下了广博精深的学术遗产。

徐志摩（1897年1月15日—1931年11月19日），浙江海宁人，原名章垿，字槱森，是中国现代诗人、作家、散文家。徐志摩是中国现代诗歌的代表人物，他倡导新诗格律，组建新月诗派，创作发表了《再别康桥》《翡冷翠的一夜》等一大批有影响力的作品，对中国新诗的发展做出了重要贡献。同时，徐志摩还是一位重要的社会活动家，曾多次接待印度诗人泰戈尔来华访问，并游历英、美等多国，推动国际文化交流，为中国的翻译事业做出了很大贡献。作品有《志摩的诗》《猛虎集》《翡冷翠的一夜》《落叶》《巴黎的鳞爪》《卞昆冈》《曼殊斐尔小说集》

金庸（1924年3月10日—2018年10月30日），本名查良镛，浙江海宁人，英国剑桥大学哲学硕士、博士，是著名的新闻工作者和社会活动家，也是蜚声世界文坛的作家和学者。金庸毕生从事新闻工作，是华人世界中卓有成效的报人、企业家，也是蜚声海内外的著名武侠小说作者，著有《书剑恩仇录》《射雕英雄传》等15部武侠小说，其武侠小说每一部都被多次改编成电影和电视剧，并有英、日、法等多种译文，在全球广为传播。金庸一生获颁多项荣衔，包括香港特别行政区最高荣誉“大紫荆勋章”、法国“艺术与文学高级骑士勋章”等。2001年，国际天文学联合会以“金庸星”命名一颗小行星。

China Institute’s cultural programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.