Lung Ying-tsung
Lung Ying-tsung, real name Liu Jung-tsung, was a Taiwanese novelist of Hakka descent hailing from Beipu, Hsinchu.
Lung Ying-tsung gained recognition after publishing his first Japanese-language novella, A Small Town Planted with Papaya Tree, in 1937. It received acclaim as the Honorable Mention Award in the novel competition held by the Japanese magazine Kaizō. He continued to make his mark in the literary community by publishing various types of works, including novels, new poetry, and critiques. Additionally, he established connections within the arts and culture community, joining organizations like the Cultural Capital and the Taiwanese Writers' Association. He also served as a member of the editorial board for publications such as Bungei Taiwan.
In 1980, Lung Ying-tsung overcame his language barriers and published his first Chinese-language novel, Du Fu in Chang'an, which once again captured the attention and acclaim of the literary world. Following this achievement, he went on to produce a substantial body of work in Chinese, including novels, essays, and critiques, with a total of over a hundred pieces. In 1985, he published the novel collection Cliffs in the Morning.
Reception
Renowned Taiwanese writer Yeh Shih-tao praised him as "the most internationally acclaimed writer of the Japanese rule period". His works seamlessly blend elements of realism, naturalism, modernism, Japanese Shinkankaku-ha style, and surrealism, transcending languages and eras to cultivate a uniquely aesthetic yet austere writing style.Chou Fên-ling explained Lung Ying-tsung's linguistic dilemma in the book The Biography of Lung Ying-tsun as follows: "The transition of colonial identity and language, being a non-automatic or passive 'other,' forces one to undergo a dark period akin to death, and this period can be quite prolonged. Some manage to endure it and experience rebirth, while others who cannot endure it become 'remnants' of the previous era, which is another form of demise."