Author Hu Shengjiong
There is such a book that was read by progressive people at home and abroad more than 80 years ago. Like fireworks, this book has guided the direction of light for countless people who hate darkness. Many progressive young people were deeply inspired by this book, secretly leaving the big cities without concealing their families, relatives, friends, and colleagues, and going directly to Yan'an to practice their revolutionary ideals; some people who were almost desperate to rekindle their hopes of saving the country and risked their lives to join the underground party organization of the Communist Party in the White Area; there were also "developed entrepreneurs" in Hong Kong who directly asked the author "how to get to the university in Yan'an"; and even Bethune, Ke Dihua, and other international communist fighters were moved and inspired by this work and resolutely rushed to Yan'an to support the anti-Japanese resistance.
There was such a book, and the story it told still seems to be alive today. Literally, this book was written by an American journalist who risked his life to enter Yan'an with his own experience and experience, but in the most practical sense, these stories, including the birth of the Chinese translation, were created and written by the young Chinese revolutionaries. It declares to the world with unquestionable facts that the vast number of Red Army officers and men under the leadership of the Communist Party of China are the masters of this nation and the powerful main force of the Red Revolution. Everything in Yan'an is fascinating, and the spirit and strength embodied in them reflect the essence of human history.
There is such a book that makes the two Shangyu people discern the pearls. They were acutely aware of the questions the American journalist wanted to explore, such as: What kind of people are Chinese Communists? What are they similar to and different from Communists or Socialists elsewhere? Do they have long beards, do they make a grunting sound when drinking soup, do they have soil in their purses? Why were thousands of peasants, workers, students, soldiers willing to risk their lives to join the Red Army? Who are their leaders? This was also something that the people of The vast areas of China outside the base area at that time and the international community were eager to understand and explore. Therefore, under the extremely difficult conditions at that time, they broke through the heavy news blockade in the Kuomintang-ruled areas, overcame the extreme difficulties of funds and manpower, organized a group of anti-Japanese rescuers who were wandering in the Shanghai Concession, and collectively translated, printed, published, and distributed the Chinese translation of the book in less than two months. After the publication of this book, especially the Chinese translation, its discovery and description of the Chinese Communist Party, like Columbus's discovery of the American continent, was a world-shaking achievement at that time. The dissemination of this book at home and abroad successfully opened a breakthrough in the external propaganda of the red base areas and finally reversed the passive situation of the party on the battlefield of public opinion in one fell swoop.
This book is "The Red Star Shines on China" (Chinese translation of "Journey to the West" translated by the famous American journalist Snow in 1938 and represented by twelve progressive people such as Hu Yuzhi and Hu Zhongzhi brothers. As Mr. Hu Yuzhi said: "The Red Star Shines on China" has always been a bestseller in many countries. Until the author's death, it remained the primary popular reading for foreign studies on China. It's not surprising that it has hundreds of millions of readers around the world. It was the first book to faithfully depict the red zone of China.
In June 1936, with the help of Soong Ching-ling, the American journalist Snow broke through the blockade line of the Kuomintang army and secretly entered Yan'an, the revolutionary base area of northern Shaanxi, becoming the first Western journalist to cover the red zone. Snow's trip to northern Shaanxi is an adventure, a journey of exploration, and an epic journey. Snow interviewed Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai, Zhou Enlai and other leaders or generals, learned more about the Long March from the soldiers, and his understanding of the base areas also changed dramatically. After he returned to Beiping, he wrote a book with his vivid and humorous words, depicting an optimistic, free, equal, and vibrant red utopia. In 1937, "Red Star Shines on China" caused a sensation in the United Kingdom, selling more than 100,000 copies.
As the head of the Shanghai International Propaganda Committee, Hu Yuzhi knew many foreign journalists, and Snow was one of them. In November 1937, Snow met with Chinese friends such as the publisher Hu Yuzhi and presented the English version of "Red Star Shines on China" to Hu Yuzhi. Back at home, Hu Yuzhi carefully read the book and found that this was really a valuable book, and with his excellent English reading ability and keen insight, he immediately had the idea of translating the book into Chinese publishing. In order to verify the authenticity of this book, Hu Yuzhi specifically asked Liu Shaowen, head of the Shanghai office of the Communist Party of China. Liu Shaowen had just arrived in Shanghai from Yan'an, and he knew that many important contents of the book had been examined and approved by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, accurate and reliable, and the heavy responsibility of publishing fell on Hu Yuzhi's shoulders. Hu Yuzhi approached Snow and hoped that he would translate the book for publication. Snow expressed his support, not only giving away his precious sample books as translation bases, but also giving away the copyright unconditionally.
At that time, the Kuomintang strictly investigated the publication of red books, ranging from suspension of business for rectification and huge fines, and arrest and imprisonment and closure of publishing houses, so no publishing house dared to publish such books openly. Hu Yu's brother Hu Zhongzhi came up with a way to set up a cultural society to publish under the name of "Anti-Japanese Readings". Soon, a cultural group called "Fushe" was established in Shanghai, and the site of the company was located in the home of Hu Yuzhi and Hu Zhongzhi in the French Concession. Hired by Hu Yuzhi's brothers and CPC members Mei Yi and Lin Tanqiu, twelve progressive scholars from Shanghai Weekly, Translation Daily, and other publications formed the translation team of "Red Star Shines on China." Without more copies, Hu Yuzhi had to take apart the book of more than 12 chapters and 300,000 words, and each person was given a chapter. More than twenty days later, the translations were handed in one after another. After Reading through Hu Yuzhi, he found that the translation of "fighting for each other" did not know how to translate many names and terms, the content could not be taken care of before and after or even contradicted itself, and the translation was full of errors. On the one hand, Hu Yu asked Snow for questioning, and on the other hand, he learned about it through Liu Shaowen, who had recently returned to Shanghai from the base area in northern Shaanxi. Hu Yuzhi put aside other things, locked himself in the attic of his relative's house, and spent thirteen days and nights revising and correcting. He later recalled: "In order to proofread the translation smoothly, I only slept three or four hours a day, and lost more than five pounds in thirteen days. ”
After the manuscript is proofread, the title of the book should be determined. In the social context at that time, the title of Snow's book was really "eye-catching" - "the red star shines on China". In order to be able to distribute it more smoothly, Hu Yuzhi consulted with Liu Shaowen and decided to use an ordinary implicit title, which can also reflect the title of the book. Thus, "Journey to the West" appeared.
Although Hu Yuzhi decided to translate and publish the book, there was no financial support. In the absence of funds for printing books, the members of the "Restoration Society" each donated a few tens of yuan, and then issued reservation coupons to readers. Hu Yuzhi also contacted wealthy Shanghai businessmen with patriotic enthusiasm in many ways to raise 1,000 yuan. The first appropriation has finally been settled. The funds were ready, and Hu Yuzhi was eager to contact the printing. However, due to the Songhu War, most of the printing plants have moved to the interior. If printed outside Shanghai, books are extremely easy to be checked during transportation, and there are many murders and fewer auspiciousness. After many inquiries, we finally found a printing factory that had not moved, but it was closed and all the workers were dismissed. With the help of the "Shanghai Workers' Salvation Association", more than a dozen printing workers were found, and everyone worked hard day and night for more than 20 days, and 2,000 copies of "Journey to the West" were finally printed and shipped to the "Fushe Society".
Just 4 months after the first publication of this book by the Golantz Company in London, the first edition of the Chinese translation was published in China under the leadership of famous Writers and Translators Hu Yuzhi, Hu Zhongzhi and other communists and progressives. The first edition of "Journey to the West" sold out quickly, and 4 editions were printed in less than a year, which caused a sensation in the Chinese world. In Hong Kong and overseas Chinese concentrations, countless reprints and reprints have been published, with a circulation of more than 80,000 copies. Thousands of enthusiastic Young Chinese people competed to read "Journey to the West". Overseas Chinese later actively donated money for the War of Resistance, and it is also inextricably linked to this work.
Under extremely difficult conditions, the Hu Yuzhi brothers organized the compilation and publication of the "Journey to the West", which effectively spread the voice of Yan'an to the whole world, so that more Chinese and foreigners could see the true image of the leaders of the Communist Party of China and the Red Army soldiers who participated in the Long March, and also saw the future of New China, making important contributions to publicizing the Chinese revolution. In the decades since, it has become a bestseller in many countries and has become the first popular reading on China issues. In 2017, the middle school Chinese curriculum was reformed, and the Ministry of Education included "Red Star Shines on China" in the reading list of middle school students in the eighth grade of compulsory education. To this day, re-reading "Red Star Shines on China" is still not outdated. In fact, at every great historical turning point, the "red star" is still shining on China's modernization process.
(Based on the history of the Party and related literary and historical materials)
Author Bio | Hu Shengjiong, a native of Fenghui Town, Shangyu, Zhejiang. He has been engaged in education management for a long time.