In September 1904, at the age of 23, Lu Xun traveled east to Japan to study medicine and entered the Sendai Medical College (now Tohoku University in Japan). During his studies, Lu Xun met his first foreign friend, Yankuro Fujino. In addition to Mr. Fujino, Lu Xun's Japanese friends include Uchiyama, Miyazaki Ryusuke, and Sudo 503. Of course, with Lu Xun's position in the Chinese literary circles at that time, his friends were certainly not limited to the Japanese, and we are familiar with the famous American journalist Edgar. Snow and Smedley also had contacts with Lu Xun, and they were also Lu Xun's foreign friends.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="2" > Lu Xun and Fujino Yankuro</h1>
In September 1904, the 30th year of the Qing Dynasty, 23-year-old Lu Xun traveled east to Japan to study medicine at sendai Medical College (now Tohoku University in Japan), where he met his first foreign friend, Yankuro Fujino.
In the former residence of Mr. Fujino hangs a photograph of him and Lu Xun
Born in 1874, Fujino Yankuro was 7 years older than Lu Xun and his family had been a physician for generations, and he was the sixth generation doctor of the Fujino family. In 1904, Lu Xun entered the Sendai Medical College, where Fujino was professor of anatomy. Lu Xun, a student of Fujino, recalled in his essay "Mr. Fujino" the scene when he first met Mr. Fujino:
At that time, a thin black gentleman came in, with a figure-eight beard, wearing glasses, carrying a stack of books large and small. As soon as he put the book on the podium, he introduced himself to the students in a slow and very frustrated tone: "My name is Fujino Yankuro..."
The first time I met Mr. Fujino, I left a deep impression on Lu Xun. In 1926, when Lu Xun was teaching at Xiamen University, he wrote an essay in memory of Mr. Fujino, "Mr. Fujino", which contained many details of his interaction with Mr. Fujino, such as Fujino sending his assistants to take Back Lu Xun's class notes, carefully and carefully correcting and correcting them, which reflected Fujino's importance and care for Lu Xun. Fujino saw that the medical drawings drawn by Lu Xun were inaccurate and immediately corrected them for him, Lu Xun was very unconvinced at the time, but he was very grateful afterwards, and so on. These details show that Mr. Fujino is rigorous, meticulous, and strict with the learning requirements of students.
As a weak country at that time, China was bullied and humiliated by the great powers, and in 1895, Japan defeated the Qing Dynasty in the Sino-Japanese War and became a military and scientific and technological power in Asia. When Lu Xun went to Japan to study medicine, Japan and Russia were fighting on Chinese soil (the Russo-Japanese War) and defeated Russia, replacing China as the only military power in Asia.
Mr. Fujino presented a photograph to Lu Xun
As a citizen of a weak country, Lu Xun was deeply discriminated against by his Japanese classmates during his study in Japan. After the Russo-Japanese War, Japan's victory over Russia, before the end of a class, the class played a video of Japan's victory over Russia, Lu Xun as the only Chinese student was forced to stay and watch together, there are Chinese as detectives for the Russians, captured by the Japanese army and ready to be shot, the onlookers are all Chinese scenes, Japanese students seem particularly excited about this, clapping and cheering "Long live!" They completely ignored Lu Xun's feelings. This kind of cheering was so harsh for Lu Xun to hear.
In this learning atmosphere, Mr. Fujino gave Lu Xun great care and attention. This short-statured, unobtrusive-looking Japanese professor did not look at Lu Xun with any ethnic prejudices, and the special friendship between the two was also a teacher and friend made Lu Xun feel particularly warm in a foreign country. Under the influence of Japanese militarism, the Japanese at that time generally held a narrow national prejudice against the Chinese people. But This was not the case with Mr. Fujino, who did not discriminate against Lu Xun from a weak country, took great care of him, and gave Lu Xun great influence with his noble qualities.
Before Lu Xun left Sendai, he went to Mr. Fujino's house to say goodbye, and Mr. Fujino gave Lu Xun a photo with the words on the back: "Farewell Fujino would like to present Zhou Jun." Reluctant to leave Lu Xun, Lu Xun had to say to comfort Mr. Fujino: "I want to study biology, and the knowledge that Mr. Lu taught me is still useful." ”
On October 19, 1936, Lu Xun died in Shanghai, and later a reporter took a photo of Lu Xun's death to Mr. Fujino, and when he learned the news of Lu Xun's death, he wrote "Remembering Zhou Shurenjun" with a very heavy heart, which reviewed the past with Lu Xun during his time in Japan, and expressed great regret that the two lost contact after Lu Xun left Japan.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="13" > Lu Xun and Uchiyama</h1>
In the text "One Side" that we are familiar with, the author Ah Lei went to the Neishan Bookstore to buy books after work, as a member of the working class, Ah Lei hesitated in the face of economic constraints and desire for knowledge, and it was Mr. Lu Xun who rescued him in time. In this article, the friendship between Mr. Lu Xun and his Japanese friend Uchiyama Ishizo is also described on the side.
Uchiyama (right) and younger brother Uchiyama Kagi (left), both of whom were friends of Lu Xun
Born in 1885 in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, 4 years younger than Lu Xun, Uchiyama went to Shanghai, China in 1913 and lived in Shanghai for 35 years.
In 1917, Uchiyama opened a bookstore in the name of his wife, Mikiko Uchiyama, and in 1929 moved to No. 11, Shkota Road (now Shanyin Road) on North Sichuan Road. Began selling Christian gospels, then general Japanese books, and then expanded its business Chinese books.
Uchiyama was very friendly, equal, and kind to Chinese, and did not have the attitude of the Japanese at that time who thought they were superior. His bookstore has always been open to readers, all book readers can flip through, there are benches and tables, readers can sit there and read, intimately the bookstore also provides readers with tea to quench their thirst, encountering readers who have financial difficulties and expect to buy books, no matter the amount of money can be credited. This progressive bookstore was very famous in Shanghai at that time, and many readers came to visit, and Uchiyama himself also received the trust and respect of many Chinese.
Uchiyama's friendship with Lu Xun began in 1927. This year, Lu Xun had just resigned from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong and returned to Shanghai. On October 5 of the same year, Lu Xun visited the Neishan Bookstore not far from home and bought 10 books for 10 yuan and 2 dimes. At that time, Uchiyama was not in the bookstore, and after his wife, Mikiko Uchiyama, told him about it, he only noticed the customer. When Lu Xun came to buy books for the second time and told Uchiyama that his name was "Zhou Shuren", Neishan, who had lived in China for more than ten years and had become half of the "China Pass", immediately knew that the person in front of him was the famous Mr. Lu Xun.
After Lu Xun and Uchiyama finished meeting, they soon became close friends. Because he had studied in Japan and because his home was close to the Uchiyama Bookstore, the two had frequent exchanges, and Lu Xun often visited the Uchiyama Bookstore. In the course of their exchanges, Uchiyama introduced many Japanese friends to Lu Xun, such as Kaneko Mitsuharu, Maeda Kawa Hiroichiro, Murofumi Takanobu, Hasegawa Rukan, Suzuki Daisuke, Yokomitsu Toshiichi, Hayashi Fumiko, Shinjukaku, Sato Haruo, Nagato Yoshiro, etc., all of whom met lu xun and became friends through Uchiyama's introduction.
Lu Xun and Uchiyama (left).
In Shanghai, under the shroud of white terror, Uchiyama took advantage of his Japanese identity to sell a large number of progressive books, including Marxist-Leninist works, in his bookstore, distributing Lu Xun's works that were banned at that time, and selling six kinds of progressive literature such as "Destruction" published by Lu Xun at his own expense. From 1932 onwards, Uchiyama Bookstore became an agent distributor of Lu Xun's works, and also sold other progressive books banned by the authorities. In Shanghai in the 1930s, the cultural confinement was very strict, especially what books bookstores sold had strict requirements, but Uchiyama Bookstore was completely different, books that Chinese bookstores could not buy, Uchiyama Bookstore sold, Chinese bookstores did not dare to sell books, Neishan Bookstore can also sell.
From October 1927, when he first went to the Uchiyama Bookstore to buy books until his death in 1936, Lu Xun went to the Uchiyama Bookstore more than 500 times, buying as many as a thousand books, and the friendship between the two was very deep and close. In Lu Xun's huge circle of foreign friends, Japanese account for a large part. Fujino Yankuro Lu Xun regarded him as a mentor, and Uchiyama Washoku was a Japanese friend that Lu Xun could make. In the eight years of friendship between the two, Lu Xun was martyred four times and four times by Uchiyama Kanzo used his Japanese identity to cover for refuge. In February 1930, Lu Xun was wanted by the authorities and took refuge in the Neishan Bookstore for a month.
Lu Xun had great trust in Uchiyama, and although the other party was Japanese, Lu Xun regarded him as a close friend, and Uchiyama also admired and admired Lu Xun, and even risked being banned in his bookstore to distribute Lu Xun's works that had been banned. Lu Xun also used the Neishan Bookstore as a cover to receive guests, and it even became a liaison station for underground organizations, and Fang Zhimin's prison Chinese manuscripts and letters to Lu Xun from Beiping and the Northeast Underground Party were all transferred by Neishan Bookstore. It can be seen that Lu Xun was not wary because Uchiyama was Japanese, and on the contrary, the friendship between the two had long surpassed the identity of the two countries.
Lu Xun's physical condition deteriorated sharply in his later years, and as a close friend, Uchiyama Kanzo went around seeking medical treatment for his health, and had hoped that Lu Xun would go to Japan for recuperation, but in the end he did not go, but later introduced Dr. Sudo to treat him.
On October 19, 1936, Lu Xun died of illness, and Uchiyama, as his close friend, was one of the members of Lu Xun's funeral committee and delivered a eulogy at the funeral. In 1937, Uchiyama initiated the recruitment of "Lu Xun Literary Scholars", was hired as the editorial consultant of the Complete Works of Lu Xun, and actively promoted the publication of the Japanese version of the Complete Works of Great Lu Xun in Japan.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="27" > Lu Xun and Agnes. Smedley</h1>
Agnes Smedley was a brilliant internationalist fighter, social activist, famous American writer, brilliant journalist, and old friend of Chinese.
Smedley
At the end of 1928, Smedley first came to China as a special correspondent for the German newspaper Frankfurt, and spent most of the next 13 years in China, during which time she became acquainted with progressive writers such as Lu Xun and Contradiction and forged deep friendships.
September 25, 1930 was The 50th birthday of Mr. Lu Xun, and writers and fighters who were considered by the authorities to be "left-leaning dangerous elements" hoped to take this opportunity to hold a grand gathering. At that time, Smedley happened to be in Shanghai, and after being invited, she gladly rented the Dutch "Slavaya" Western Restaurant at 50 Luban Road in the French Concession as a meeting place in her own name. Many cultural celebrities, such as Rou Shi, Feng Xuefeng, Mao Dun, Ye Shaojun and others, came to the meeting.
Smedley was so impressed by this gathering with Lu Xun and many Chinese cultural celebrities that she later described Mr. Lu Xun in detail in her book Song of China: "Lu Xun arrived early with his young son. This was the first time I met Lu Xun, and it was this person who was most affected during my entire period in China. He was not tall and somewhat thin. Chinese costumes dressed in milky white silk material, soft Chinese boots. No hat, shaved short hair like a toothbrush. However, although Lu Xun's face is the same as that of ordinary Chinese, he has left the most impressive memory on me among the people I have seen so far. The face is vivid, but at the same time there is a wary look. Although he does not speak English, he speaks German fluently. Therefore, I also talk to him in German. His attitude towards people and objects, the way he speaks, and the movements all exude an indescribable harmony and charm full of personality. I suddenly felt like a lump of dirt, looking very ugly. ”
Smedley poses with Commander-in-Chief Judd
As the protagonist of the party, Mr. Lu Xun told the friends present about the first half of his life, his growth experience, his past when he studied medicine in Japan, and the original intention of abandoning medicine. She had "turned her ear sideways to the street outside, worried about the arrival of the police's catch-up vehicle, but listened to a translator translate the words for him." Smedley cherished her first meeting with Lu Xun, the leader of the Chinese literary world, and what she saw was a Lu Xun who was not knocked down by reality and was still full of hope for China. After the party, she also specially gave Mr. Lu Xun a white silk clothing that she carefully purchased as a birthday gift.
Lu Xun was particularly fond of the German female printmaker Kollwitz, and had collected many of her original prints. After Smedley knew, he took advantage of his convenience as a reporter for the German newspaper Frankfurter To make Lu Xun write a letter to Kollwy, in which Lu Xun warmly invited her to create for China. In 1936, Lu Xun published Kaisui at his own expense. Kollwitz Complete Prints" and invited Smedley to write a foreword to the book, which Smedley gladly agreed to write, "Kaisui. Kollwitz --- Artist of the People".
Smedley also said one thing in the article "Remembering Lu Xun": In March 1931, the whole country was under the shadow of white terror, the Kuomintang authorities hunted down and killed some progressive writers, Lu Xun was deeply distressed, wrote an article called "Written in the Night", he wanted to expose the dark rule of the Kuomintang to the world, so he commissioned Smedley to translate the article into English and publish it abroad. Someone has to come out and talk! ”
During his time in China, Smedley actively participated in China's progressive cultural movement and participated in the rescue of female writer Ding Ling from prison. In 1931, she published Lu Xun's article "The Current Situation of The Literary and Art Circles in Dark China" in the American progressive journal New Masses.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="37" > Lu Xun and Edgar. Snow</h1>
Edgar. Snow, born in 1905 in Missouri, USA, is a famous American journalist who came to China in 1928 and served as a correspondent and correspondent for several newspapers in Europe and the United States. From April 1933 to June 1935, Snow was also a lecturer in the Department of Journalism at Yenching University in Peking. In June 1936, Snow visited the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and wrote a large number of newsletters, becoming the first Western journalist to cover the Red Zone.
Edgar. Snow
In Shanghai, Snow met Song Qingling and Lu Xun, which aroused his interest in recording the sufferings and aspirations of the Chinese people in the new Chinese literature and art, and later told Xiao Qian, "Lu Xun is a key to teaching me to understand China." He was glad that he had met Mr. Lu Xun and Ms. Song Qingling in Shanghai, and he knew China under their guidance.
At that time, Lu Xun was under the surveillance of the Kuomintang authorities, and Snow met Lu Xun through the young literary worker Yao Ke, and the two met for the first time in a small grocery store. Snow, a leading figure in The Chinese literary scene, whom Snow had long admired, expressed his desire to translate Lu Xun's works into English and publish them, but Lu Xun suggested that he pay attention to the works of other left-wing writers. Later, Snow accepted the suggestion and made adjustments to the translation collection, the first half of which was lu Xun's works, and the second half of which collected works by Ba Jin, Contradiction, Rou Shi, Shen Congwen and other literary masters who were influential in China at that time. In July 1936, the collection of modern Chinese short stories entitled "Living China" was published in the United States.
In the preface, Snow wrote an introductory essay and a biography of Lu Xun. He compared Lu Xun to the world's top literary masters like Gorky and Chekov, and described him as "the brave leader of Chinese left-wing writers and artists" and "one of the best people I know." Such a high evaluation can be seen how much Snow admires and admires Lu Xun. Lu Xun also put forward his own opinion on Snow's translation of the works of Chinese writers, and in the process, the young Snow constantly listened to and absorbed Lu Xun's ideas, and the two did not have a gap because of the age difference, but on the contrary, the friendship became deeper.
In early 1934, Snow was invited to serve as a lecturer in the journalism department of Yenching University as a reporter for the New York Daily in China, and although he left Shanghai, he and Lu Xun still maintained correspondence. Lu Xun recorded many of their interactions in his diary, and he commented that Snow was "far more loving China than some compatriots themselves" among foreigners.
Lu Xun died in Shanghai on October 19, 1936, when Snow was visiting the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. After learning of Lu Xun's death, Snow was heartbroken, and he wrote in a tribute to Lu Xun that he wrote: "The translation has not yet been successful, and I am shocked to hear about the meteorite, who in China will receive "Scream"? Mr. has been ancient, remembering the old rain, and the literary world has since felt "Wandering"! Among them, the "translation" that has not yet succeeded refers to Snow's translation of "A Q Zheng Biography", and "Remembering the Old Rain" also tells the deep friendship between himself and Lu Xun.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="45" > conclusion</h1>
Lu Xun, Song Qingling and George Bernard Shaw and other international friends took a group photo
There are many foreign friends who have contacts with Mr. Lu Xun, the most famous of which is the Nobel Prize winner in literature, the great literary hero George Bernard Shaw. George Bernard Shaw visited China in 1933 and arrived in Shanghai on February 17. During his time in Shanghai, Shaw met with Song Qingling, Lu Xun, Cai Yuanpei and others and formed a sincere friendship with Lu Xun. At the end of February, Takeshi Kimura, a special correspondent of the Japan Transformation Agency, came to China to interview Shaw, and Lu Xun was entrusted by Uchiyama to arrange for him to meet with Shaw.
In Mr. Lu Xun's foreign circle of friends, there were the largest number of Japanese people, and Sino-Japanese relations were already very tense at that time, but Lu Xun did not cut off contacts with these Japanese friends because of this, not to mention that most of his Japanese friends were in the literary and artistic circles, and generally sympathized with China, such as the Japanese poet Jin Zi Guangqing, who created many poetry collections attacking Japanese imperialist aggression and colonization of other countries, among which "The Devil's Song" and "E" and other poetry collections were translated into Chinese.
After Lu Xun's death, his Japanese friend, poet and novelist Haruo Sato, wrote a note evaluating Lu Xun's life: "There are famous works, there are masses, there are young people, Mr. Lu is not dead; not being an official, not loving money, and not changing festivals, is my good teacher." This pair of elegy is concise and concise, but it has exhausted Lu Xun's life, and his personality charm has deeply impressed too many foreign friends.