Literature
22:56, 15-Dec-2018
Chinese historical fiction Eryuehe passes away in Beijing at the age of 73
Updated
22:15, 18-Dec-2018
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Chinese historical fiction writer and historian Ling Jiefang, better know by his pen name Eryuehe, passed away on Saturday morning in Beijing at the age of 73.
Eryuehe, which literally means "February river," is best known for writing biographical novels of three Qing Dynasty emperors, including Kangxi (1661-1722), Yongzheng (1722–1735), and Qianlong (1735-1796), all of which have been adapted into award-winning television series.
He was highly praised by China's most celebrated martial arts novelist Jin Yong, who believed Eryuehe had a better understanding of the Qing history than he did.
Eryuehe published several papers since the 1980s, attracting the attention of academic circles.
Unlike today's popular historical novels or TV dramas, Eryuehe took the creation of historical novels very seriously and embarked on a journey to write the "true image" of the three emperors.
Prior to his work, people did not think highly of the three emperors in the Qing era. Yongzheng for example was regarded as cruel by many.
But in the description of Eryuehe, the emperor became diligent, which is more consistent with the historical reality, Beijing News has reported.
The news outlet praised Eryuehe as "a writer of an era," who not only focused on specific historical periods but also lived in the era of reform and opening up.
He was a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and served three consecutive terms since 2003.
Eryuehe was also a staunch supporter of the anti-corruption campaign, having believed that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is doing a better job in fighting graft that they are saying, according to China News Weekly.
Netizens expressed their condolences online, including friends of Eryuehe.
Hu Mei, the director of the TV series "Yongzheng Dynasty," said Eryuehe's honesty and sincerity made him an impressive man.
Screenwriter Wang Hailin wrote that Eryuehe has been calling for tax cuts including for book publishing, and writers in the past years, adding that he is a knowledgeable and responsible person.
(Head Image: Writer Ling Jiefang speaks at an event in in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, on May 10, 2014. /VCG Photo)