Zhou Zuoren (Chou Tso-jen) 1885-1967

Native of Shaoxing, Zheijiang province. Zhou Zuoren studied at the Jiangnan Nala Academy in Nanjing from 1901 to 1906, and proceeded to further study in Japan from 1906 to 1911. In 1912, he found work as an inspector of schools in Shaoxing. In 1917, he moved to Peking where he taught European literature at Peking University. During the New Culture movement, Zhou and his brother Lu Xun became two of China's most famous new writers. Zhou specialized in the essay, and became one of the best and most prolific essayists of his age. His works were banned in both mainland China and Taiwan for many years because of his collaboration with the Japanese puppet government during the Sino-Japanese War. Imprisoned by the Nationalists, he was pardoned in 1949 by the Communists, but suffered physical and mental torture during the Cultural Revolution and died as a result.

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