Cheng Youshu

Cheng was born in Beijing in 1924, with her ancestral hometown in Xiangxiang, Hunan.[1] Her father Cheng Shewo was a newspaperman. She is the second of three children.[1] Her sister, Cheng Zhifan (Chinese: 成之凡) (born in 1928), is French Chinese.[1] Her brother Cheng Siwei is a Chinese politician.[1][2][3][4]

Cheng Youshu began writing poems at the age of 13. After high school, Cheng was accepted into Saint John's University, Shanghai, where she joined the Wenhui Fellowship—a Christian Fellowship.[1][2][3]

In 1945, Cheng and her schoolmate founded the Yehuo Poetry Club (Chinese: 野火诗社).[1] In May 1945, Cheng joined the Chinese Communist Party, and served in the New Fourth Army in Shanghai.[1]

In 1948, Cheng went to Hong Kong to work as a reporter.[1] While in Hong Kong, Cheng met her future husband, Chen Luzhi.[1] Cheng married Chen (Chinese: 陈鲁直) in Hong Kong. They have four children.[1]

In October 1949, Cheng moved in Guangzhou, her father went to Taiwan with Kuomintang.[1]

After the founding of the Communist State, Cheng worked in the Chinese Foreign Ministry.[1] From 1955 to 1961, Cheng worked in India as a diplomat.[1] In 1984, Cheng went to Denmark with her husband when he served as China's Ambassador to Denmark.[1]

• The Surviving Rice - 3rd Lu Xun Literary Prize (2005)[1]