Lao She - Writer

Lao She was a novelist, playwright and teacher who brought the everyday stories of Chinese people to life. His writing depicted people's struggles and pride. Lao was born Shu Qingchun in Beijing in 1899, he was from the Manchu ethnic minority. He experienced hardship as a child when his father died in the Boxer Rebellion, the anti-imperialist uprising, whose aim was to kick out foreign and western powers.

Lao travelled to London in 1924 where he taught Chinese at the School of Oriental Studies. Writers such as George Bernard Shaw and Charles Dickens who called out injustices and depicted everyday struggles influenced 

his writing style. Lao wrote for the ordinary person - he wrote for everyone - he wasn't elitist at all. His novel Rickshaw Boy (1936) became a sensation, he told the story of a rickshaw 

puller, Xiangzi who lived in Beijing. Xiangzi saw his dreams slowly crushed by poverty and corruption. Another play Teahouse (1957) depicted the comings and goings of life over a fifty year period, Lao was in effect staging history. His works were successful because audiences saw themselves in his writing.

Lao She returned to China. During the Second World War he poured his energy into resisting Japanese occupation. Storytelling was used as a form of resistance so Lao wrote patriotic pieces, helping lift morale.

In the early days of the People’s Republic Lao became a cultural leader however during the Cultural Revolution he was labelled a 'counter-revolutionary' and persecuted.

Lao She died in 1966. Today he's celebrated in China and his former house is now a museum.

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