Tian Han

Tian Han

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Tian.

Tian Han (simplified Chinese: 田汉; traditional Chinese: 田漢; pinyin: Tián Hàn; March 12, 1898 — December 10, 1968), born in Changsha, Hunan, was a Chinese drama activist, playwright, a leader of revolutionary music and films, as well as a translator and poet. Tian contributed a great deal to the development of Chinese modern drama as well as Chinese opera. His most famous legacy may be the lyrics he wrote for March of the Volunteers in 1934, the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

Biography

During the May Fourth Movement in 1919, Tian became famous for the vigorous anti-imperialist and anti-feudalist activities in the circle of artists and intellectuals he gathered.

Returning from Japan in 1921, Tian established the Creative Society together with Guo Moruo. The Southern China Society, also headed by Tian, played a leading role in promoting dramatic performances in southern China. In 1927, Tian taught at the Department of Literature of Shanghai Art University. Later, he joined The League of Chinese Left-Wing Dramatists.

Amongst his aliases, he called himself Tian Shouchang (田寿昌), and had various other pen names, including Uncle Great Wild Goose (Chinese: 伯鸿; pinyin: buó hóng), Chen Yu, Shuren (漱人), and the Han Immortal (Chinese: 汉仙; pinyin: Hànxiān).

He was attacked in 1966 on the eve of the Cultural Revolution for his play historical play, Xie Yaohuan, an attack on Chairman Mao's policies. He was denounced in an article entitled Xie Yaohuan is a poisonous weed.

Tian died in prison during the Cultural Revolution in 1968.

He was rehabilitated posthumously in 1979.

Major plays

• Ka Fei Dian Yi Ye (A Night in the Coffee Shop) 1922
• Wu Fan Zhi Qian (Before Lunch) 1922
• Wo Hu Zhi Ye (A Night of Capturing the Tiger) 1924
• Suzhou Ye Hua (The Night Talk of Suzhou Life's Will) 1928
• Hu Shang de Bei Ju (A Tragedy of the Lake) 1928
• Ming You Zhi Si (Death of a Noted Actor) 1929
• Nan Gui 1929
• Mei Yu (Plum Rains) 1932
• Yue Guang Qu (Moonlight Melody) 1932
• Luan Zhong 1932
• Yang Zi Jiang de Bao Feng Yu (The Storm of Yangzi River) 1935
• Hui Chun Zhi Qu (Spring Melody) 1935
• Hong Shui (Flood) 1935
• Lu Gou Qiao (Lu Gou Bridge) 1937
• Han Jiang Yu Ge (The Song of Han River) 1939
• Qiu Sheng Fu 1942
• Guan Hanqing 1958
• Li Ren Xing 1959

In popular culture

He is portrayed by Donnie Yen in the 2009 film The Founding of a Republic.

External references

The Chinese Cultural Revolution: a history By Paul Clark

http://www.marxists.org/archive/chen/chenongpcr.htm

http://thechinabeat.blogspot.com/2008/07/from-lovers-to-volunteers-tian-han-and.html

Persondata
Name	Tian, Han
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1898
Place of birth
Date of death	1968
Place of death