PASADENA, Calif.—A Tiananmen Square veteran and poet whose works have been banned in China stopped at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena last weekend to discuss two of his books as part of a tour of the United States.
Mr. Liao Yiwu reviewed his works God is Red and The Corpse Walker, recently published in English, which chronicle the lives of people caught between the reality of living in
“modern” China and their desire to express themselves in more meaningful ways in this closed society.
Many of the stories are about the lowest level of society and their challenges to survive in China. Several revolve around their faiths. For all, innovative survival becomes a natural way of life. Some, like the author, find themselves on the wrong side of the Communist Party’s vague set of rules, while others seem to thrive, despite the oppressive hand of the Party, ever-present in the background.
Mr. Liao Yiwu reviewed his works God is Red and The Corpse Walker, recently published in English, which chronicle the lives of people caught between the reality of living in
“modern” China and their desire to express themselves in more meaningful ways in this closed society.
Many of the stories are about the lowest level of society and their challenges to survive in China. Several revolve around their faiths. For all, innovative survival becomes a natural way of life. Some, like the author, find themselves on the wrong side of the Communist Party’s vague set of rules, while others seem to thrive, despite the oppressive hand of the Party, ever-present in the background.
Liao Yiwu’s books are banned in China, but very popular in Europe, and his readership is growing in English speaking countries since the translations were released.
Not long ago, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities threatened Liao Yiwu that he would be imprisoned if these two books went to press. For Liao Yiwu, there was only one alternative to this situation: He had spent too many years in prisons, so he fled to Vietnam and then to Berlin this past summer. He is now visiting the United States and talking about his books and his life.
Massacre Veteran
Liao was first imprisoned because of his participation in the June 4 Tiananmen Square student democracy protests in Beijing in 1989. He started writing the stories of his cellmates, including an elderly monk, and then later on wrote about peasants, prostitutes, poor people, two Falun Gong practitioners, and other marginalized people in Chinese society.
His background as a reporter served him well. The stories are very telling of the challenges and no doubt growing frustration Chinese people have. Those in mainland China, however, are unaware of his books because they have been banned by the CCP.
During his review of the two books, a question was posed about his own personal life in China and his daily routine in prison. His translator had difficulty translating it because it was so horrific and debauched.
One of Liao’s experiences in prison was of nursing an injured pigeon with broken legs and a broken wing back to health with his fellow prisoners. After much effort, the bird was able to get about on its own. They then let it loose, with a note attached to it of their plight, thinking that someone on the outside could possibly help them. They watched in dismay as it flew over to the guardhouse, where it landed on one of the guards. It was apparently a pet of one of the guards, who read their note. Repercussions followed.
When released from prison and unemployed, Liao Yiwu became a musician to support himself. Halfway through the presentation, he demonstrated using a bronze Tibetan prayer bowl as an instrument. He ran a wooden mallet along the edge until it sang like a high-pitched bell. It then undulated a set of tones and at that moment, he began singing, his voice moving into and out of the bowl’s undulating tones. This was a very unique musical experience.
He spent time responding to questions and telling about his experiences in prison, as well as some of the people he came across over the years. Many of the stories were horrific for those who are unfamiliar with China’s gulags. He showed no emotion as he discussed the circumstances he and others suffered.
He finished his presentation by playing a traditional Chinese flute, which had a very calming, yet mysterious sound to it.
Excerpts from ‘Massacre’(by Liao Yiwu, translated by Wen Huang)
Dedicated to those who were killed on June 4, 1989 in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
A massacre is happening
In this nation of Utopia
Where the Prime Minister catches a cold
The masses have to sneeze to follow
Martial law is declared and enforced
The aging toothless state machine is rolling over
Those who dare to resist and refuse to sneeze
Fallen by the thousands are the barehanded and unarmed
Armored assassins are swimming in blood
Setting fire to houses with windows and doors locked
Polish your military boots with the skirt of a slain girl
Boot owners don’t even tremble
Robots without hearts never tremble
Their brain is programmed with one process
A flawed command
Represent the nation to dismember the constitution
Represent the constitution to slaughter justice…
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