Lao She, originally named Shu Qingchun, was born in Beijing on February 3, 1899. As one of the most eminent men of letters in 20th-century China, he is world-renowned for works such as Rickshaw Boy, Teahouse, and Four Generations Under One Roof. With their distinctive Beijing vernacular and profound social criticism, his writings have left a deep and lasting mark on modern Chinese literature.
BaZi Chart
Lao She's BaZi (Ba Zi) chart reveals a complex structure. The Day Master (Ri Zhu) is Ren Water, born in the Yin month, with two Yi stems in the Month and Hour Pillars presenting pronounced Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) traits. The Resource star coexists with Seven Killings (Qi Sha), forming an intricate configuration of the Hurting Officer paired with Resource and the Hurting Officer subduing Killings. This structure is commonly found among those whose talents are on full display and whose words are incisive, making them well-suited for literary creation and stage expression.
Literary Talent
The prominently doubled Hurting Officer structure in Lao She's chart brings keen linguistic expression and a vivid imagination. The Eating God (Shi Shen) and the Hurting Officer nourish each other in the chart, manifesting as outstanding writing gifts and his signature "Beijing flavor" prose. His works often exposed social contradictions and reflected the everyday lives of ordinary city dwellers through a lens of humor and wit.
Sense of Social Responsibility
When his Luck Pillars (Da Yun) entered the periods governed by Direct Officer (Zheng Guan) and Direct Resource (Zheng Yin), the native was inclined to take on public roles and organizational duties. Lao She shouldered significant responsibility and wielded considerable influence during the War of Resistance and his work with the cultural association, and his writings are suffused with a deep concern for social issues and a sharp critical eye.
Resilience Under Pressure
A Ren Water Day Master, combined with structures such as Friend (Bi Jian) and Rob Wealth (Jie Cai), indicates a strong drive for independence and a fighting spirit. However, when encountering intense Seven Killings along with clashes and punishments, this reservoir of resilience can become depleted. The political upheavals that battered Lao She in his later years resonate closely with the dynamics of his BaZi chart.
The Peril of an Incisive Tongue
The Hurting Officer brings a blunt and outspoken style that easily offends authority. In his chart, the tension between Seven Killings and the Resource star foreshadowed the likelihood of being misunderstood or persecuted during times of political adversity. In his final years, Lao She did indeed suffer tremendous political pressure due to his speech and views.
Life Timeline
- 1900: Lost his father in childhood and barely escaped with his life. His father died for his country during the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China, and after their home was looted, Lao She narrowly survived the catastrophe.
- 1918: Completed his training and took his first post at the head of a classroom. He graduated with outstanding grades from a normal school and was appointed principal of the 17th Junior and Senior Primary School in Beijing.
- 1921: Taught in Tianjin as his literary star began to rise. He traveled to Nankai Middle School in Tianjin to serve as a teacher and published his short story "Little Bell."
- 1926: Made his debut on the literary scene, showcasing his brilliance with The Philosophy of Old Zhang. His first full-length novel was serialized in The Short Story Magazine.
- 1929: Taught in the South Seas while writing ceaselessly, capturing a cross-cultural blend through a child's playful perspective. He taught for half a year at a Chinese overseas middle school in Singapore and wrote The Birth of Little Po.
- 1931: Tied the knot in a joyful union. He married the painter Hu Jieqing, and the couple settled in Jinan after the wedding.
- 1937: With the nation in dire peril, he took up his pen as a weapon and threw himself into the torrents of the War of Resistance. He helped organize the All-China Federation of Writers and Artists for Resistance Against the Enemy.
- 1946: Crossed the oceans to connect with peers through literature. At the invitation of the U.S. State Department, he traveled to the United States for cultural exchange and lecture tours.
- 1950: Turned his pen toward the new society, creating a play that captivated the capital. He wrote and published the stage drama Dragon Beard Ditch.
- 1954: Entered the national stage, honored as a delegate. He was elected to the First National People's Congress.
- 1956: A master picked up his pen, and the storm clouds of Teahouse gathered. He began writing the stage drama Teahouse.
Lao She's life was steeped in legend, and both his literary legacy and personal journey are deeply intertwined with his BaZi chart. His creative genius, his sense of social duty, his resilience under pressure, and the sharp edge of his words all found clear expression in his BaZi chart.