Liang Yusheng

Chen Wentong(5 April 1924 – 22 January 2009), better known by hispen nameLiang Yusheng, was a Chinese-born Australian novelist best known for being a pioneer of the "new school" of thewuxiagenre in the 20th century. Along withJin YongandGu Long, he was one of the best known wuxia writers in the later half of the 20th century. Throughout his career, he published a total of 35 wuxia novels – the more notable ones includeBaifa Monü Zhuan,Yunhai Yugong Yuan,Qijian Xia TianshanandPingzong Xiaying Lu– and some have been adapted into films and television series, includingThe Bride with White Hair(1993) andSeven Swords(2005).
Chen's given name "Wentong" means "literary tradition". He choseLiangas the surname of hispen nameto remind himself that he was inheriting the literary tradition of his ancestors in the same way theChen dynasty(557–589) succeeded theLiang dynasty(502–557) during theNorthern and Southern dynastiesperiod (420–589).He chose "Yusheng" as the given name of his pen name to pay homage toGong Baiyu, one of his favourite wuxia writers and sources of influence, because "Yusheng" means "born from (Gong Bai)yu".
Chen was born in 1924 in a scholarly family in Tunzhi Village, Wenyu Town,Mengshan County,Guangxi Province,China. He was well-versed in ancient Chinese classics andduilianand could recite theThree Hundred Tang Poemsby the age of eight. While he was attending Guilin High School inGuilin, he enjoyed writing poems.
Following the outbreak of theSecond Sino-Japanese Warin 1937, Chen left Guilin and returned to Mengshan County. During this time, he met two scholars from the neighbouringGuangdong Provincewho had taken shelter in Mengshan County, and studied history and literature under their tutelage:Jian Youwen, who specialised in the history of theTaiping Rebellion; andRao Zongyi, who was well read in poetry, humanities, art and the history ofDunhuang.
After the war ended, Chen attendedLingnan UniversityinGuangzhouand graduated in 1948, majoring in international economics.
In 1949, Chen moved toHong Kongand, through a recommendation from Lingnan University, became an assistant editor for the newspaperTa Kung Pao. He was subsequently promoted to editor and also became a member of the newspaper's editorial executive committee. Towards the end of 1950, he was reassigned toNew Evening Post, the evening edition ofTa Kung Pao.
On 17 January 1954, two martial arts masters –Chan Hak-fuof theWhite Crane SchoolandWu Kung-iof theTai Chi School– challenged each other to alei taimatch inMacauand attracted much attention in Hong Kong.Luo Fu, the chief editor ofNew Evening Post, wanted to take advantage of thesensationalismsurrounding thelei taimatch, so he asked Chen to write awuxiastory based on the match and publish it as aserialin the newspaper. This became Chen's debut wuxia novel –Longhu Dou Jinghua– and marked the start of a "new school" in thewuxiagenre.During this time, he metJin Yong, who was also working atNew Evening Postand writing wuxia novels.
From 1954 to 1983, Chen wrote a total of 35 wuxia novels, of which most were originally published as serials in newspapers. Among his works,Baifa Monü Zhuan,Yunhai Yugong Yuan,Qijian Xia TianshanandPingzong Xiaying Luare some of the better known ones and have been adapted into films and television series, includingThe Bride with White Hair(1993) andSeven Swords(2005). Besides wuxia novels, Chen also wrote columns, critiques and essays under different pen names, including "Liang Hueru" and "Fong Yuning".
Chen migrated to Australia with his family in 1987.At the time, he was a member of theChina Writers Associationand had been offered the position of honorary president of the Yinglian Society of China (YSC) inShenzhen.He converted to Christianity in September 1994.
On 30 November 2004, Chen received anhonoraryDoctor of Artsfrom hisalma mater,Lingnan University, which has moved to Hong Kong, for his contributions to the development of literature.
In December 2006, while attending an event in Hong Kong to celebrateCosmos Books Ltd.'s 30th anniversary, Chen suffered a stroke.After that, he returned to Australia and spent his time recuperating at the Bernard Chan Nursing Home inBurwood, New South Wales. On 22 January 2009, he died of natural causes at the age of 84 inSydney.Among those who wrote tributes to Chen were his mentorRao Zongyi, his former bossLuo Fu, fellowwuxiawriterJin Yong, and professor Chan Yiu-nam.
Chen's novels always open with a poem – indicating his interest in poetry. The protagonists of his novels also tend to be multi-talented, versatile, and well-read. Besides that, he incorporates elements of Chinese history in his novels – a style also adopted by fellow wuxia writerJin Yong. However, unlike Jin Yong and other wuxia writers, he does not regard theShaolinandWudangschools as the major orthodox schools in thejianghu(martial artists' community). Instead, he makes theMount Heaven School (Tianshan School)the leading school in thejianghu, particularly in theTianshanseries of novels set in theMingandQingdynasties.