Chinese Literary Scholar Liu Zaifu Passes Away

Central News Agency (Beijing) May 25. Chinese scholar and literary theorist Liu Zaifu passed away today in Hangzhou at the age of 85. Liu went into exile overseas after the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident and lectured in Taiwan in 2005. His book 'Farewell to Revolution,' co-authored with scholar Li Zehou, sparked widespread discussion. According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao, relatives confirmed that Liu passed away in Hangzhou on the 24th due to illness. Before leaving Beijing for the United States in 1989, Liu was the director of the Institute of Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. After moving abroad, he served as a visiting professor, chair professor, and honorary professor at institutions including the University of Chicago, University of Colorado, Stockholm University, University of British Columbia, City University of Hong Kong, HKUST, National Central University in Taiwan, and Tunghai University. Born in Fujian in 1941, Liu described his life as having experienced three major losses: the death of his father in childhood, the loss of his books during the Cultural Revolution, and the loss of his country after 1989. During the 1980s, he was a leading figure in literary research in China, but he fled after the 1989 crackdown. Later, he and philosopher Li Zehou advocated for non-violent solutions to social conflicts.