Endless War: Fiction and Essays by Wang Wen-hsing

A Chronology ofWang Wen-hsing’s Life

391 A Chronology of Wang Wen-hsing’s Life v Until recently, “Wang Wen-hsing dashi ji” (Record of major events in the life of Wang Wen-hsing) has been the only published chronology of Wang Wen-hsing’s life. It first appeared in Zhongguo shibao (China times), November 18–20, 1999; then was published a second time in 2000, with Professor Ke Qingming’s supplement, on the official website of “Wang Wen-hsing’s Manuscript Exhibition” by Taiwan University Library. A third publication occurred in 2007 in Xiaoyao (Les loisirs) magazine, with an addition by Wang concerning events after 2000. Based on these records and with some information collected by Shu-ning Sciban, the chronology detailed here is meant to serve as a brief introduction to Wang’s life and important events in his writing career. 1939 Born on November 4, in Fuzhou, China. 1942 Moves to Xiamen with his parents at the age of three. 1945 Moves back to Fuzhou with his parents after the Sino-Japanese war. 1946 Moves with his parents to Donggang, Taiwan; enters Donggang Elementary School. 1948 Moves to Taipei with his parents; enters a grade three class at the renowned Taipei Mandarin Experimental Elementary School. 1951 Graduates from elementary school. 1954 Graduates from junior high and enters high school. 392 v wang wen-hsing’s life 1957 Graduates from high school and passes the university entrance exam to study in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, National Taiwan University. 1958 Publishes his first short story, “Shou ye” (The lingering night). In the following two years, he publishes other stories in Daxue shenghuo (University life) and Wenxue zazhi (Literary review ). 1960 Establishes Xiandai wenxue (Modern literature) with a number of friends. 1961 Graduates from university and begins compulsory military service. 1963 Enters the creative writing program at the University of Iowa and subsequently receives his MFA degree. 1965 Returns to Taiwan; teaches courses on English fiction as an instructor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at National Taiwan University. Serves as chief editor of Modern Literature until November 1968. 1966 Begins to write his first novel Jia bian (Family catastrophe). 1967 Publishes his first short story collection, titled Longtian lou (Dragon inn). 1969 Marries Ch’en Chu-yun, and spends a year as a research fellow at State University of New York at Buffalo. 1970 Publishes his second collection of short stories, titled Wanju shouqiang (The toy revolver). 1972 Family Catastrophe is completed, serialized and published in Chung Wai Literary Monthly. 1973 Family Catastrophe is published in book form by Hongfan Bookstore. 1974 Begins to write his second novel, Bei hai de ren (Backed against the sea). 1976 Exchange scholar at the University of Florida at Jacksonville. 1979 Promoted to professor at National Taiwan University. Backed Against the Sea, vol. 1 is completed. 1981 His father dies. Backed Against the Sea, vol. 1, is published by Hongfan Bookstore. He also publishes his third collection of short stories, titled Shiwu pian xiaoshuo (Fifteen short stories). a chronology v 393 1985 Baptized into the Catholic Church. 1988 First essay collection, Shu he ying (Books and films), is published by Hongfan Bookstore. First play, M and W, is published and performed in Tainan by the Tainan People’s Theater in August. 1989 His mother dies. 1997 Backed Against the Sea, vol. 2, is completed. 1999 Backed Against the Sea, vol. 2, is serialized and published in Lianhe wenxue (Unitas), and published in book form by Hongfan Bookstore in September. Family Catastrophe is selected as one of the best 100 Chinese literary works published in the twentieth century by Yazhou zhoukan magazine in Hong Kong, and one of the best 30 literary works published in the second half of the twentieth century in Taiwan by the Council for Cultural Affairs in Taiwan. 2000 Donates manuscripts of Family Catastrophe, Backed Against the Sea, an assorted compilation of notes and a collection of letters to friends to National Taiwan University Library. The library holds an exhibition of Wang’s manuscripts on November 15 to December 31. 2002 His second essay collection, Xiaoshuo mo yu (Beyond fiction ), is published. 2003 The third essay collection, Xing yu lou sui xiang (Random thoughts from a star-rain tower), is published. 2005 Retires from National Taiwan University at the same time as his wife, Professor Ch’en Chu-yun. Begins to write his third novel, a religious story. 2006...