CUHK Library E-newsletter

Renowned Hong Kong writer Xi Xi (the pen name of Cheung Yin) passed away in December 2022 at the age of 85. The CUHK Library expresses deep sorrow over her passing.

Born in Shanghai in 1937, Xi Xi moved to Hong Kong with her family in 1950. She published more than thirty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, as well as numerous newspaper and literary magazine articles. Her works are diverse in themes, genres, and styles. Xi Xi won many awards throughout her illustrious career. As early as 1983, she won the Taiwan United Daily News’ Short Story Commendation Award. In 2019, she became the first Hong Kong writer to win both the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature of the United States and the Cikada Prize of Sweden. Additionally, she was honoured with the Life Achievement Award at the 16th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2022 for her outstanding contributions to the Hong Kong literary scene. The CUHK Library is grateful for her generous donations to Hong Kong Literature over the past decade. Below are the highlights of Xi Xi Collection.

Books

The Xi Xi Collection at Hong Kong Literature Hub, University Library was established in 2022. It features over 600 books donated by Xi Xi, including European novels, science fiction, historical books of the Qing dynasty, and books on Africa. Xi Xi’s friend, writer Ho Fuk Yan, believes that the collection “is a source for Xi Xi’s writing, and also a reflection of her interests”. For example, her works on Africa and handicraft African dolls are based on the eight volumes of General History of Africa. Her books A Reader Like Me (2016) and Western Science Fiction Literature and Film (2018) demonstrate her interest in contemporary foreign fiction and science fiction respectively, while Deer Hunt (1982) and The Imperial Board of Astronomy (2022) were inspired by the history of the Qing dynasty. To gain an insight into Xi Xi the person and her works we can begin by exploring her private collection.

Correspondence

In addition to the books, the donation contains valuable items, like manuscripts, letters, photos, awards, and prizes. In 1987, Xi Xi edited the book series Selected Works of Mainland Chinese Novels in the 1980s, which was published in Taiwan. She was the first to introduce emerging Mainland authors to Taiwan, including Mo Yan, Yu Hua, Han Shaogong, Li Rui, Wang Anyi, Shi Tiensheng and Zhang Chengzhi. Books in this series include Red Sorghum, Explosion, Attic and The Sixth Division. All these authors are acclaimed in the Chinese literary world today. As an editor, Xi Xi corresponded with these authors about remuneration, publishing arrangement, literary creativity and writing, etc. Xi Xi archive contains over 140 letters which are indeed important historical documents of literary exchange between Mainland China and Hong Kong during the 1980s.

(From right: Mo Yan, Xi Xi, Cheung Kee-tong)

Handicrafts

Xi Xi was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. Post-cancer treatment damaged the nerves in her right hand, promoting her to begin writing with her left hand. To improve the mobility of her right hand following surgery, she learned to craft doll houses, puppets, stuffed animals, and teddy bears. In 2018, she donated the doll house that she made for her novel My Georgia (2008) and the teddy bears sewn and photographed in The Teddy Bear Chronicles (2009) to the CUHK Library. Her handmade teddy bears include bear-politicians, philosophers, warriors, musicians, as well as heroes from “Water Margin”. She also crafted various ornate costumes for these historical figures. Her handicrafts demonstrate her free spirit, imagination, and creativity. The Xi Xi archive now contains over 50 sewn creations, including dolls, teddy bears, apes, and more.

In memory of Xi Xi, an exhibition titled “A Writer Like Her: Xi Xi Collection in The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library” is held from now until 31 October 2023. All are welcome.

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