Zhang Dachun: an amateur writer who goes his own way

Writing a series of “books serving the people”

After he became a member of the “avant-garde writers,” Zhang did not lose his interest in traditional folk arts like storytelling and cross talk. In 1999, with his story-telling ability Zhang was given a job opportunity which he called “the longest job so far.” At that time, a friend from a newly-established radio station invited Zhang to host a talk show and allowed him to do whatever he liked. During the one-hour program, he talked about music, publishing, science and technology and traffic in the first half hour, during which he usually talked quite a lot of “heavy stuff,” and told stories in the second half hour, always beginning with a clap with a wooden board and the words “storyteller Zhang Dachun will ‘serve’ you with a story today.” The contents included classical stories he had once heard of as well as those he created by himself. Shortly after being broadcasted, the show received a warm response and was extended to two hours. Up to now, Zhang continues to support his family with the payment of the two-hours-a-day job.

When he worked as a radio station host, Zhang began to write “Gangsters from the City State,” a novel that surprised the world and approved by himself. He said, “I have already told the novel once in the radio program.” The work, which is summarized as a kung fu novel, mixed martial arts, chivalry and “black society” into Taiwan’s real life. It dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, and was written about the social struggles and the origin of Qing Bang (a gang). Details were somewhat verified in the history although it appeared to be imaginary at the same time. As for the boundary between reality and imagination, Zhang curled his lips and said, “Sorry, I cannot tell you. Because if the author tells you in advance what is real and what is not, what is going to be left for your own imagination?”

The first edition of “Gangsters from the City State” had 1100 pages, a monumental work. However, he did not seem to be satisfied with this and thought that there should be a prequel and sequel.

As his reputation grows, he is ready to keep up with Calvino, a whiz writer with peculiar talent in Italian literature. Calvino compiled Italian legends to nourish the future generations, so Zhang begins to organize unofficial notes about ancient China with the four characters of spring, summer, autumn and winter respectively embedded in four books to compile a series of “books serving the people.”

Zhang is famous as a writer, but he has never stopped doing other things besides writing, because he does not want to be “alienated” and thus limited by the title of “writer.” He had written film scripts for directors, and was required to edit them 13 times. However, he did not lose his temper, willing to be a “typist.” Zhang wrote lyrics for Wakin Chau and Michelle Pan, and followed Cui Jian to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to conduct a seven-day in-depth interview with him. He talked about traffic and politics with experts, and exchanged letters in Chinese regular script with an elderly man he did not know through the radio station. Among his numerous identities, he is most unwilling to be called a poet, though his traditional-style poems are highly praised by others. In his opinion, “poet” is “a label that glues, and is difficult to tear off,” said Zhang. He added, “Even I say I am a poet, nobody would give me a penny.”

Zhang said that now he does a few things every day. He gets up at 6:30 am, sees his wife take their children to school at 7:00 am, and stays at home practicing calligraphy, writing poems, reading books and doing housework till 2:00 pm. He hosts a radio program between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, then eats dinner with his family, helps his child with homework, and finally reads and writes what he wants to. He does the same things day in day out.

“Others have to work for eight hours every day, but I work for only two hours. During these six hours when others are working, I can play mahjong besides reading and writing.” At a press conference presenting his new book, Zhang described his “simple life” with a smile. Behind him, there were numerous fans waiting with books in their hands for an autograph.

Translated by LOTO