Post by Isaac Ho, the Admin on Sept 9, 2014 20:51:32 GMT -5
THE LEGENDARY PROF. C. T. HSIA OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
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by Isaac Ho, the Admin & Founder of this Forum
Prior to my discussion of this renown Chinese professor - Dr. Hsia Chin Tsing, I would like to give thanks to my late father,
Dr. Ho Po Luen (1880-1963), who taught me a lot about Chinese civilization, history, culture and literature.
My father loved to composed poems in his spare time and he would have them published in the China Press in Kuala Lumpur,
then "British Malaya" (now Malaysia), way back in the early 1950s.
Additionally, my father also quoted endless passages on the historical novels, known as San Kuo or The Romance of the Three
Kingdoms as well as the Shui Hu Chuan (The 108 heroes of Liangshan P'o).
Astoundingly, he had the mental ability to remember and recite accurate these two popular folk novels of ancient China.
I remember and give thanks to my late father Dr. Ho for instilling me when I was in my teens about the literary achievements
of China and those dedicated writers who developed and introduced these exciting stories down through the ages to us now...!
Now back to the late Prof. C.T. Hsia, who sadly passed away in December 29, 2013 at the ripe old age of 92 at Manhattan.
He was born in Pudong, Shanghai, China in the early 1920s.
He taught Chinese literature at the Columbia University for more than three decades.
Prof. Hsia came to United States in 1947 and subsequently earned his doctorate at Yale University.
He had authored several books on Chinese Literature, while working in the university and had trained many students on
sinology with special emphasis on ancient and modern Chinese literature.
Dr. Hsia's most outstanding contributions was his critical analysis of Chinese literature consisting of two outstanding books.
And they are still very popular as textbooks as well as for the laymen who are interested in things Chinese!
These are:- A HISTORY OF MODERN CHINESE FICTION and THE CHINESE CLASSIC NOVEL.
Although Prof C. T. Hsia is no longer with us, but his written work will live on and will continuously being reviewed, studied
and discussed in the Chinese faculties of many Western universities.
It would be very hard to find another Chinese expert like him as he was so dedicated and knowledgeable in both
ancient and modern Chinese literature about our beloved ancestral homeland of CHINA.
His writings indicated his keen and analytic mind and deep insight in Chinese literature, and willingness to share with his
students.
Here is a Youtube interview of Prof. C.T. Hsia and his wife:-
www.youtube.com/watch?V=coDFFXxbDyw