A Chinese mainstream newspaper published an article that put the well-known Chinese writer Han Han under fire and claimed Han is "the biggest scandal in contemporary literary circles", stirring heated debate online.
China Youth Daily, an official newspaper of the Communist Youth League (CYL), published the article on Aug 19. The author of the article, Xiao Ying, a philosophy professor from Tsinghua University, said he wrote the article himself at no one's request or demand.
Han Han, one of China's best-selling authors and most popular bloggers, has many young readers in China and is dubbed by media as the "opinion leader of Chinese youths".
The article is divided into three parts. The first part criticized Han's new film The Continent, saying it's a "totally lousy film.
"It is full of imitation and copy from other creators," said the article.
But the second and third parts are the most controversial.
It said Han lacks literary and historic knowledge essential for a senior school graduate, lacks language ability, which is a must for a mature youth and lacks social moralities that a civilized youth must have.
"I believe that to clarify the history of how Han comes to fame will not only be essential to return the truth to history, to return right and wrong judgment to the literary circles, but also will get rid off the poisonous flow of anti-intellectualism that harms the Chinese culture in the 20th Century and gives youths the right guide," continues the article.
Under the background of anti-corruption, the investigation into Han will prove he is the biggest scandal of the literary circle, the article said.
The article sparked heated debate online immediately after publication and until Wednesday, the topic drew more than 4,900 comments on Sina Weibo. Some are against the article and some support it.
Wuyue Sanren, a well-known blogger, wrote on Sina Weibo, "Of course literary works and writers can be criticized, but should be in a different way from shouting abuse on a street." He said he felt a smell of the criticism style during Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in the article.
Others said it's a good article. One commented, "Han should have been pulled down from the shrine long ago."
Han Han has not responded to the article yet. The head of the publication team for Han's film said Han has read the article. "We will not respond to it and there's no need to do that."
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