Zou Jingzhi is a Chinese playwright and author best known for his contributions to Chinese opera and television scripts. His literary career gained international attention with the longlisting of his book Ninth Building for the 2023 International Booker Prize.
Born in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, in 1952, Zou Jingzhi moved to Beijing at a young age. In his early years, he showed a keen interest in animals and initially dreamed of becoming a zookeeper.
In 1969, during China's Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside, where he lived and worked until 1977. During this time, Zou developed a deep interest in music and literature. Upon his return to Beijing, Zou enrolled in the Chinese Department of Central Radio and Television University.
After graduating, Zou initially worked at the Coal Research Institute. However, his literary career began to take shape when he published short stories and poems. In 1987, Zou Jingzhi became the editor of The Poetry Journal, which marked the beginning of his professional writing career. His first major successes came as a writer for television, where he gained recognition for his work on popular Chinese dramas such as Kangxi Travels in Disguise and Iron Teeth Bronze Teeth Ji Xiaolan.
In 2005, after joining the Beijing Writers' Association, Zou shifted towards full-time writing. His literary work has expanded to include theatre, film and opera. He wrote the librettos for Xi Shi (2009) and The Chinese Orphan (2011), both of which premiered at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Ninth Building (2010), a work deeply influenced by his childhood experiences, brought him wider recognition. The novel reflects on the Cultural Revolution through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Beijing. In an interview, Zou reflected on his motivation for writing the book: "I wrote to let go of my childhood." He also revealed that the book took shape over several years, with most written between 1989 and 1993, followed by revisions in 1996.
The English translation of Ninth Building by Jeremy Tiang was published in 2022, bringing Zou's work to a global audience. Zou expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying, "It means that 13 years after the Chinese publication, the English translation has allowed it to travel through time".
His writing process is rooted in tradition; he still prefers to write with a pen rather than a computer, a habit he attributes to his generation. "When I write with a pen, I can feel the expression of my mood and feelings through the movement of the letters," Zou said in an interview.
Zou Jingzhi lives in Beijing.
Born in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, in 1952, Zou Jingzhi moved to Beijing at a young age. In his early years, he showed a keen interest in animals and initially dreamed of becoming a zookeeper.
In 1969, during China's Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside, where he lived and worked until 1977. During this time, Zou developed a deep interest in music and literature. Upon his return to Beijing, Zou enrolled in the Chinese Department of Central Radio and Television University.
After graduating, Zou initially worked at the Coal Research Institute. However, his literary career began to take shape when he published short stories and poems. In 1987, Zou Jingzhi became the editor of The Poetry Journal, which marked the beginning of his professional writing career. His first major successes came as a writer for television, where he gained recognition for his work on popular Chinese dramas such as Kangxi Travels in Disguise and Iron Teeth Bronze Teeth Ji Xiaolan.
In 2005, after joining the Beijing Writers' Association, Zou shifted towards full-time writing. His literary work has expanded to include theatre, film and opera. He wrote the librettos for Xi Shi (2009) and The Chinese Orphan (2011), both of which premiered at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Ninth Building (2010), a work deeply influenced by his childhood experiences, brought him wider recognition. The novel reflects on the Cultural Revolution through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Beijing. In an interview, Zou reflected on his motivation for writing the book: "I wrote to let go of my childhood." He also revealed that the book took shape over several years, with most written between 1989 and 1993, followed by revisions in 1996.
The English translation of Ninth Building by Jeremy Tiang was published in 2022, bringing Zou's work to a global audience. Zou expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying, "It means that 13 years after the Chinese publication, the English translation has allowed it to travel through time".
His writing process is rooted in tradition; he still prefers to write with a pen rather than a computer, a habit he attributes to his generation. "When I write with a pen, I can feel the expression of my mood and feelings through the movement of the letters," Zou said in an interview.
Zou Jingzhi lives in Beijing.
years of life: 1952 – present
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