Introduction of Haji Ji Bolun

Haji Ji Bolun (1883 65438+1October 6-1931April 10) is a Lebanese writer, poet and painter. He is the main founder of Arabic literature and one of the pioneers of the new Arab literature road in the 20th century. He is regarded as an artistic genius and the proud son of Lebanese literature. His main works are Tears and Laughter, Prophet, Sand and Foam, etc. Ji Bolun, Lu Xun and Rabindranath Tagore are pioneers of modern oriental literature going to the world.

Ji Bolun comes from a Maronite Catholic family. I have never received a formal school education since I was a child. Later, he and his family moved to America. When I was studying in America, I showed my artistic talent. After that, my interest turned to literature, first Arabic, then English. Influenced by Nietzsche's thoughts, Ji Bolun's literary works are full of sociality and oriental spirit, and are not plot-centered, aiming at expressing rich emotions.

Ji Bolun's paintings are full of romanticism and symbolism and occupy a unique position in the Arab painting world. He created about 700 exquisite oil paintings in his life, most of which were collected by American Art Museum and Lebanese Ji Bolun Memorial Hall.

Chinese name: Haji Ji Bolun

mbth:kahligibran，_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Alias: Kahlil Gibran

Nationality: Lebanon

Ethnic group: Arabs

Birthplace: Li Sheng Gu, Linhai, northern Lebanon.

Date of birth:1883 65438+1October 6th.

Date of death: 193 1 April 10.

Occupation: poet, painter, writer

Graduate school: Paris Art Institute, France.

Belief: Deism

Representative works: Tears and Laughter, Prophet, Sand and Foam.

Writing style: prose poems, fables and short stories.

Place of death: new york, USA.

Personal life

1883 was born in Beshi, the northern province of Lebanon, which belonged to the Syrian province of the Ottoman Empire at that time.

1892, he fell from a rock and injured his right scapula, and lived in his aunt's house for several months. Since then, my right arm has been weak all my life.

1On June 25th, 895, Ji Bolun's mother took him to the United States, located in Eddingboro Street in Boston Chinatown, because she couldn't stand the brutal rule of the Ottoman Empire. The Ji Bolun family lived a hard life and made a living by selling things along the street in Camille. A year later, they opened a small dry goods store to make a living. /kloc-in September, 2000, he entered the public elementary school for foreigners in Oliver Bliss, Boston. Here he came into contact with western culture, and his name was changed to a simpler Khalil Ji Bolun by the United States. At school, Ji Bolun's talent for painting was noticed by Lawrence Pierce. On her recommendation, Jesse fremont Bill, a social worker of Children's Aid Association, introduced Ji Bolun to Fred Holland Day, a supporter, photographer and publisher of Boston avant-garde art.

1896 65438+On February 9th, I met the literary figure Fred Holland Day in Boston. This man admired the oriental spirit and found that Ji Bolun's family was a typical oriental family. Inspired by Day, Ji Bolun began to draw the covers of many books.

1897, portrait of poetess Josephine Bruston.

On March 8th, 1898, I participated in the art exhibition held in Day, met many cultural celebrities, and drew the cover of Boston Public Library. In September, Ji Bolun returned to the motherland alone, studying national history and culture and understanding Arab society. Enter Hekma College in Beirut. Holi Yusuf Hamid, an Arabic teacher, introduced him to the ancient poet Mutenabi and others, and introduced him to the collection of poems and the Bible. At the same time, he revised his composition and prepared to publish it in the school magazine Fuxing, which he planned to publish. When I was a student, I traveled all over Lebanon, met many people and visited many places of interest.

In the summer of 1899, I went back to my hometown Beshi to visit my father Khalil and live with my aunt. Complete some portraits of ancient Arab poets, such as Alfa Lide, Abu Nouvas, Mutnabi and the Arab poetess Lufthansa.

1900, the first in French learning. During this period, I never stopped learning painting, and often went to the home of artist Habib Suluqi for advice. Dai sent him a check for $50 as a cover painting and affirmed Ji Bolun's position as a Boston painter. In my notebook, I recorded my views on various social problems, such as my aversion to poverty and social environment.

190 1 April, I learned the bad news of my sister Sudana's death on my way back to the United States, and I still lived in Boston after returning to the United States.

1902, owing 15000 yuan for medical expenses. Ji Bolun's brother and sister sold their property, while Ji Bolun made money by writing articles, selling paintings and doing odd jobs. He had to pay off his debts.

1903, his love with Josephine was frustrated and he devoted himself to painting. Began to write the words that constitute the prose poetry collection "Tears and Laughter". He began to publish a series of short articles in new york Arabic newspaper Expatriate at a fee of $2 per week, which not only brought practical material help to Ji Bolun, but also earned him a reputation among Arab immigrant readers in the United States. From 65438 to 0908, more than 50 prose poems were published in Expatriate with the general title of Tears and Laughter.

In May, 1904, the first solo exhibition was held in Boston Gallery. Among them, paintings such as "Soul Converts to God" and "Fountain of Pain" attracted Mary Elizabeth haskell, principal of Blue Street Girls' Primary School in Mahler City. From then on, the two became close friends. This exhibition was soon displayed in Mary's school. Mary bought The Fountain of Pain and Dance of Thought. In June+10, 5438, I went to an exhibition in Boston with 40 paintings. Soon a fire broke out in the gallery and most of the works were burned.

1906, feelings turned to Mary haskell. Published a collection of short stories, Bride of the Grassland, with Emin Huleb as the preface. It further expanded Ji Bolun's influence among Arab immigrant readers in the United States.

1907 published a collection of short stories, Rebellious Soul, which was declared by the Turkish government as a dangerous, rebellious and poisonous work for teenagers. And burned the book in public in Beirut Central Square, accusing Ji Bolun of treason. Arrived in Paris at the end of June and lived in a damp studio. /kloc-entered the Paris Art Institute in June/March, and was influenced by the symbolism school founded by auguste rodin and Ogin Carlisle in the 9th century. He is closely related to the mysterious painter Blennow. Engaged in the popular commercial three-dimensional art at that time, and had differences with friends. Travel around Paris and visit Versailles. He began to paint portraits of famous people at that time, including auguste rodin, Edmund Laustein, Henry Locke and Claude Debussy. He has made many speeches in the golden ring of the Youth Turkey Group. 10 year 10.2,10/0.4, I wrote to Mary to pour out my love. Write the article "My Birthday". This article expresses his thoughts on life, knowledge, truth, freedom and love when he was 25 years old. I began to be interested in Nietzsche's works, the biography of Jesus and the theory of the origin of the universe.

1909 In July, my friend Emin rehani and I went to London to visit the museum. Continue to learn painting. The letter to Mary on July 23rd said that she had lost her father. He began to engage in political activities and established political parties with ayub sabet and Chucri Ghanim.

19 10 participated in the Paris traditional spring art exhibition and won the silver award for the exhibition "Autumn". 10 ended the return from Paris to Boston. After their emotional entanglements with Mary and their unanimous decision to give up their marriage, they became lifelong lovers and close friends. Moved to new york at the end of the year. On the issue of the independent regime of the motherland, he had differences with friends in Paris and the United States, which prevented him from going to Paris to attend the Arab political conference held there.

19 1 1 year, I started writing The Tempest. At the end of April, I lived in the artist's apartment at No.5 10 Street, Greenwich Village West, new york. Published a novella "Broken Wings", taking the fate of a poor Arab woman who was devastated by grief as a symbol of the humiliated oriental nation. This novel began to have a great influence in the Arab world at the end of that year, causing many criticisms and doubts. External pressure increased his resistance. Mary can't marry Ji Bolun because of her age. From then on, Ji Bolun's love goal was celibacy. On May 2, he attended a banquet hosted by the Turkish ambassador and lamented Syria.

19 12 Draw three women, etc. After returning to the United States from Paris, he publicly expressed his opposition to Turkish rule, revolution and liberation struggle. On June 16, he gave a speech at the Syrian Women's Club in new york. On October 25th, 65438/KLOC-0, he talked about the essence of the Balkan War, cursed the Ottoman Empire and hoped that it would perish.

On February 19 13, 18, I wrote to Mary and told her that I had chosen ten paintings for her, namely, Let's Rise Together, Seeds, Watchmen, Roses in Piles, Heart of the Desert and First Birth. On April 16, Ji Bolun told people who wanted to buy his painting that it would never be sold. Nacib Aried, editor-in-chief of art magazine, collected and published The Complete Works of Tears and Laughter (19 14). The preface quotes Ji Bolun's letter, saying that a period of complaining and lamenting in his life is over.

19 14, she began to correspond with Meya Valerie Qi Dai, a Lebanese woman writer who lives and works in Egypt. Their correspondence continued until shortly before Ji Bolun's death. In February, a solo exhibition of 75 works was held in Monterus Hall. This affirmed Ji Bolun's status as an artist. Influenced by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche's superman philosophy, he began to write Madman and translated Madman into English with Mary. During this period, his works were published in New Moon, Lightning, and the West Mirror. In view of the western civilization that only emphasized material things at that time, he proposed that life must be liberated from materialism. During the First World War, his enthusiasm for the liberation of the motherland was even higher. He once put forward the view of opposing Zionism.

19 15 years, six paintings were sold for $6,400. Mary helped him invest in industry and became a shareholder for the first time. Chairman of the Syrian Refugee Relief Committee, delivered a speech and wrote an article expressing sympathy for the people of the motherland who suffered from famine. With the help of the United States, the plan to deliver relief food was realized.

19 16 I first met Mikhail Numan, an Arab expatriate writer, at home, and they became friends of literature from then on.

19 17 Boston held an art exhibition and sold three pieces. Charles robert darwin's theory of evolution gradually penetrated into his thoughts.

19 18, Qiyi serialized its important artistic comments, aphorisms and interviews. In May, he published poems such as Life, Rights, Love, Knowledge, Happiness and Death, and paintings such as Justice, Freedom and Justice. 65438+1mid-October. His first collection of English prose poems, Crazy Man, was published in new york, and since then he has entered the stage of writing mainly in English. Publish the book Twenty Paintings. In the foreword, Alice Rufaye said that Ji Bolun combined eastern and western arts in his works.

19 19, the single book of the long poem "hymn to the ranks" was handled by a Jewish publisher and finally published in new york. Donate to buy Arabic books and give them to the library for collection. In a letter to Emile Zedan, I said: The past 20 years I spent as a writer and painter were only a preparatory period, and my thoughts only produced some immature fruits.

1920 On April 20th, a group of Arab diaspora writers met in the editorial department of new york Arabic magazine Traveler to discuss some new issues of Arab new literature and art. On the evening of April 28th, the meeting continued at Ji Bolun's home, and the pen club was formally established. Ji Bolun was elected as the chairman of PEN, and Mikhail Numan was the consultant. Ji Bolun personally drew the social emblem (a circular pattern with an open book in the middle, and a passage in the Hadith written on the page: God has a treasure buried underground, and the poet's lips are the key). Pen Club, as an Arab diaspora writers' group, has promoted the development of Arab overseas literature and United overseas writers. On the eve of May 20th, he gave a speech at the Society of Science and Technology. In mid-August, Pioneer was published.

192 1 fell ill of heart disease in the spring of. Selected Poems of Pen Club was published in new york, containing 43 essays and poems by Ji Bolun and Newman. Newspapers in Arab countries have reprinted them and published highly praised comments. Pen Club soon became famous in the Arab world. Egypt Crescent Publishing House published a collection of prose poems, The Tempest.

1922, painted portraits of famous people, including auguste rodin, Rabindranath Tagore, Katherine Manthfield, painter Robert Lewis Reid, Swedish writer August Strindberg, etc.

1923, The Prophet, a collection of English prose poems, was published in new york. Many societies and families recite in public. On April 6th, Voyager magazine reported that when Schiavor translated Crazy Man into French, he relayed the words of Bayel Duranks, French ambassador to the United States and French translator of Crazy Man: Thank God, I met Ji Bolun when he was alive. On May 8th, Yusuf Thomas Boustaany published a "rare article" for Ji Bolun in Egypt. June 16 reprinted Jane Eyre. On September 3rd17th, China Literature Weekly published five prose poems selected and translated by Mao Dun from Pioneer: Critics, Zhang's Papers, Values, Other Seas and Sage Fools.

1924, Mohammed Tojidin collected his articles and published the Collection of Literary Theories in Egypt. Painted portraits of celebrities from all walks of life, including william somerset maugham and other celebrities. His paintings have been exhibited everywhere.

1925 published the French and German versions of The Prophet. I met Barbara Young, a poetess, and often went to my sister's house in Boston or natural scenic spots after her illness. I run a real estate company with my friend Falisse Maarouf, and my plan to buy a house failed. Mary returned the painting to the landlord as a deposit. Give it to Mary, sand and foam.

1926, Sand and Foam was officially published. Start writing about Jesus, Son of Man, 18 months later. Participate in and contribute to New Oriental Society magazine sponsored by Sujud Hussain, India. From this, I have met many world celebrities. Ji Bolun thought Gandhi was the greatest man in the world at that time. Mary haskell married Florance and moved to Georgia, but kept a friendship with Ji Bolun.

1928 Completed the Garden of the Prophet, and began to write Wanderer and God of the Earth. Summer, Jesus, the Son of Man, is finished. Published in Boston in autumn, it is called the Gospel of Ji Bolun. Ayub Shabite called on Ji Bolun to join the Lebanese regime. But he still stayed in the United States, calling his studio in new york artists' apartment a meditation room.

From 65438 to 0929, his health went from bad to worse, and Ji Bolun felt that his life was running out and his time was coming. All the time is spent drawing, writing, reviewing and so on. Started to conceive monographs about william shakespeare, Michelangelo Buonarroti, baruch Spinoza and Ludwig van Beethoven.

March 1930, 13, leaving a will not only left money to my sister Mariana, but also asked for some money and paintings for my hometown Beshi.

1931April 10, she died of liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis and long-term severe alcoholism in new york, USA. On August 2 1, the coffin was transported back to Lebanon and a welcoming ceremony was held in Beirut, the capital. On August 22nd, the funeral procession sent the remains back to their hometown and buried them in St. Cerchi Abbey in Beshi.

Personal family

Father Khalil Ji Bolun (1844- 1909) started as a pharmacist and later became a township official in charge of collecting livestock tax. He also did his duty, but because he couldn't face the pressure of life, he took drinking as an escape, so that the family's life became more and more embarrassing. In Ji Bolun's impression, my father often came home drunk and was very rude to his family through drunkenness. The relationship between Ji Bolun and his father is getting more and more tense. 189 1 year, Khalil was framed for fraud and imprisoned, and their house and property were confiscated. Camille decided to follow her brother to America. Although Khalil was acquitted in 1894, Camille made up her mind to go to America.

My mother's name is Kamilai (1864-1June 28th, 902), and she is famous for her energy, intelligence and ability in her hometown. Before she married Khalil, she married her cousin Hannah Abdulafees Abdulsalam. Camille went to Brazil with him, gave birth to his son Peter Bowser Ruth on 1877, and died of tuberculosis on1March 2, 902. The second time, she married her relative Yusuf iria Giakia. However, the marriage didn't go well at first, and within a month, her husband died. Later, she married Khalil Ji Bolun, gave birth to Ji Bolun in 1883, Mariana in 1885, worked in a tailor's shop, and gave birth to Sultana in 1887. She died of tuberculosis on April 4. Camille later died of cancer.

Writing style

Ji Bolun's painting style, like his poetry style, was influenced by the English poet william blake, so the literary world called him Black in the 20th century. 1908 ——1910 During his study of painting art at the Paris Art Institute, auguste rodin affirmed and confidently evaluated Ji Bolun: this Arab youth will become a great artist. Ji Bolun's paintings are collected in the memorial hall, which is full of romanticism and symbolism. In the history of oriental literature, Ji Bolun's artistic style is unique. Enlighten profound philosophy in wonderful metaphors. On the other hand, Ji Bolun's style can also be found in his unique language. He is a bilingual writer who can write in Arabic and English, and he is fluent in each language. The language style of his works has conquered generations of eastern and western readers. Americans once praised Ji Bolun as a storm that swept from the East to the West, and his works with a strong sense of the East were regarded as the best gift from the East to the West.

Generally speaking, there are two genres of English literature in Ji Bolun: prose poetry and wisdom literature. In Madman, Pioneer, Shamo and Wanderer, short and pithy fables, proverbs and aphorisms occupy most of the space. Prophet, Jesus, Son of Man and God of the Earth belong to different forms of prose poetry creation. Ji Bolun's works consciously imitate apocalypse, wisdom literature, gospels and other forms in the Bible, and often express the mysterious implication with pantheism with the help of synaesthesia of harmony and unity between man and everything. Therefore, Ji Bolun's literature conveys a sense of religious sanctity. More importantly, Ji Bolun's imitation of biblical literature coincides with the literary tradition that Arabic literature makes good use of metaphors, fables, aphorisms and other wise forms to explain the truth, and inherits the mystical translation tradition in the west since the translation of Rubayi, which conforms to the oriental style and Zhuoke atmosphere in the American New Poetry Movement. Mysticism and profound philosophy in the form of wisdom literature are still important features of American Arab literature and even Arab diaspora literature.

As early as 1923, Ji Bolun's five prose poems were first introduced to China by Mao Dun. 193 1 year, Bing Xin, a writer from China, translated The Prophet, which opened a literary window for China readers to understand Ji Bolun. After China published some works of Ji Bolun. 20 14 China Kyushu publishing house introduced the Chinese version according to the new Lebanese version of The Complete Works of Ji Bolun translated by Li Weizhong, including not only Ji Bolun's prose poems, but also his novels, essays, speeches, plays, letters and illustrations drawn by Ji Bolun himself before his death. The complete works are divided into seven volumes, namely Prophet, Sand and Foam, Tears and Laughter, Love You as Beautiful as Poetry, Blue Flame, Light and Silence and Rebellious Soul.

main work

Personality assessment

He is an artist who loves the motherland and all mankind. Eulogize in the poem "The Hazy Motherland": You are in our soul-fire and light; You are in my chest-my beating heart. He once said: "The whole earth is my motherland, and all mankind is my folks.

Love and beauty are the main theme of Ji Bolun's works, and literature and painting are the wings of his artistic life.

In Ji Bolun's mind, the motherland Lebanon is the most beautiful place in the world. As he wrote in his works, as soon as I close my eyes, charming, solemn valleys and majestic mountains will be displayed in front of me; As soon as I cover my ears, the gurgling water of the stream and the rustling of leaves will ring in my ears. I miss this picturesque scenery, just like a nursing baby longing for its mother's arms.

Philosophy enlightening deeply in metaphor. His beautiful and fluent language has conquered generations of readers around the world.

Ji Bolun was born in poverty, and his works are more like an old man who has experienced vicissitudes of life, telling the philosophy of getting along with others, and revealing a touch of sadness in peace. -Bing Xin Review

Ji Bolun's writing is soft, concise and beautiful, just like flowing water; The text is fresh, strange, handsome and colorful; The philosophy is profound, the metaphor is unique and vivid, and the imagination is extremely rich; Artistic conception can be described as serene and lofty, extraordinary and refined; Coupled with the mysterious apocalyptic prophecy, as well as a strong sense of music rhythm and action jump, it constitutes a unique style that is recognized by the world as warm, delicate and beautiful. -Li Wei's evaluation

Commemoration of future generations

Ji Bolun's former residence is located in Beshi, a sacred valley near the sea in the northern Lebanese province. Established in June 193 1 year. Originally a monastery, 1975 was converted into a museum. It is built on a snowy mountain, beside nature, with waterfalls and cedars all over the mountains. It is a building dominated by cave stones, with a small reddish-brown low door that can only pass through one person. There are 440 precious Ji Bolun painting manuscripts in the former residence, as well as Chinese and English books such as The Prophet, Sand and Foam, Complete Works of China, Ji Bolun and Ji Bolun published by China in different years. These books were presented to Ji Bolun's former residence museum by experts and scholars from China and China's ambassador to Lebanon.

Ji Bolun Cemetery is located in Beshi, the holy valley near the sea in the northern Lebanese province. Ji Bolun's coffin was placed in a stone room at the foot of the mountain. There is a fragrant rose garden in front of the tomb, which overlooks the whole town. Ji Bolun's epitaph reads: I will stand by you and live like you. Close your eyes, look into your heart and turn around. My body is with you.

198 1 On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Ji Bolun's death in, Lebanon and UNESCO decided that this year would be the International Year of Ji Bolun and set up an international committee for this purpose. He decided to hold an exhibition in his hometown of Beshi to show his manuscripts and paintings, and to hold commemorative activities in Beirut, Paris and new york.