Chinese underground poetry collection.
Scope and Contents
While the bulk of the collection consists of photocopies of self-published and self-distributed, samizdat style, poetry, and some prose the collection also includes a number of literary journals published during the mid 1980s such as Manghan, Feifei and the very influential Jintian (Today) which was the cornerstone publication of the well-known “Misty Poets”. These journals were also produced underground and most carried a standard disclaimer (sometimes incorporated in their titles) saying that the materials were for exchange only. A number of the photocopied items have handwritten inscriptions and or annotations. Related archivalmaterials: Yang, Lian, 1955- . Literary papers. ca. 1989- . MSS & Archives 2011/4.
Dates
- 1979 - 1988
Conditions Governing Access
Not restricted.
Biographical / Historical
The literary works included here were written between two turbulent political periods in modern Chinese history; the Cultural Revolution (1966-1970) and the 1989 pro- democracy protests and subsequent massacre in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. In order to avoid government censorship and persecution writers were forced to publish and distribute their work through unofficial or “underground” networks rather than through official channels.
Extent
1.8 metres (12 boxes.)
Language of Materials
Chinese
Arrangement
The collection has been divided into poetry, prose, literary criticism, poetic plays, and serials however there is some overlap between the series as a number of items contained both poems and prose or poems and literary criticism. Within each series the material has been arranged roughly in alphabetical order by the name of the poet, author or editor of the collection or serial.
Custodial History
The original collection was donated by John Minford, Professor of Chinese, in 1991, and this was added to by the Asian Languages Librarian, Hoong Lun during the 1990s.
Reference: (Report of the Librarian for the year 1991 / University of Auckland.)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from Asian Languages Collection 20 June 2005.
- Title
- Inventory of the Chinese Underground Poetry collection, 1979-1988.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Katherine Pawley, with assistance from Lai Lam.
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, University of Auckland Repository
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142 New Zealand
specialcollections@auckland.ac.nz