Literary master Zhang Zhongxing dies
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-03 11:33

Hundreds of people paid their last respects to Zhang Zhongxing, a master of Chinese language, literature and culture studies, yesterday in Beijing.

People pay their last respects to late Chinese literary master Zhang Zhongxing who passed away on Feb. 24, at the age of 97 in Beijing. [Xinhua]

Zhang, who died on February 24 at the age of 97, was covered in white silk at a mourning hall of the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing.

He had devoted his life to compiling textbooks and literary works on Chinese language, literature and traditional culture, as well as logic and philosophy. He became one of the very few scholars who had deep insights into both Chinese and Western philosophies.

Zhang was hospitalized at No. 305 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Beijing last September, suffering from heart and lung diseases. He died last Friday.

"Zhang was a broad-minded man. We often discussed Buddhism. I hope he will be fine in heaven," said Yan Zang, a monk from neighboring Hebei Province, who had known Zhang for 30 years.

"He was easy-going and humorous. I am saddened that a man who had such a huge influence on me has passed away," said Zhang Suying, head of the copyright department of the Chinese Writers Association.

Zhang, born in north China's Hebei Province in January 1909, was a Beijing University graduate and worked as a teacher for 14 years.

In 1950 he became an editor at the People's Educational Publishing House, a leading textbook publisher.

The remains were cremated later in the day.