[Culture] Commemorating the Great Literary Master Zhang Hang

Author: JEFFI CHAO HUI WU

Time: 2025-7-14 Monday, 4:03 AM

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[Culture] Commemorating the Great Literary Master Zhang Hang

In my heart, Mr. Zhang Hang is not only a heavyweight figure in Taiwan's literary scene but also one of the most legendary poets of the "Australian Rainbow Parrot International Writers' Association." He is the earliest Taiwanese poet to join our forum, having been a long-term resident since 2009, with a total of over sixty thousand posts, making him the foremost literary giant in terms of posting volume on our forum. More importantly, each of his poems is not a mere scribble but is sincere, rich, and heartfelt, infused with his lifelong literary cultivation and insights into the world.

The first time I truly read Zhang Hang's work was in the "Modern Poetry" section of our forum. At that time, he posted poems almost every day, with a fresh and graceful style, and a lively breath. Often just a few short lines conveyed the essence of clouds and sunset, the emotions of wind and rain. He did not pursue complex rhetoric, nor did he rely on grand themes, but instead explored warmth and philosophy in the subtle details of everyday life. The "Hang's Short Poems" on the forum gradually formed a distinctive style, and many literary friends even developed a fixed reading habit, making it a must to read "Zhang Hang's New Poems" every day. Over time, the "Modern Poetry" section almost became his personal column.

Around 2012, I noticed that he began to compile and organize some of his forum poetry, which later formed the poetry collection "Rainbow Parrot and Southern Wind Poems." The title of this collection is derived from our platform "Australian Rainbow Parrot," and it is a direct expression of his deep affection for this platform. I clearly remember when he announced the publication of this book on the forum, many of our moderators and literary friends congratulated him. Even more exciting was that this poetry collection, which originated from the forum and was named after "Rainbow Parrot," later won the "Outstanding Contribution Award for Modern Chinese Poetry" in Taiwan in 2014, becoming a classic example of how online literature successfully transformed into print publication and gained recognition in the literary world.

Zhang Hang himself is extremely low-key and never flaunts his achievements on the forum. Even after winning awards, he maintains his usual pace, consistently posting poems, replying to threads, and encouraging newcomers every day. His presence is like an unmoving lighthouse in the forum, guiding generation after generation of poets to quietly cultivate their craft. He is not an aloof authority, but rather the most well-liked and respected senior.

What touched me even more was the deep friendship between Zhang Hang and my father, Mr. Wu Di. Many years ago, my father specifically traveled from Australia to Taiwan to visit Zhang Hang. These two literary giants, residing in opposite hemispheres, were brought together by literature and finally met. They discussed poetry, exchanged creative ideas, and took photos together, leaving behind precious historical memories. This was not a mere meeting of scholars in the ordinary sense, but a spiritual connection between two literary figures who appreciated each other across the Pacific. At that time, my mother, Ms. Du Juan, also accompanied him, personally visiting Mr. Zhang Hang, which can be regarded as a beautiful story of literary ties between the North and South.

Unfortunately, Mr. Zhang Hang passed away in 2022 at the age of over eighty. His departure means that "Rainbow Parrot" has not only lost an elder member but also a warm and enduring literary style. What he left us with is not only thousands of poems but also a true figure from the golden era of Chinese forums.

Today, looking back at the "Modern Poetry" column, the poems and writings he left behind still shine brightly, as if he never left. The forum is digital, but the emotions he shared with us are real. Without his continuous dedication and selfless sharing, our platform could not bear such a rich literary weight. His name and his verses have long been etched in the literary annals of the Australian rainbow lorikeet, becoming an eternal part of it.

In memory of Zhang Hang, in memory of the poet who sketched the world with countless short verses, in memory of a great literary master who will forever reside in our hearts.

Source: https://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696854