National Library Board Singapore

Singapore Literary Pioneers

Biography

李汝琳是新马著名作家和文艺丛书编辑者。

李汝琳原名李宏贲,原籍河南沁阳县,1914年出生于书香世家,1991年逝世。他用过的笔名有李霖、李极光、李延辉、丁宣、曹肃、张望、冯河、黄康、司徒克等。

1937年,李汝琳在中国北京获文学士学位。

1944年,李汝琳受聘担任在印度加尔哥答的《中国周报》和《中国日报》文艺副刊的主编。

1947年,李汝琳南来新加坡担任华侨中学的教务主任,1954年担任新加坡师资训练学院高级讲师兼中文系主任。

他于1970年受聘于南洋大学文学院中文系,至1973年荣休。

李汝琳在1958年开始主编3套文艺丛书:《新马文艺丛书》、《南方文丛》和《新马戏剧丛书》。《新马文艺丛书》和《南方文丛》收录新马30位著名作家的作品,例如:苗秀的《火浪》、赵戎的 《在马六甲海峡》、李星可的《快艇》、韦晕的《浅滩》等。李汝琳以4年的时间完成编辑这3套文艺丛书。

李汝琳在1927年首次在报纸副刊发表诗作«哭祖母»,1930年发表短篇小说《悟》、《双影》等。他孜孜不倦创作了多种体裁的文学作品,如:诗歌集《再生集》、《叩门》、《金与沙》;长篇小说《漩涡》;中篇小说《姐妹俩》;短篇小说集《新贵》;散文集《消夜集》、《艰难的行程》等。

李汝琳的文学创作道路体现了他对中国和新加坡两种不同地域和文化的交融。 他出生于中国,从小受到中国母体文化的熏陶和教育,所使用的文学笔法具有中国现代文学的鲜明特点;同时,由于在海外生活日久,因此他的作品主题又体现了明显的南洋特色。他的创作与新加坡本土出生的作家的创作视角有所不同,而创作主题又与中国当地作家有着较显著的差异。

李汝琳的作品,创作题材取之于本地社会中下层平民百姓的现实生活。他的创作闪光点在于:作为一个作家,他没有把个人的爱憎带入自已的作品之中,却又能让读者感受和体会到作者鲜明的立场;他能够通过冷静朴实的描写,让读者设身处地想象和咀嚼故事情节中的象征意义。

李汝琳支持并积极参于文艺活动。他在1965年被推选为由新加坡文化部主办的“全马剧本创作比赛”评选委员会主席,并在1976年出任新加坡写作协会会务顾问。他也曾担任锡山文艺中心会务顾问和永康花园联谊会永久名誉主席。

Li Rulin was a well-known writer and literary editor.

Li Rulin's real name is Lee Hung Pen. He was born in Henan, China in 1914.

He received his bachelor's degree in literature in Beijing in 1937. He then worked as an editor for the literary supplement of the Chinese newspapers in Calcutta, India in 1944.

Li Rulin came to Singapore in 1947 to work as a teacher in Chinese High. He then took up the position of Lecturer cum Head of the Chinese department at the Teachers' Training College in 1954. He was hired as a lecturer by the Nanyang University in 1970 and retired in 1973.

Since 1958, Li Rulin edited many works by Singapore and Malaya writers such as Miao Xiu, Zhao Rong, Li Xingke and Wei Yun and complied them into three series of work. Li Rulin also wrote poems, novels and short stories. His works embodies his thoughts on the cultural exchanges between China and Singapore. As he was born and raised in China, his writing style displayed a clear influence from Chinese modern literature. At the same time, his works also reflected a Singaporean flavour.

A strong supporter and participant of cultural activities, Li Rulin was the Chairman of the judges' panel for the playwriting competition organised by the Ministry of Culture in 1965. Besides being a consultant for the Singapore Writers' Association in 1976, he was also consultant for other cultural groups.

Li Rulin passed away in 1991.