Letter from Liu Wuji

June 2nd, 1931

Historical Context

Liu Wuji, or Wu-chi, was a renowned scholar of Chinese literature who authored over 25 books, including Sunflower Splendor: Three Thousand Years of Chinese Poetry. Born in Shanghai in 1907, Liu studied in Beijing before moving to the United States in 1927, earning a bachelor's degree in literature at Lawrence University and a doctorate in English literature at Yale University in 1931. He briefly returned to China to teach before World War II. He later resumed teaching in the United States, holding positions at Yale, the University of Pittsburgh, and Indiana University, where he co-founded the East Asian Language and Literature Department. After retiring in 1976, Liu settled in Menlo Park, California, and edited the International Southern Society journal for several years until his passing in 2002.

Letter from Liu Wuji (柳無忌)

Figure: Liu Wuji's letter to Jiang Kanghu, exerpted from Kiang Kang-hu Fonds.

Chinese Transcription

亢虎教授大鑒：

蒙賜手書不勝欣感，又承謬譽益增慚愧矣。素仰默吉廬大學藏書豐富，又得先生主持講席，故頗有意于今夏卒業博士之後來默校藉講學以增經驗并得親聆教言，再作高深之研究或從事譯述為我國文藝之介紹，此忌區區之素懷也。

如不能如願者，則擬于今秋渡大西洋遊學英倫，另為他日之計。未審先生暑假中何時啟程返國？如路過紐約務請來新港一游。耶鲁大學建築宏偉，尤以圖書館巍然大厦，為他校所不及也。

兹寄奉“蘇曼殊全集”五册。如蒙納入默校漢文藏書室中，無任銘感也。匆匆，即請教安。

柳無忌上六月二号

English Translation

To Professor Kanghu, with great respect:

I am honored and grateful to receive your handwritten letter and I am undeserving of your praises. I have always admired McGill University’s abundant collection of books, and that you preside a professorship. Therefore, after I graduate with my PhD this summer, I am very interested in coming to McGill University to gain teaching experience and attend teachings in person, where I would like to pursue further advanced research or engage in translation work to introduce Chinese literature and art, this is my humble wish.

However, should I fail to realize this, I plan to cross the Atlantic Ocean this autumn to pursue studies in England, another plan for my future. May I ask when, during the summer vacation, you plan to return to China? If you happen to pass through New York, please pay a visit New Haven. Yale University has magnificent architecture, especially the majestic library building, which is far superior to that of other universities.

I am sending you, along with this letter, five volumes of the Collected Works of Su Manshu. If you could include them in McGill’s Chinese library, I would be profoundly grateful. In haste, I cannot elaborate further, I wish you well.

Respectfully,

Liu Wuji

June 2, 1931*

Sources:

Correspondence, 1931-1933, https://archivalcollections.library.mcgill.ca/index.php/wezr-g2xr-7yrs, Kiang Kang-Hu Fonds, McGill University Archives, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

“Wu-Chi Liu, 95; Scholar Translated Chinese Literature.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2002, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-19-me-passings19.2-story.html.

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