Touching Lu Xun's Daily Life in Shanghai, Walking to Bookstores and Cinemas, Eating Sugar and Ice Cream in Shanghai | Lu Xun | Cinema
In Shanghai, a place where the world's cuisine is concentrated, Lu Xun once discussed magazine editors with Chen Wangdao and others in the Xinya Tea House, had literary and artistic discussions with Gong Delin and Tian Han and others, and gathered with left-wing groups in the Dutch Western Restaurant. He loves to eat sugar, likes fried foods, and also eats ice cream. From June 6th to July 30th, "Ten Years of Living in Shanghai - Lu Xun's Daily Life" was exhibited at the Lu Xun Memorial Hall.
This original special exhibition is jointly organized by the Shanghai Lu Xun Memorial Hall and the Shanghai Museum of History. Starting from Lu Xun's clothing, food, housing, and transportation, it is divided into four sections: "Hiding in a small building to form a unity", "Eating pufferfish with a cup of wine", "Wearing a hat to cover the face in the bustling market", and "Bowing down to be a young ox". It presents Lu Xun's migration of residence and housing conditions during his time in Shanghai, family food and dining, daily clothing and transportation, work situation, and creative achievements.
In 1927, Lu Xun came to Shanghai and lived, worked, and fought in this city, spending the last ten years of his life. For ten years, he lived in Jingyunli, Ramos Apartment, and Dalu Xincun. During his time living in Shanghai, Lu Xun often walked to bookstores and occasionally took a taxi with his partner and children to the cinema. Due to his frugal attire, he was even refused permission by the elevator driver to visit Sir Murray, a British representative of the Far East Anti War Conference, at the Huamao Hotel. Until today, this city still preserves numerous cultural and historical buildings related to Lu Xun: the former residence of Lu Xun in the new village on the mainland, the Neishan Bookstore on Sichuan North Road, and the Gongde Forest on Huanghe Road, which witnessed Lu Xun's cultural career in promoting national progress during his time in Shanghai and also recorded his diligent and dedicated daily life.
This special exhibition showcases 122 physical exhibits related to Lu Xun, with a special selection of over 80 precious cultural relics from the Shanghai Lu Xun Memorial Museum, covering Lu Xun's daily necessities, work tools, and other types. For example, Lu Xun's household recipe was recorded by Xu Guangping. The first three pages show the ingredients and cooking methods of eight dishes, followed by daily recipes and prices; According to Lu Xun's diary on July 14, 1934, "It's very hot... buying an electric fan costs forty-two yuan." Lu Xun didn't use many electric fans. On July 16, 1935, Lu Xun wrote to Xiao Jun, "I can't install an electric fan in my room, even if it can, it's useless because it will blow the paper and make it impossible to write. Therefore, when I translate a book, if there is wind, I have to close the window. How can it not produce heat rash?"
A covered glass sugar bowl with a raised beam reflects Lu Xun's dietary habits. Lu Xun had a fondness for sweets, and those close to him almost always said he loved sweets when recalling his daily life. Shen Jianshi said, "Sir, there are three hobbies: smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating sugar." In addition to candy as a snack, Lu Xun's family also has a lot of demand for sugar in cooking. Xu Guangping's household income and expenditure account in 1932 had records of buying sugar on November 11th, 12th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th, with a frequency second only to the daily "must buy" dishes. A blue flower soup bowl was originally a household utensil in Neishan. According to Neishan Wanzao's recollection, it was also given as a gift when the Neishan couple presented Lu Xun's dishes. There is also a bottle of Dou'an painkillers. Lu Xun wrote in a letter to Xu Guangping on November 20, 1932, "However, yesterday afternoon, due to taking a book, he hit a board and fell on his toe, causing considerable pain. He immediately applied Dou'an painkillers and by this morning, everything had recovered."
The white mouth red printed "Songguzhai" grid paper with a single fish tail on half a leaf and ten rows was used as Lu Xun's diary paper from 1930 to 1936; Boxed Jiuhuatang Treasure Notes were used by Lu Xun to write letters to family and friends, and Neishan Bookstore handled various daily bills for Lu Xun, including savings, mailing, renting, medical treatment, and book purchases. These exhibits present the flesh and blood of Lu Xun's daily life from multiple angles, focusing on his spirit and values in life, work, and social interactions during his time in Shanghai, making Lu Xun's daily image full and friendly.
