China News Service, Hong Kong, March 9th: Question: Two or three things about my relationship with Jin Yong
——Exclusive interview with Poon Yiu-ming, President of Hong Kong Writers Association
China News Service reporter Han Xingtong
Jin Yong (formerly known as Cha Leung-yung) is a famous Hong Kong newspaperman and the most influential martial arts novelist in the 20th century.
The martial arts world he writes has both the soul-stirring world of martial arts and martial arts, as well as a profound depiction of human nature.
These martial arts novels provide endless materials for movies, television, radio broadcasts, stage plays, as well as trendy video games and various cultural and creative products, making great contributions to the development of Hong Kong’s popular culture over the past decades.
What kind of person is such a "hero" in life?
How did Jin Yong transform from a writer to a successful journalist?
How was his later life? Did he have any regrets?
What is the significance of commemorating Jin Yong today?
Poon Yiu-ming, the president of the Hong Kong Writers' Association, who was recognized by Jin Yong and appointed him as the editor-in-chief and general manager of Ming Pao Monthly in a handwritten letter of appointment, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" on the eve of the centenary of Jin Yong's birth.
Video: [East-West Question] Newspaper writer Jin Yong: Recruiting professionals to turn newspapers into brands
Source: China News Network
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: Could you please share how you got to know Jin Yong and a few things about your interactions?
Pan Yaoming:
I loved reading Jin Yong’s martial arts novels when I was very young.
I have read all of his books, more than once.
When I was in elementary school, martial arts novels were not allowed to be read in Hong Kong schools at that time. They considered them to be leisure books. I read them secretly in class, but my teacher discovered them and told me that if I read them again, I would get a major demerit.
Pan Yaoming was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service.
Photo by Hou Yu
Later, I started working as the head of the editorial department at Sanlian Bookstore in Hong Kong. One day I received a call from Dong Qiao (a Hong Kong writer who once served as the editor-in-chief of Ming Pao Monthly and Ming Pao). He said that Mr. Cha would like to meet you. I Very surprised.
At that time, "Ming Pao" was located in North Point, Hong Kong, and Jin Yong's office was surrounded by books.
After I arrived, he asked me to sit for a while. After about half an hour, he gave me a handwritten letter of appointment.
I was very touched that such a highly respected "hero" personally wrote a letter of appointment for me, and I signed it without even reading it carefully.
When I got home and took a closer look, I discovered that there were many details in it. In addition to being the editor-in-chief, I was also the general manager. This was because Jin Yong learned that I had previously studied publishing management and magazine studies at New York University and wanted me to serve as a bridge between marketing and editing. A balance.
On my first day at work, I went to visit Jin Yong to see if he had any instructions for me.
Once inside, he stood up when he saw me coming.
Jin Yong has a habit. No matter who comes to him, he will definitely stand up. It is a polite gesture. He will sit down after chatting with you, and stand up again when you leave.
I had held several jobs at that time, but I had never encountered a boss who was so polite to his subordinates.
This is a fine legacy of traditional cultural people.
Jin Yong.
Photo by Hong Shaokui
China News Service reporter: Jin Yong hired you as the editor-in-chief and general manager of Ming Pao Monthly. What instructions did he give you at that time? What insights and gains have you gained from working with him over the years?
Pan Yaoming:
At that time, he said that when I started "Ming Pao Monthly", I wanted to wear a "brand-name suit" for the Ming Pao Group, so this magazine had better find some famous people at home and abroad to write articles.
I didn't understand Jin Yong's words at the time. How can a magazine be a brand?
Later I discovered that although "Ming Pao Monthly" suffered a slight loss, it had a collection of famous people at home and abroad, including Yang Zhenning, Liu Zaifu, Wang Dewei, Li Oufan, etc.
After Ming Pao Group was listed, I once accompanied Jin Yong to Guangzhou. He said to me privately, do you know how much Ming Pao Group’s shares are now?
It was 2.9 yuan (Hong Kong dollars, the same below) at that time.
He asked again, do you know the actual cost?
2 cents, of which 2.7 yuan of intangible property is cultural brand.
Jin Yong is very wise. The reason why he became a successful newspaperman and entrepreneur is because he can see the value of culture and is good at packaging it.
Many people think that Jin Yong's wealth was accumulated by writing martial arts novels, but this is not true. Ming Pao Group was very profitable back then. Thirty or forty years ago, Ming Pao Group had an annual net profit of 200 million yuan, which was achieved through cultural brands.
In November 2004, Mr. Jin Yong and his party began their "Cultural Tour of Quanzhou", and Pan Yaoming accompanied Mr. Jin Yong.
Photo by Lin Liangbiao
A columnist once commented that Ming Pao Group is a kingdom, and Jin Yong is the king.
Jin Yong was very good at using talents and recruiting professionals, and the treatment he gave was quite high, and he knew how to let go.
Jin Yong's management style is a bit like Zhuangzi's thought - do nothing, employ people without suspicion, and do not use people who are suspicious.
For example, he put me in charge of "Ming Pao Monthly" and basically had no involvement in specific affairs.
However, sometimes I would receive a note from him and find out which article in this issue had different characters or incorrect punctuation. He could read it so carefully.
Everyone calls his method of paper management, because sometimes he doesn't speak very well, so he usually just writes.
China News Service reporter: After working and getting along with Jin Yong for so many years, what kind of person do you think he is in life?
Pan Yaoming:
Jin Yong has a very good habit that I admire very much, that is, he never leaves his hand with books.
He really likes reading. Except for one side of the office that faces the sea, the other three sides are filled with bookcases from bottom to top.
His home is a duplex, and the upper floor is his study room with many books.
We usually go on business trips together, and he reads a book almost whenever he has time. When he arrives at the airport, he will also go to the bookstore to see what new books are available, and buys them when he sees good ones.
This is why he has such a wide range of knowledge, especially history. He is an expert in both Qing history and Ming history, and he also wants to write historical novels.
Jin Yong had a strong personality. At that time, Zhang Junsheng (former Party Secretary of Zhejiang University) asked him to be the dean of the School of Liberal Arts of Zhejiang University. Jin Yong led three doctoral students.
But some people questioned on the Internet that Jin Yong received many honorary doctorates but no real doctorate. How could he lead doctoral students?
So Jin Yong later went to the University of Cambridge in England to study for a degree. He was 81 years old at the time and studied from a master's degree to a doctorate.
This shows that he has a strong personality. If you say I don’t have a doctorate, I will read it to you.
On the evening of July 21, 2006, a symposium between Jin Yong and readers was held in Hong Kong. Jin Yong joked about studying for a degree in the UK.
Photo by Wang Linan
China News Service reporter: You mentioned that in his later years, Jin Yong wanted to start writing historical novels, but why did he put it aside later? Has this become a regret in his creative career?
Pan Yaoming:
After one revision, Jin Yong's writing of martial arts novels basically came to an end. He successively sold his shares in Ming Pao Group and wanted to concentrate on writing historical novels.
He asked me to quit my job at Ming Pao Monthly and become a director of his publishing company, taking over a culture and history magazine, where his historical novels began to be serialized.
I went to work at the publishing company on April 1, 1995. He went to the hospital on March 22 and suffered a stroke.
He was still living at No. 1 Peak Road when he suddenly fainted in the bathroom. His wife was not around, and neither were his two Filipino maids.
He woke up an hour later and called his second son-in-law, who was a doctor. He was later sent to the Sanatorium and Hospital.
The doctor said that three of his blood vessels were 90% blocked and he needed surgery, but the surgery was dangerous and had only a 50% success rate. No one dared to sign, so he signed it himself.
The operation lasted eight hours and was not very smooth. He stayed in the hospital for more than half a year.
Writing historical novels requires a lot of time and energy to research and cannot be written randomly or made up.
He didn't have that much energy after he was discharged from the hospital, so he didn't write the historical novel. I think this was a big blow to him.
After more than a year, I returned to "Ming Pao Monthly". This is a pity. He is a "hero" and I hope to follow him and learn some "kung fu".
Pan Yaoming was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service.
Photo by Hou Yu
China News Service reporter: What is the significance of commemorating Jin Yong today? What inspiration does his life bring to people who love literature?
Pan Yaoming:
Jin Yong is a model in many aspects, first of all his writing.
Since the May 4th Movement, many writers have tended to be Europeanized, but Jin Yong's writing is very pure Chinese, and each paragraph of his martial arts novels is very beautiful prose when viewed independently.
He inherited traditional Chinese culture.
His martial arts novels were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and were later translated into many languages. They also influenced many descendants of immigrants.
Jin Yong's martial arts novels contain a lot of historical background and cultural heritage. These descendants of Chinese descent were affected and became interested in Chinese culture from reading Jin Yong's martial arts novels.
In October 2022, the "Jin Yong Exhibition" opened in Shanghai. The exhibition attracted many Jin Yong fans to visit the exhibition.
Photo by Zhang Hengwei
In addition, Jin Yong has very strong cultural concepts.
He ran a newspaper and turned "Ming Pao" from a tabloid into a cultural brand. The whole process was very difficult. One person managed a large group of people and could write martial arts novels and editorials every day. This kind of superhuman power is rare. What an individual can own.
What I admire most about Jin Yong is his love for reading.
He has read a lot of books and has a wide range of knowledge. He is very familiar with law, history and literature.
Jin Yong is a successful newspaperman, successful entrepreneur, and successful writer. He has a broad vision and left behind many precious newspaper running concepts and business management experience, which are worthy of our study and understanding.
(over)
Interviewee profile:
Pan Yaoming.
Photo by Hou Yu
Pan Yaoming, whose pen name is Yanhuo, was the editor-in-chief and general manager of Ming Pao Monthly. He is currently the president and editor-in-chief of Wenzong, an honorary member of the National Working Committee of the Chinese Writers Association, a member of the Expert Advisory Committee of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Hong Kong Writers Federation. President, President of the Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese Writers Association, consultant to the Literature Committee of the Arts Development Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government, etc.
Published 26 types of reviews and essays in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas.
His recent works include "This Emotion Will Still Flow in Your Heart", "Interesting Landscapes", "Sorrows and Joys of an Era - The Editor-in-Chief Takes a Cold Look at the Boundless World", etc.