Magic Cube Plaza adapted from Zheng Yuanjie’s work. Photo: CFP

Zheng Yuanjie. Photo: GuoYingguang

By Xing Daiqi

Dropping out of school at age 10, popular fiction-turned-education writer Zheng Yuanjie's latest book overturns traditional writing techniques taught in Chinese classrooms. In a rare interview, Zheng spoke with the Global Times in Beijing.

The launch of Pipilu Jiangtang (Pipilu Auditorium) saw thousands attend as it opened Shanghai Book Fair last month, with 2,000 copies selling in two hours.

For 25 years Zheng has been the sole writer of the country's best-selling children's magazine Tonghua Dawang, (King of Fairy Tales) that saw him adopt the same nickname. For many years, Zheng home-schooled his son Zheng Yaqi and with daily traffic of 300,000 and covering a range of social and life issues, his blog is often a hot topic of discussion.

"My son Zheng Yaqi didn't attend middle school. So I home-schooled him and compiled 10 books as the teaching material. They are all written in the form of fairy tales, featuring subjects like writing, math, law and philosophy," Zheng told the Global Times.

Early beginnings

Born in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province in 1955, Zheng grew up during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) and said that bizarre events of the time fuelled his imagination, like when he was in kindergarten and people across the nation were told to beat their washbasins outside to scare sparrows and eradicate pests.

"I saw sparrows falling from the sky one by one when they were exhausted," Zheng recalled, adding that things like this have fascinated him since he was little. "In my mind, China should produce more fairy tale writers."

Expelled from primary school for not following the teacher's writing instruction, Zheng served in the air force and became a laborer before he moved to writing in 1977.

"In my opinion, innocence is power. I only attended school for four years. That's why I can write so many fairy tales," Zheng said.

Learning approach

Opposed to China's current education system, Zheng advocates a more open way of learning.

"The biggest issue facing school education in China is that children have no dignity. The school evaluates students by scores. Quality education is just a slogan," he explained.

This viewpoint is reflected throughout Zheng's works. In his stories, school is like a prison and exam results are the shackles that bind children. The smart, innocent "bad students" turn out to be successful, with mean teachers and strict parents facing ill fates.

"There are no princes or princesses in my fairy tales," Zheng explained. "All scenarios are based on reality."

Feimapai Qiche (The Pegasus Express) depicts a traffic jam where passengers are forced to stay in a bus for the rest of their lives according to the rigid rule that the doors cannot be opened before the bus enters the bus station.

He has also tackled controversial topics such as sex, the law, family and society.

Changing directions

In 2005, Zheng moved to speaking on TV talk shows, writing blogs and becoming a volunteer lawyer.

"The reason I went on talk shows is that my son thought I talked differently from others. So he encouraged me to take part in such programs," Zheng said. "Talk show presenters had to do their homework really well, otherwise they couldn't follow me."

"As for the blog, I think it offers a platform for ordinary people to have their voice heard. If you write really well, then you can attract more attention."

"I think the reason why my work is well received is the sympathy and integrity that underscore my writing," Zheng commented. "Some people call me old angry youth, wondering why I am still concerned about things happening around me, but I think it's a writer's social responsibility.

Zheng said he has been interested in law since compiling a textbook for his son on Chinese criminal law.

"People often ask for my help on my blog and I have this hobby of sitting in on law courts that are accessible, as long as the case doesn't involve celebrities."

Zheng also declared his decision to withdraw from the China Writers' Association on his blog, suggesting the organization should get private funding, instead of running on State subsidies.

Helping others

Four years ago, Zheng's son, now 27, founded Pipilu Jiangtang in Beijing, a place where Zheng can teach children based on the material he compiled for his own son.

"I've found several children who have great talent in writing, aged between 9-14," Zheng said. "In five years, they will be able to take over as the King of Fairy Tales."

At the end of last year Zheng made up his mind to retire from public life as he considers himself "no good at dealing with people."

"My life is very simple now: I write between 4:30 and 6:30 in the morning every day. I am a vegetarian and my only expense is to fuel my car. Fortunately, there is the Internet, through which I can be connected with the world."