鲁迅 · 1881-1936
Lu Xun
Lu Xun is considered the father of modern Chinese literature. His writing tore apart the social structures of early 20th century China with dark humour and razor-sharp prose. If you're learning Chinese and you haven't read Lu Xun, you're missing the writer that shaped the language you're studying.
His short stories are compact, often just a few thousand characters, but they punch well above their weight. "Diary of a Madman" questioned the foundations of Confucian society. "Kong Yiji" painted a portrait of intellectual failure that still resonates today. "Medicine" explored how political revolution meant nothing to ordinary people.
For Chinese learners, Lu Xun is ideal. His vernacular Chinese (白话文) was deliberately accessible, written during a movement to make literature readable by everyone, not just scholars. His sentences are clear. His vocabulary is modern. And his stories are short enough to finish in one sitting.
Stories by Lu Xun
14 stories · 8 free
狂人日记
Diary of a Madman
A classic short story exploring societal oppression and human cruelty.
阿Q正传
The True Story of Ah Q
Ah Q, a penniless labourer in the village of Weizhuang, loses every fight he picks and wins them all in his head, right up until the 1911 Revolution sweeps him along to the execution ground.
兔和猫
Rabbits and Cats
A tale of a family's pet rabbits that reveals life's unseen cruelty.
头发的故事
The Story of Hair
A man reflects on how cutting his hair brought ridicule and rejection.
故乡
My Old Home
Lu Xun goes back to his village to sell the family house, and finds that Runtu, his boyhood friend, has been worn down into a stranger who calls him 'Master'.
一件小事
A Small Incident
In the bitter cold of a Beijing winter, a self-absorbed man witnesses a simple yet profound act of kindness.
药
Medicine
A heartbreaking story about a boy's illness and the misguided beliefs of his parents.
风筝
The Kite
A kite in the Beijing winter sky takes Lu Xun back to a childhood cruelty he's never been able to undo.
孔乙己
Kong Yiji
In a small town tavern, the fallen scholar Kong Yiji—half a scholar, half a beggar—clings to his pride and knowledge.
明天
Tomorrow
A poignant short story about a mother's unwavering hope for her sick child’s survival
风波
Storm in a Teacup
In a small village, rumors of political changes create tension and disruption.
白光
White Light
A restless clerk experiences a mystical revelation that fills him with purpose
端午节
Dragon Boat Festival
A critique of societal stagnation and blind adherence to rituals.
鸭的喜剧
The Comedy of Ducks
An encounter with noisy ducks stirs reflections on the quiet absurdities that shape our world.