Hai Zi

Hai Zi (1964–1989), originally named Zha Haisheng, was born in Huaining County, Anhui Province, and was a contemporary poet. He entered the Law Department of Peking University at the age of 15 and, after graduation, was assigned to work in the philosophy teaching and research section of the China University of Political Science and Law. His poems are known for their vivid lyricism and their plain yet passionate language, often centering on land, wheat fields, the sun, and his hometown, and combining romantic imagination with a deep sense of solitude. Works such as "Facing the Sea, with Spring Blossoms," "Asian Bronze," and "Wheat Field" are widely read, and collections of his poetry as well as books of appreciation of his verse continue to be published, making him one of the most influential poets in contemporary Chinese-language poetry. On March 26, 1989, Hai Zi lay down on the tracks at Shanhaiguan and died at the age of only 25.