Photo: Dinoch1 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Yu Hua was born on April 3, 1960 in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. Yu Hua is a novelist, screenwriter and dentist. The age as of 2026 is 66. Awards on record include James Joyce Awards, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (2004) and Prix Courrier International du meilleur roman étranger (2008). Credited works include To Live, Chronicle of a Blood Merchant and Cries in the Drizzle.
My Take
Yu Hua is, to my mind, one of the most humane writers alive. A former dentist who walked away from teeth to dissect the soul, he writes suffering and absurdity in the same breath, and that impossible balance is his genius. Books like To Live and Chronicle of a Blood Merchant gut you and somehow make you laugh through the tears. What I value most is his refusal to look away from ordinary Chinese lives, the way he keeps the warmth of common people on the page. France honored him with the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, but his real prize is reader devotion. I'd put him among the essential novelists of his generation.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Yu Hua
- Name (Japanese)
- 余華
- Born
- April 3, 1960 (age 66)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Rat
- Origin
- Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Occupation
- novelist / screenwriter / dentist / writer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- James Joyce Awards
- 2004 Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- 2008 Prix Courrier International du meilleur roman étranger
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | To Live | — | |
| Notable work | Chronicle of a Blood Merchant | — | |
| Notable work | Cries in the Drizzle | — | |
| Notable work | Brothers | — | |
| Notable work | The Seventh Day | — | |
| Notable work | Go on a Long Trip at the Age of 18 | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu%20Hua
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BD%99%E8%8F%AF
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379520
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-24
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Yu Hua born?
Born April 3, 1960 (age 66).
Where is Yu Hua from?
Yu Hua is from Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
What does Yu Hua do?
Yu Hua works as novelist, screenwriter, dentist, writer.
What is Yu Hua known for?
Notable works include To Live, Chronicle of a Blood Merchant, Cries in the Drizzle.
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