One of modern China's leading writers, Ba Jin, died in Shanghai Monday evening after a six-year battle with malignant mesothelioma and other diseases. He was 101 years old.

Ba Jin died at a local hospital after suffering a high fever caused by heavy influenza.

A native of Chengdu city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Ba Jin was recognized widely as one of China's greatest modern cultural masters and an outstanding publisher and editor.

Ba Jin went to study in France in 1926 and there completed his first novel, Destruction. Following that, he completed numerous works, including novels, short stories, prose and essays, totaling six million Chinese characters.

His main works including Family, Spring, Autumn, The Trilogy of Love, A Dream of Sea and Autumn in Spring, were viewed as landmarks of modern Chinese culture.

Ba Jin's real name was Li Fugan. He chose the pen name "Ba Jin" in memory of one of his schoolmates in France, Baranpo, who committed suicide because he detested the world and its ways, whereas the word "Jin" was proposed by a Russian schoolmate studying philosophy.

An asteroid discovered by Chinese scientists was named after Ba Jin, and he was also chairman of the Chinese Writers' Association. In 2003, the State Council, China's Cabinet, awarded him the title of "People's Writer".

Ba Jin was elected a deputy to the 1st through 5th National People's Congresses (NPC) and a member of the Standing Committee of the 5th NPC and vice chairman of the 6th, 7th and 8th National Committees of the Ninth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

(CRI.com October 18, 2005)