Of all the dragon's legendary qualities, the one the Chinese admire the most is its ability to fight back no matter how great the odds. It is therefore appropriate that Chang To-wu, a widely respected author who spent half his life in the army, should be born in the year of the dragon. Although he is now paralysed by a stroke, the blood of the dragon still courses through his veins and enables him to triumph over all adversity.

Early life: Born in 1928 in Chin County in Anhwei province on the China mainland, Chang spent a happy childhood. After receiving six years of elementary education, he became an apprentice at an oil processing plant in a nearby town. After his mother died, and his home fell on hard times, he was forced to suspend his studies. He recalls: "The years of apprenticeship were an ordeal for me. I was frequently punished by my masters for not carrying properly out such menial tasks as running errands or cleaning toilets. These experiences, however, helped me to withstand the tribulations I had to face later in life."

Outbreak of war: When the Japanese warlords started to overrun Anhwei province in 1943, Chang was persuaded by one of his colleagues at the oil plant to join the resistance movement. He states frankly: "I decided to take part not out of patriotism or ambition. I simply couldn't stand any longer the persecution of the Japanese and of my employers at the mill."

As he was only 15 years old, he was assigned by the guerilla chief to act as a point man to gather information from the enemy. While traveling on foot from town to town, he saw at first hand the devastation of war, and realized the grave responsibility everyone has for his nation. Just before the end of the Sino-Japanese war, Chang signed up in the Chinese armed forces, and joined the battle against the Communists. In 1945, Chang was responsible for the transportation of guns to the battlefront. He recalls: "It was much easier to do the job on the plains of northern Kiangsu province. After the guns were placed in position, I could relax at the camp, chatting and smoking."

His experiences during this period were to become a source of inspiration for his writing. He describes in one of his articles how "after the rampage of the Japanese warlords and the Chinese Communists, the former land of plenty in northern Kiangsu became a desert. The only sign of life on the plains were some sturdy vegetables and grasses which could survive the onslaught." The vigor and vitality of these plants soon became evident in Chang's character.

In February 1947, Chang moved to Taiwan with the army. "The support of peace talks between the Nationalists and Communists by U.S. General Marshall, coupled with the castigation of intellectuals by the Communists, caused many students to abandon their books, lowered the people's morale and led to tension and vendettas on the mainland." When the entire land across the Taiwan Straits was engulfed in flames, Chang decided to cross over to the island.

Poet laureate: During his first years in Taiwan, Chang, then in his 20s, led a casual and romantic way of life. He tried his hand at various jobs, including an office clerk with the signals corps in Kaohsiung, policeman in Taichung and army sergeant in Tainan, and even took part in troop entertainment groups. It was not until 1950 that he found an outlet for his pent-up emotions in poetry. He read all the works written by leading poets in Taiwan while he was standing on sentry duty. "I can still recite many of them," he says proudly.

When he tried to write himself, however, most of his efforts were rejected by newspaper and magazine editors. But even the publication of a small number of his works was enough to fire his enthusiasm.

He reminisces: "I am indebted to squad leader Chien for his support of my endeavors. When my colleagues laughed at my repeated rejections, he chided them and bought several poetry anthologies for me as an encouragement. In view of his meager resources, I decided to write a piece praising his sacrifice on my behalf, as a means of reciprocating his friendship."

To meet his desire for knowledge, Chang, at that time a poverty-stricken corporal, would go to the Orient Bookstore to browse. "I could see how the attitude of the store clerks change from hostility to respect. I owe much of my success to the consideration shown me at the bookstore."

Through his persistent efforts, Chang gradually established his reputation, and was made a "poet laureate" after winning many literary awards. Even journals in Hong Kong and Malaysia carried his best works. He decided to turn to prose when he discovered that the realities of everyday life had blunted his youthful romanticism.

Disaster strikes: Just as he was about to settle down to a quiet life with his family on his retirement from the army, Chang suffered a stroke. The left-hand side of his body was paralyzed, but the dragon within him was unconquerable. With the encouragement of his friends, he wrote articles one after the other on his experiences while he was transporting guns and ammunition to the front.

These stories were a sensational success among readers who appreciated their heroism. Bed-ridden as a result of his affliction, Chang felt a deep nostalgia for his former colleagues in the army. He said humbly: "The success of these stories must be due to their authenticity. I just wanted to put on record the events in the war when my comrades were engaged in a life-and-death struggle amid the roar of the battlefield."

Criticism: Famous novelist Shihma Chung-yuan comments: "Chang mirrors faithfully the epoch he lived through. He describes both the appearance and reality of life in his stories. Based on his childhood memories, he describes folk customs of his home area. The spontaneous outflow of human compassion makes Chang's works one of the major contributions to military literature. It is the most valuable prose collection since the time of the May 4 movement." Leading poet Yang Ling-yeh recommends Chang's works as a model for writers of autobiography, because they are his candid confessions.

Gratitude for friendship: In spite of his fame, Chang never forgets the assistance he has received from people in all sectors of the community, particularly when he felt close to desperation. He recalls how once, when he was penniless after paying for his medical treatment, some known and anonymous friends organized a collection to help him tide over his difficulties.

Transcendence: Though half paralyzed, Chang forces himself to write at least 2,000 words a day. Pointing at a couplet pasted on the walls of his studio he says: "I will continue to wield my pen no matter how much hardship and discipline it will require."

[Picture Caption]

Though the left-hand side of his body is paralyzed, Chang said: "I will continue to wield may pen no matter how much hardship and discipline it will require."

1. The series of books published by Chang on his experiences while he was transporting guns and ammunition to the front. 2. Though suffering from the effects of a stroke, Chang can cook and do other chores besides writing, using one hand.

The couplet pasted on the walls of his studio reads: "A precious sword is sharper after grinding, and a plum flower is fragrant only in the cold of winter."

The series of books published by Chang on his experiences while he was transporting guns and ammunition to the front.

Though suffering from the effects of a stroke, Chang can cook and do other chores besides writing, using one hand.

The couplet pasted on the walls of his studio reads: "A precious sword is sharper after grinding, and a plum flower is fragrant only in the cold of winter.".