Image: I saw a big tree – Chen Hong



    Chen Hong was born on January 1, 1933, in Hebei Province. He was a veteran journalist who served as editor-in-chief and chief writer of the Dahua Evening News, editor-in-chief of the China Post Photography Magazine, and taught at the School of Communication (the predecessor of Shih Hsin University) for over two decades. Life is unpredictable. In 1997, Chen Hong began to feel weakness and atrophy in his limbs. Renowned doctors from both China and abroad were unable to diagnose the condition. It was not until August 1999 that Dr. Tsai Ching-Piao, a leading neurologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, diagnosed him with “motor neuron disease” (MND), commonly known as “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” (ALS), a condition shared by American baseball star Lou Gehrig, author of “A Brief History of Time” Stephen Hawking, author of “The Last Twelve Lessons” Murray, and veteran actor David Niven, who starred in “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Around the World in Eighty Days.”
 
　　Chen Hong's partner, Liu Xuehui, decided to retire early from her position as academic affairs director at Huajiang High School to care for Chen Hong. She became the indispensable partner who helped Chen Hong express his soul through his eyes. From the first piece created in the phonetic version, “Half a Cup of Water,” their eyes met, filled with care, patience, and perseverance, conveying insights gained during illness and demonstrating resilient vitality. They subsequently completed “In the Blink of an Eye,” “The Love of Life—In the Blink of an Eye,” “The Stubborn Stone and the Flying Bird,” and this book, “I Have Seen a Great Tree” (published by Xianghai Culture), transforming illness into love, using love to thaw hearts, lighting a lamp for those in distress, and advocating for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).



Image: I Have Seen a Great Tree—Chen Hong
 
 
    Professor Chen Hong has always been a dedicated cultural worker. He served as a judge for the National Military Golden Image Award Drama Competition, participated in script editing work, and adapted classical plays such as “The Peach Blossom Fan” and “Li Kui Causes Trouble at Liangshan.” The former was staged during the Taipei City Drama Festival and caused a sensation. In his writing, he excels at explaining professional topics in accessible language, with a broad range of interests and exceptional talent. Before his illness, he authored the eight-volume series “Chen Hong's Literary Collection,” as well as “A Chat About Photography” and “A Casual Discussion on Photography,” among others. He has received awards such as the China Literary Association's Literary Criticism Award, the China News Association's Outstanding Performance Award, and the National Education Federation's Outstanding Service Award.
 
　　What is most admirable is that, despite the significant decline in the flexibility of his eyes, Chen Hong still persevered, treating each day as if it were his last. He insisted on writing every word himself, not even skipping a single punctuation mark. Even though his soul was confined, he still broke through with his eyes, asking God for time and the Bodhisattva for wisdom. In the blink of an eye, he completed the Taiwanese versions of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”—“In the Blink of an Eye,” “The Love of Life—In the Blink of an Eye,” “The Stone and the Bird,” and this book, “I Have Seen a Great Tree”—unparalleled, timeless chapters of life, spreading his message through his eyes.
 

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