Several social media users claim that a prominent Chinese writer contributed to the death of his son, who passed away at the age of 13 on June 1, 2022. The father reportedly declined certain medical interventions for his child. Coverage by a Chinese project raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.
The writer maintained a public presence online and announced the death of the teenager on social media, but did not disclose the cause. By March 2023, it was stated in interviews with a literary magazine that the boy had suffered from Marfan syndrome since childhood. Family members and the writer discussed treatment options, with some urging the use of modern medicine to prevent complications, while the writer reportedly favored traditional Chinese approaches only.
Meanwhile, relatives arranged a medical consultation in secret, where doctors recommended surgical intervention. The writer later remarked that certain procedures should avoid areas near the brain and heart, emphasizing a wish to keep those critical regions intact.
There were further claims that the writer rejected his spouse’s suggestion to relocate to a place with quicker access to medical care. He argued that living in a high-altitude, mountainous region adversely affected the child’s health, offering a perspective that climate and environment played a role in the illness, according to the family’s account.
Details about the writer’s life and the child’s death sparked a backlash on social networks, with some posts amassing very large view counts and eliciting strong emotions. A portion of the online audience labeled the writer harshly, while others criticized what they described as a patriarchal stance toward women and family dynamics in the family story.
The writer is widely recognized for his role in the Chinese avant-garde literary movement during the 1980s and is often discussed alongside other major figures in contemporary Chinese literature. Earlier in his career, the writer claimed to have overcome serious health challenges by forgoing conventional medical treatment. These revelations have added to a controversial public image and ongoing debate about medical ethics, family choice, and cultural expectations in modern China, as reported by multiple sources and observers who have weighed in on the matter.