Samuel Blaine

Professor Howard
Hsiang Tzu: Being an Individual in China
In Chinas past, it was quite common for a wealthy person to travel around by rickshaw.
A rickshaw was a machine cart pulled on wheels by a man. This invention and its role in Chinese
culture is the basis for the novel Rickshaw, by Lao She. The story centers around a man, Hsiang
Tzu, who lives a rather lonely, individualistic lifestyle.
The story opens up explaining how important and detailed the culture of the rickshaw
puller was. Rickshaw pullers separated themselves into groups quite naturally. From young
teenagers to elderly men, a rickshaw puller could be any age. Hsiang Tzu falls in between these
two groups about the time he becomes a rickshaw puller. The author tells us how Hsiang came
from a background in the countryside, but his parents died while he was still young. As a young
adult, Hsiang moved to the city and experimented with a few jobs involving labor. The author
explains to us that Hsiang Tzu was a fairly large Chinese man. After a while, Hsiang decides he
will give rickshaw pulling a try.
So far at this point in the story one sees that Hsiangs life is simple but sort of bleak. He
does not have any siblings or parents to call family, and it seems he has been forced to fend for
himself. In a way it is exceptionally honorable the way that Hsiang has worked and fended for
himself. But as an outsider looking in, one can only pity the young man with no family. The
author embellishes this melancholy idea of isolation when referring to his lack of a birthday. All
right, today he had bought a new rickshaw. Let today be his birthday, his and his rickshaws. It
would be easy to remember. Besides, the rickshaw was his hearts blood. There was simply no
reason to separate man from his rickshaw (She, 10). This quote impresses upon the reader

multiple things. One, Hsiangs lack of family means he has never even been told when his
birthday is, and thats a fairly morbid thought. Second and more important to the story I believe
is that this is when the reader begins to understand the relationship between a rickshaw and its
puller. Hsiang spent three years renting a rickshaw and saving up money to be able to buy his
own. From the aforementioned quote, we see that the day he is able to buy a rickshaw, our
protagonist considers himself almost a new man. Hsiang is so independent and alone that as one
reads the story of his life you see that his every thought rotates around his job, a rickshaw puller.
This work driven life that is expressed by She in Hsiang Tzu could be interpreted as the
author showing an importance on family life. Its possible that Hsiangs less than pleasant
lifestyle is representative of the idea that to be happy one has to have family around them. I also
wondered as I read is author She suggesting that urban life is substandard to rural life? I feel like
that argument could be made from reading the struggles of Hsiang.
Another point in the story that I felt was important to understand Hsiang was when he
was captured by the rogue soldiers and was beaten and had his precious rickshaw stolen. Lao She
expresses to us that when Hsiangs rickshaw is stolen, he almost gives up on life. The author
shows that Hsiangs identity is so wrapped around his rickshaw, he temporarily becomes a dark
man in its absence. If there had been a piece of rope on the ground, he would have picked it up
with pleasure; it could still comfort him a little even though it was useless (She, 19). This quote
again shows the desolate spirit that Hsiang was wrapped in. His entirety was wrapped up in his
rickshaw, and now that it was gone he felt utterly empty. Poor Hsiang is a simple man trying to
live successfully but his priorities might not be spot on if he feels a bit of rope could soothe his
heartache. That is obviously an oversimplification, but, materialism is another point that She

could be hinting out throughout the story of Hsiang. Hsiang is absorbed in life as a rickshaw
puller.
Life during this point in Chinese history might have been more grueling and tiresome
than it is today. To me, it seems that Hsiang Tzu had a miserable and almost a wasted existence.
His happiness was constantly fleeting and being stolen by others sinister intentions.

Pg. 10 let today be his birthday. Doont separate man and his rickshaw
11. tzu ran much faster after buyinghis own
Pg13 his rickhaw can provide food and anything.
19after blosing rickshaw, he felt empty and worthless. Wanted a piece of rope just to hold
something. Took the camels
25 sometimes he says Heaven will just have its will done. He is ok with that
28 sold camels 35$
29 got sick and got nickname camel hsang tzu
31 no family and friends just the city
33liu makes a name. powerful
35 liu notices tzus hard work--- He considered the Jen Ho agency his home. Hmm
39 his only option was to buy a rickshaw- he was devoted to the idea of owning a rickshaw
40 he became so desperate for customers he stole other customers away
47 yang family mistreated him

53 the affair
59 new job
Nu sui entraps him into a miserable marriage. He buys and loses yet another
rickshaw. Is reduced to nothing.
http://mattviews.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/359-rickshaw-boy-lao-she/