Remembering Li Wenliang

Jìniàn Lǐ Wénliàng | 纪念李文亮

On February 7, 2020, Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, passed away from a new disease he had warned his colleagues about in a WeChat group just six weeks earlier. His warning leaked to the internet, alerting the public for the first time to the novel coronavirus spreading in Wuhan. Authorities reacted quickly, branding Li a rumormonger. His death sparked an outpouring of anger, grief, and demands for free speech from Chinese internet users that continues more than one year after his death.

In this CDS exhibit, you can explore the memes, tributes, and artwork inspired by the life and death of Dr. Li Wenliang. We also invite you to visit his People page and learn more about his life and legacy.

Memes of Resistance

In an admonishment notice from the local police station in late December, 2019, Dr. Li was told to “stop the illegal behavior. Can you do this?” He responded “Yes.” Then they warned him, “If you are stubborn, refuse to repent, and continue to carry out illegal activities, you will be punished by the law! Do you understand?” He wrote, “Understood.” Li returned to his medical practice until he too fell ill. From his sickbed, he told Caixin news, “There should be more than one voice in a healthy society.” In the wake of his death, netizens shared his final words, twisted the admonishment into the defiant meme "I can't, I don't understand, and inspired calls for free speech.

• Can you do it? Do you understand?
• I can't, I don't understand
• There should be more than one voice in a healthy society
• we want free speech

China's Wailing Wall

@xiaolwl: Today, the nucleic acid test results came back positive. The dust has settled, there is finally a diagnosis.

Li Wenliang wrote his final Weibo post on February 1, 2020, revealing his positive antigen test. So many comments have been left on this post that Weibo is no longer tallying them--there are over 100,000, with dozens still being posted daily.

For a few hours on June 19, 2020, the comments were disappeared, but they were later returned to their place in China's wailing wall. Netizens continue to check in on Dr. Li and tell him about their joys and sorrows. Some write every day, while others "visit" Dr. Li more occasionally. People come because Dr. Li "listens," and their strength in numbers has largely kept the censors at bay.

Read a selection of translated messages below, and browse even more in the CDT Chinese archive.

April 7, 2020

Sixty days after Dr. Li's death

@不开心的苏肥肥i: Another sleepless night. Been feeling a lot of pressure lately. The company has already laid off many of my co-workers, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep my job. 

@刘北席yu: Remember to exercise, like you did in college. Take care of your health on the other side. Good night, my brother.

August 6, 2020

Six months after Dr. Li's death

@起个昵称都被抢完了: Dr. Li, I had a little to drink tonight, and I noticed it's already been six months since you've been gone. I've shared a lot on your comments page. Thank you so much. There's a girl I like, but I don't know how to talk to her. All I can do is admire her here. I hope you don't mind. Dr. Li, I wish the best to you and your family. 

@独行侠lonewarrior: Today my criminal law professor said there was no justification for reprimanding you, because your WeChat group post about a SARS-like virus was not fundamentally inaccurate, and there was no legal basis for punishing you... 

@dongzhidabao: It's been almost two weeks since my daughter's dad died. I still can't believe it's true. When I open my eyes, I feel like you're still right in front of me. You must be lonely over there, but I can't join you yet. My parents and our daughter still need me. When you have the time, you can go talk to Wenliang. I miss you so much

January 24-31, 2021

@李家凡: It’s now the first anniversary since your last Weibo post. Dr. Li, on Saturday I’ll buy some fried chicken and drink a toast to you.

@喳喳出: Dr. Li, the whole world is watching the investigation of the origin of the coronavirus. Who could have guessed that our nightmare would become the world’s nightmare. Dr. Li, even after you left us the world is still in stifling, suffocating darkness.

@像向日葵般温暖的杨姑娘: Brother Li, I saw this yesterday when I was proctoring an exam. Everyone remembers

@傻了八極: Good afternoon, Dr. Li. Compared to them, you are the true hero. The people will never forget you.

@长岛冰茶_ice: Dr. Li, this morning I learned that someone in leadership is leaving my company. He was the best I have ever met at my workplace, bar none. I’m very sad to see him go and can’t help but cry. Farewells always come too soon.

@Grouge: Good morning, Dr. Li. I arrived safely at home. The feeling of coming home was really great. When I saw my grandparents still waiting for me at such a late hour, I was brought to tears. A sense of belonging is so important. I hope that everyone who is about to set off on the road home can arrive safely and smoothly.

Theory is gray, the tree of life is evergreen

Translations by CDT staff.

Tributes

Art

(golo 高佬 via 88 Bar)

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  (via Sinocism)

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  ("李文亮+护士+生理期" by lesley.scut is marked with CC PDM 1.0)

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  (Shanya via What's on Weibo)

Poetry

Mourning Li Wenliang	悼李文亮
Yu Xiuhua	余秀华
Now rest!	且安息！
There’s no virus worse than “punishment for speech”	没有比“以言获罪”更厉害的病毒
There’s no world uglier than one that mixes right with wrong	没有比黑白不分更丑陋的人间
Now rest!	且安息！
The Yangtze River’s waters carry boats and capsize boats	长江之水载舟也覆舟
The Yellow River’s waves ferry people and ferry ghosts	黄河之浪渡人也渡鬼
Now rest!	且安息！
Now let me live my shameful life	且允许我苟且偷生
And let me sing my angry dirge	还允许我长歌当哭
We are not afraid to die	我们不怕死
We are afraid to die before our time	我们怕死于非命
You died, and my time died before its time	你死了，我的命非命
If there are viruses in heaven	如果天堂还有病毒
If you speak up again	如果你再喊一声
Then where will you go?	你会去向何处？
I hope wherever they take you in	我希望收容你的地方
There are still people	还是有人
Who speak Chinese	说着汉语
(Translated by Anne Henochowicz)

• More poetry (untranslated) at CDT Chinese

Ephemera

• On Clubhouse, users set up a silent room to commemorate Dr. Li Wenliang around the date of the first anniversary of his death.

Further Reading

• Li Wei'ao, 纪念李文亮医生去世一周年 (On the anniversary of Dr. Li Wenliang's death), Feb. 5, 2021