Renowned poet Yu Guangzhong died December 2017. He was uniquely popular in that his poems were taught in school curricula across political boundaries of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Very few contemporary Chinese poets received this level of universal acclaim. He traveled extensively between Chinese speaking countries, spoke several Chinese dialects, and taught for many years. At the time of his death his age is reported to be 89 in Western publications and 90 in Chinese language press. Which source is wrong? Can both be correct? Chinese count age starting from conception, when life begins. Using the lunar calendar, which has shorter months, a 9 1/2 month pregnancy term is roughly a year. Therefore, ages are counted not from the date of birth, but the year before we are born. Both publications correctly report his age, they differ only in how they culturally calculate his age.
