In the end, the relentless attacks proved too much for Yu Qiuyu. The celebrated writer last week established the publishing venture he said he had wanted to form, cementing his declaration weeks ago that he was putting an end to his writing career.
Yu's lyrical prose on the cultural explorations of ancient Chinese and world civilisations had earned him renown as a Chinese cultural guru and reigning best-selling author.
Yu, who grew up during the Cultural Revolution, had advocated the preservation of traditional Chinese art and promoted the glories of Chinese culture through his writings and television programmes.
However, personal attacks by his rivals and media scrutiny of his celebrity stature have been a steady accompaniment to his fame.
In the past few years, rumours abounded that he had joined an extreme leftist writing group during the Cultural Revolution and in the process had become a propagandist for the Gang of Four.
He admits to having been a member of the group 'for a short time' but denies having been a propagandist for the Gang of Four, pointing out that he himself was subjected to forced labour in the countryside.