It is said that to become a good writer, you have to be especially sensitive, innocent or philosophic.

Ba Jin, or Pa Chin, one of the most important and widely read Chinese writers of the 20th century, no doubt combined the three qualities.

After a long journey of 101 years in the world that he loved so passionately, the revered writer who preferred to be known by his pen name Ba Jin than his given name Li Yaotang or Li Feigan died of cell cancer at a hospital in Shanghai on Monday evening.

"Ba Jin is irreplaceable in China's literary pantheon," remarked Qi Ming, 72, a retired television cameraman and Ba Jin's friend of 20 years.

Although China's literature circle has been shoved to the sidelines for some years since mass entertainment filled the void, almost all the major newspapers, television and broadcasting stations in China lavished their pages and air times on news of Ba Jin's passing.

Of all the major writers active in the first half of the 20th century, Ba Jin was probably the only one still living until his passing.

Ba Jin embraced life even as he suffered in the end. In the past six years, Ba Jin had lost the ability to walk or speak because of Parkinson's disease and lung complications.

In early 1999, he reportedly refused to have a major operation to insert a pipe into his throat to facilitate his breathing until he was finally persuaded by his family members and friends.

"From the day on, I live for you," he reportedly said, as he pointed to those around him in his hospital room.

"He was the noblest man," remarked Li Xiaotang, Ba Jin's son with his late wife Xiao Shan (1918-1972). "He always paid attention to other people's feelings and was willing to sacrifice his own feelings."

The sensitive, altruistic touch in his writing and characters has been the major attraction of Ba Jin's creations.

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