During the Cultural Revolution in Shanghai, Yu once served as a "cudgel" or hatchet man for the powers that were, the most notable writer in a group of 11 that collectively wrote under the pen name Shi Yige (see note).
在文化大革命期間，余秋雨曾經是當權派的打手（註）。四人幫在上海組織了一個寫作班底，署名「石一歌」，亦即由十一位成員所組成。這個寫作班的執筆人，首推余秋雨。