- Mao Dun Literature Prize
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A statue of Mao Dun, at his former residence in Beijing.
Mao Dun Literature Prize (Chinese: 茅盾文学奖) is a prize for novels sponsored by the Chinese Writers Association. Awarded every four years, it is one of most prestigious literature prizes in China. It was first awarded in 1982.
Contents
Background
The prize was created by the will of Mao Dun, a prominent Chinese writer in the 20th century. The purpose was to encourage novel writing. Mao Dun himself personally donated 250,000 RMB to the prize committee .
Selection rule
According to selection rule, any work, authored by Chinese nationals, published in mainland China, and with over 130,000 characters, is eligible.
The selection committee in the Chinese Writers Association holds the voting poll twice, and the winner must receive over 2/3 of the votes cast. The process is highly selective, and each time the number of winners is between 3 to 5. The prize was initially awarded once every three years. Later, it changed to once every four years.
Criticism
The awards has recently been criticized,[1] especially in the 8th session in 2011, as it was reveled that eight of the top 10 on the list were either the chair or vice-chairpersons of prominent provincial writers' associations.[1] According to an editorial in the China Daily, it said: :"Official status cannot and should not be a criterion for literary excellence. That's why people doubt the authenticity of prizes that are awarded to officials for their literary achievements."[1]
Past winners and their works
- 1st, 1982
- Wei Wei "Orient" (The People's Literature Publishing House)
- Zhou Keqin "Xu Mao and His Daughters"
- Yao Xueyin "Li Zicheng"
- Mo Yingfeng "General's Chant" (The People's Literature Publishing House)
- Li Guowen "Spring in Winter" (The People's Literature Publishing House)
- Gu Hua "Lotus Town" (The People's Literature Publishing House)
- 2nd, 1985
- 3rd, 1991
- 4th, 1997
- Chen Zhongshi "White Deer Field"
- Wang Huo "War and People"
- Liu Sifen "White Gate Willow"
- Liu Yumin "Unsettled Autumn"
- 5th, 2000 (awarded in Mao Dun's hometown, Tongxiang, Zhejiang on November 11.)
- A Lai "After the Dust Settled"
- Wang Anyi "The Everlasting Regret"
- Zhang Ping "Decision"
- Wang Xufeng "Three Episodes of Tea-man"
- 6th, April 11, 2005
- Xiong Zhaozheng "Zhang Juzheng"
- Zhang Jie "Wordless"
- Xu Guixiang "Heaven of History"
- Liu Jianwei "Heroic Time"
- Zong Pu "Lead-in of Wild Gourd"
- 7th, 2008
- Jia Pingwa "Qin Qiang"
- Chi Zijian "The Right Bank of Er'guna River"
- Mai Jia "Plot"
- Zhou Daxin "The Scenery of the Lake and the Mountain"
References
- ^ a b c "Literary prizes or farcical awards", China Daily, 2011-8-16.
External links
Categories:- Chinese literary awards
- Awards established in 1982
- 1st, 1982
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