On October 17, the third Cao Xueqin Chinese Literature Award ceremony was held in Liao Yang, organized by the Liaoning Provincial Writers’ Association, the China Writers Association’s “Selected Novels” magazine, the Liao Yang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Liao Yang Municipal Government.
Key figures at the event included Qiu Huadong, member of the CPC Central Committee and Vice President of the China Writers Association; Jin Guowei, member of the Liaoning Provincial Standing Committee and Minister of Propaganda; Bai Ying, Secretary of the Liao Yang Municipal Committee; and Xu Kun, editor-in-chief of “Selected Novels.” The ceremony was hosted by Zhou Jinglei, Party Secretary and President of the Liaoning Provincial Writers’ Association. Numerous literary figures and representatives from writer associations across Northeast China were also in attendance.
This year’s awards featured four categories: Best Novel, Best Novella, Best Short Story, and Best Micro-narrative, with a total of ten works being honored. Notably, “Daliao River” by Jin Ziwei and “Returning to the Sea” by Zhang Ling received the Best Novel award; “Back to That Early Summer” by Wang Xiaofeng and “The Bright Moon Shines on Me” by Yu Tongyou won for Best Novella; while “A White Line Across the Sky” by Dong Xi, “Kapok or Catfish” by Li Xiuwen, and “Slow Decelerator” by Yu Xiaowei were recognized in the Best Short Story category. Additionally, “The Departing Strings” by Tong Zhanggui, “Favorite” by Yuan Bingfa, and “Melon Seed Path” by Hou Fashan received accolades in the Best Micro-narrative category.
During the ceremony, Bai Ying remarked, “Hosting this award ceremony here not only promotes the cultural prosperity of Liao Yang and its establishment as a strong cultural city, but also serves as a heartfelt tribute to literary masters who have transcended time.” He expressed optimism that Liao Yang would continue to inspire rich creative ideas for writers in the future.
Xu Kun emphasized the significance of naming the award after Cao Xueqin, particularly noting that while Cao’s ancestry is rooted in Liao Yang, the main intention is to encourage writers to adopt his rigorous creative spirit, exemplified by his dedication to revising his work over ten years, aiming to produce literary works that resonate with the times and endure through the ages.
Originally established in 1997 as the Liaoning Cao Xueqin Novel Award, the event transitioned to a national scope in 2020, evolving into the Cao Xueqin Chinese Literature Award. This biennial award aims to highlight powerful voices in Chinese literature and to present compelling narratives that resonate with a wider audience. Prior winners have gained notable influence in the literary scene in recent years.
Qiu Huadong, during his address, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the “Selected Novels” magazine and the Liaoning Provincial Writers’ Association in making a significant and positive impact on the literary community through this award. He expressed hopes for these organizations to continue fostering influential Chinese writers and telling captivating stories in the new era of high-quality literary development.
