Mao Dun Literature Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (1985) Winner
Liu Xinwu
リウ シンウ
Liu Xinwu
Pen Names:
Liu Liu（Pen name used for some works）,
Zhao Zhuanghan（Alternate name sometimes used for historical/political subjects）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1942-06-01 （Chengdu, Sichuan, China）
- Nationality
- China
- Languages
- Chinese (Standard Mandarin)
- Residence History
- Chengdu, Sichuan (birthplace) → Beijing (resident since 1950s for most of life)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Short story writer, Children's author, Editor
- Active Years
- 1977-
- Affiliations
- Editorial positions at People's Literature and related publications
- Memberships
- China Writers Association
- Influenced By
- Zhou Ruchang (collaborator in Redology)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Mao Dun Literary Prize (2nd) | The Wedding Party | — | China Writers Association | 受賞 |
Mao Dun Literary Prize (2nd)
1985
Work:
The Wedding Party
Organization:
China Writers Association
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Class Counsellor (The Class Teacher)
1977 Short storyA short story depicting events and consequences of the Cultural Revolution and criticizing excesses of state power. Published in 1977 and considered one of the early works of the post-Mao literary wave.
Cultural RevolutionCritique of state powerEducation and generations
Translations
- English translation: "The Class Teacher" included in several English-language anthologies
The Wedding Party
1984 NovelA novel portraying residents of Beijing and people on the margins of society, focusing on social change and individual fate. Won the 2nd Mao Dun Literary Prize in 1985.
Urban ensembleFamily and traditionSocial change
Translations
- English translation: translated by Jeremy Tiang
Bibliography
- Class Counsellor (The Class Teacher)
- The Wedding Party
- Black Walls and Other Stories (collection)
- Included in anthologies such as Prize-winning Stories from China, 1978-1979
Translations of Works
- The Wedding Party translated into English by Jeremy Tiang
- Class Counsellor (The Class Teacher) translated into English and included in anthologies
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realist depictionSocially critical perspectiveElements associated with scar literature (debated)
- Recurring Motifs
- Everyday life of Beijing commonersMarginalized charactersMemory of the Cultural RevolutionInterest in Redology (Dream of the Red Chamber studies)
Legacy
Liu Xinwu is an important figure in contemporary Chinese literature since the late 1970s, known for works depicting memories of the Cultural Revolution and portrayals of Beijing commoners. He has contributed to Redology and prompted scholarly debate. His works have been translated into English and circulated internationally.
Academic Societies
- China Writers Association
Trivia
- Born June 1942 in Chengdu, Sichuan; long-time resident of Beijing since the 1950s.
- His 1977 short story "Class Counsellor" contains critical depictions of the Cultural Revolution and is seen as an important post-Mao work.
- Held editorial positions in the 1980s at publications such as People's Literature but was removed from an editorial post in 1987 due to political censorship.
- After the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests he left government-affiliated positions amid harassment for his pro-demonstrator stance and thereafter focused on writing.
- From the 1990s he engaged in Redology and proposed a Qin-centered approach within studies of Dream of the Red Chamber.