Shi Nai'an Literary Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (2013) Winner
Geling Yan
ヤン・ゲーリン
Yan Geling
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1958-11-16 （Shanghai, China）
- Nationality
- China, United States
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Residence History
- Shanghai (born) → Chengdu (served in PLA) → Tibet (served in PLA) → San Bruno, California (residence) → United States (long-term residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Screenwriter, Short story writer, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1985-
- Affiliations
- Writers Guild of America, West, China Writers Association, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Memberships
- Writers Guild of America, West, China Writers Association, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wuhan University | — | — | 学士 | — | China |
| Columbia College Chicago | — | Fiction Writing | MFA | — | United States |
Wuhan University
Degree:
学士
Country:
China
Columbia College Chicago
Fiction Writing
Degree:
MFA
Country:
United States
Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Banquet Bug (published as The Uninvited in the UK)
Novel (contemporary fiction)One of her novels written in English; a contemporary work exploring immigration and personal conflicts.
immigrationidentityhuman relationships
Translations
- Originally written in English; published in English
The Lost Daughter of Happiness (Fusang)
Novel (historical / family drama)A novel that incorporates Sino-Japanese historical elements while tracing the destinies of family and individuals.
historyfamilymemory
Translations
- English translation by Cathy Silber
The Flowers of War
Historical novelSet against the Nanjing incident, the novel portrays the scars of war through women and foreign perspectives. Adapted into a film by Zhang Yimou.
warwomenmorality and survival
Adaptations
- [Film] The Flowers of War (film) / Zhang Yimou (2011)
Translations
- English translation by Nicky Harman
Little Aunt Crane
NovelA work weaving personal memory and family history; translated into English and introduced internationally.
familymemorymigration
Translations
- English translation by Esther Tyldesley
The Criminal Lu Yanshi
NovelSet in post- Cultural Revolution China, it depicts the intersection of individual fate and history. Source novel for the film Coming Home.
historypoliticsindividual fate
Adaptations
- [Film] Coming Home (film) / Zhang Yimou (2014)
Youth (also titled You Touched Me)
Novel (youth / historical)A novel about young troupe members' youth and subsequent changes; adapted into the film Youth.
youthmilitarymemory
Adaptations
- [Film] Youth (film) / Feng Xiaogang (2017)
Bibliography
- Lu Xue (?)
- A Woman Soldier's Whisper
- The Grass of Femininity
- Fusang (The Lost Daughter of Happiness)
- Lu Fan Yan Shi (The Criminal Lu Yanshi)
- Jinling Shisan Chai (The Flowers of War)
- Little Aunt Crane
- A City Called Macau
- Youth
Adaptations
- The Flowers of War - film adaptation by Zhang Yimou (2011)
- Coming Home - film based on The Criminal Lu Yanshi by Zhang Yimou (2014)
- Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl - film directed by Joan Chen (1998)
- Siao Yu - film directed by Sylvia Chang, screenplay co-written by Ang Lee
Translations of Works
- Fusang → English translation by Cathy Silber
- Jinling Shisan Chai → English translation by Nicky Harman
- Xiao yi Duohe → English translation by Esther Tyldesley
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realistic yet lyrical proseDetailed psychological characterization
- Recurring Motifs
- war and its aftermathfemale perspectivesmemory and loss
Legacy
One of the leading contemporary Chinese writers; several works have been adapted to film and gained international attention. Her novels, frequently addressing culture, history and women's perspectives, are widely translated and acclaimed, though she has faced censorship in China in recent years.
Academic Societies
- China Writers Association
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
In Popular Culture
- Multiple works adapted into films and showcased at Chinese and international film festivals.
- Film adaptations of her novels have repeatedly drawn mainstream attention.
Trivia
- Began performing as a dancer at age 12.
- Served in the People's Liberation Army and attained a rank equivalent to lieutenant colonel while working as a journalist.
- Several works adapted to films (e.g. The Flowers of War, Youth, The Criminal Lu Yanshi → Coming Home).
- Reportedly censored on China's internet in 2022 after commenting on sensitive events.