Mo Yan, the Nobel Laureate in Literature, Came to HBU for Academic Exchanges

With the arrival of the centenary of HBU, Mo Yan, the renowned contemporary writer and Nobel laureate in literature, was invited to HBU for academic exchanges.

Guo Jian, Secretary of the Party committee of HBU, met with Mo Yan and his party. He welcomed Professor Mo Yan to HBU and introduced the general situation and the centennial education-running history of HBU to the honored guests. He then pointed out that the 100th anniversary of the founding of HBU is a critical period to accelerate the construction of “Double-First Class”, which marks both a milestone and a new starting point. Under the support of “jointly construction by the Ministry of Education and Hebei Province” and the theme of “striving in the new era with continuous streak”, HBU is to comprehensively carry out a series of centennial celebration activities, gather a strong force to expand its influence and enhance the social reputation. With the new achievements in the construction of the first-class university, HBU is sure to make a promising start for the second century.

On the morning of October 15, Professor Mo Yan made a special report on the Fluid Local Cultural and Literature for the faculty members and students. Professor Xu Jianmin, Vice Principal, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, attended and made a speech. Zhang Qinghua, Executive Director of the International Writing Center of Beijing Normal University, concisely analyzed the report. Professor Guo Changbao, Vice Principal of HBU, presided over the report.

Professor Mo Yan sincerely looked back to the work, life and writing career in Baoding, vividly told the story of how he stepped on the path of literature, and expressed gratitude to the preceding writers and editors who had influenced and promoted his literary creation. He reviewed the development of Chinese local literature and further analyzed its change as well as the influence of the reform of writers’ horizons, literary concepts and creative perspectives on the creation. He pointed out that seeking innovation and change has always been the theme of literary creation and the dynamic literature roots in the changing local culture. A group of writers personally experienced and participated in the great changes after 40 years of the reform and opening up. They have witnessed the process of literature changes and development with their own works. Chinese writers keep pace with the times and take root in the fluid local culture. It is a correct choice to express the changing local culture with the dynamic literature. We should continue to march forward with confidence along the creative path of literary exploration in the past 40 years of reform and opening up. It is the due responsibility of Chinese writers to create unique works with distinctive Chinese characteristics and their own style, which is based on the present with the fluid foresight, viewpoint as well as their unique way. The great changes and times should be expressed in a literary way and in this way, extraordinary workers and creators get praised.

Professor Zhang Xiaoqin and Professor Zhai Wencheng, the assistant directors of the International Writing Center of Beijing Normal University, and Professor Tian Jianmin and Professor Chen Liming of the School of Arts of HBU, conducted exchange speeches.