On Campuses

Liu Xinglong, the Eighth Mao Dun Literature Prize winner, shared his views on literature at SYSU

Source: SYSU Youth Association

Written by: SYSU Youth Association

Translated by: Zhang Saijia

Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On the afternoon of April 16, the 81st Guangzhou Lecture, sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and Guangzhou Writers’ Association, and organized by Sun Yat-sen University, was held in Swasey Hall on South Campus. Liu Xinglong, Vice President of the Writers’ Association of Hubei Province and the 8th Mao Dun Literature Prize winner, was invited to give a lecture entitled “Literary Awakening”. Zeng Weiyu, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee; Zhang Xin, Vice President of the Writers’ Association of Guangdong Province and President of Guangzhou Writers’ Association; and Fei Yong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Guangzhou Broadcasting Network, attended the lecture.

Liu Xinglong, the Eighth Mao Dun Literature Prize winner, recalled his 10 years of life in the factory when he was young: “life was hard, but more importantly it was a memory of youth”. During the two-hour lecture, Liu Xinglong talked about his factory experience, literary creation and cultural awakening with extensive quotations, offering a literary feast to the audience.

Liu Xinglong talking about “Literary Awakening”

Liu Xinglong said at the end of his lecture that we should keep reading as long as we live. Literature should not be used to spread hatred, violence or bloodiness, and it should represent the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty and spread love.

The Guangzhou Lecture is aimed to promote humanistic and scientific spirits. It invites famous domestic and overseas scholars in academic, cultural, educational and other fields to give lectures in Guangzhou in order to inherit Chinese culture and learning, and create a positive academic and cultural atmosphere. Up till now, the Guangzhou Lecture has been held over 80 times.