Since 1988, the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award has been held for three sessions, and each prize of 100,000 yuan will be awarded to three works (parts) every year, which can be regarded as the prize ceiling for the selection of Chinese literature awards.
With its generous prize, the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award has increased its influence in recent years, and it has become the number one literary award in China.
However, the status and influence of the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award in the literary world are not just because of the prize.
"Home" magazine also held the "Tianjia Literature Award", which is also a bonus of 100,000 yuan, but it was just a moment of excitement and did not form a big influence in the future.
Obviously, it is obviously not feasible to judge awards just by relying on high bonuses.
There are often discussions in the literary world. Why, as various literary awards are gradually disappearing and even the Mao Dun Literature Awards are often delayed, the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award can still be held as scheduled and will be awarded works that are more recognized by the literary world?
After discussing and discussing, I feel that in the final analysis, Lin Chaoyang laid a good foundation for the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award back then.
Among the many awards in China, the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award is unique in terms of its award system and organizational structure.
The primary judges who adopted college students as awards also caused widespread controversy in the literary world that year, and many writers and critics were not interested in this practice.
They generally believe that college students' literary knowledge reserves and experience are far from comparable to professional reviews, and are not enough to support them in completing the review of a national literary award.
But it turns out that these people have made mistakes of empiricism and superstitious authority.
Many college students may not have enough reading depth and have little rich life experience, but their average literary literacy can almost be said to be at the peak of this country.
In this country with a population of 1.1 billion, you can hardly find a group with an average literary literacy higher than that of college students, even those college teachers and middle- and senior officials are unlikely to be.
Professional literary practitioners such as writers, editors, and critics can be better than college students if they pick up a small group of top groups.
But the problem is that as long as you are in the circle, you will definitely have a tendency to judge awards, which will naturally easily affect the fairness of awards.
So overall, it was absolutely correct that Lin Chaoyang insisted on using the college student group as the preliminary review committee member of the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award.
This organization method ensures the level of the award-winning works, truly selects the best from the best, and greatly avoids the situation of leaving behind pearls in the primary election stage.
After all, college students are very energetic and are very motivated to "hold chicken feathers as command arrows". Even if they can find the works of the men with the horns on the chair, they can search for them.
The Zhuang Chongwen Literature Awards focus on novels, the most important literary genre in the literary field. In addition to the active responsibilities of college students, it is of course inseparable from the efforts of the jury.
According to the evaluation system, the jury of the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award will be composed of writers, editors, critics, and filmmakers,
Dramatists, scholars and other backbone forces in the literary and artistic circles are formed. In addition, a small number of ordinary readers join as judges every year.
The rich allocation of judges also allows the selection of Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award to listen to the public's voice.
In early June, the weather in Yanjing gradually changed from the mild spring to the hot summer. Early in the morning, the sun was high, and Xiaoliubukou Hutong was very lively inside and outside.
In a blink of an eye, the awards for the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award have reached the fourth session. As one of the most important literary awards in China, this year's award list has attracted widespread attention from many media as soon as it was announced.
"Yu Hua! Yu Hua!"
A reporter from "Literature and Art Daily" caught Yu Hua, who had just gotten off the car at the entrance of the alley and asked him about his mood for winning the award.
As early as a week ago, the results of the fourth Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award had been announced. Yu Hua won the Best Novella Award for this year for his novel "Living".
In addition, the movie adaptation of the same name of "Living" is directed by Zhang Yimou and has just won the award at the Cannes International Film Festival. Yu Hua's award suddenly became the focus of journalists' attention.
"I never dreamed of winning the banker award!"
Yu Hua's words made the reporter amused, and he chatted for a few words before letting him go.
While speaking, a few more people walked into the alley. Fortunately, the reporters from the Literature Daily went to various symposiums.
There are many literary conferences, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to recognize them.
Cheng Zhongshi, Jingfu, Gao Jianqun—some of them are representative figures of the "Literature Shaanxi Army" that have been popular in the domestic literary world in the past two years.
Cheng Zhongshi walked among the crowd and was full of energy. This year's Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award was awarded the "White Deer Plain".
After this novel was published, it was praised by the literary community. It also achieved excellent sales after it was published in June last year, and it sold sixty or seventy books in just three or four months.
The reporter stopped the few people and chatted for a while before walking with them into the west courtyard of Xiaoliubukou Hutong.
The brand "Author's House" at the entrance of the courtyard is a bit old compared to a few years ago, but it looks particularly shining today.
Half an hour before the award ceremony, many people have gathered in the yard.
This includes members of the jury committee, several officials in the field of cultural publicity, some comrades from the National Association for Literature and Provincial Associations, as well as writers, editors and critics invited to attend.
These people gathered together in groups of three or three, either standing under the pomegranate trees in the yard, standing under the eaves, or sitting on the railings on both sides of the corridor. Some people also ran to the wing room and sat comfortably chatting.
In addition to greetings, the topics that everyone talks about are the most popular works.
After the list of awards this year was announced, it was widely expected. The novella award was won by Cheng Zhongshi's "White Deer Plain". The novella award was a bit special because Hua's "Living" won the short story award. It was not awarded to one, but to a series of works, Feng Jicai's "The Strange Man of the World" series.
Since the late 1970s, a strange phenomenon has appeared in contemporary Chinese literature, that is, short stories that pay attention to and explore reality have frequently had a significant influence in society.
Of course, this cannot be separated from scar literature, reflective literature, and root-seeking literature's prosperity and popularity.
A large number of short stories such as "Scars", "Class Teacher", and "The Wrangler" have been widely read and familiar.
Looking at the international literary world, the extraordinary prosperity of such short stories is not common.
Entering the late 1980s, as the literary wave gradually passed, short stories also fell into loneliness.
In recent years, there has been no influential short stories in the domestic literary world for a long time.
Feng Jicai's seven short stories in "The Strange Man in the World" series were published in "Harvest" on the first day of this year.
It has been highly praised by the literary community and has gained countless loves among readers.
The three works (parts) have not only won a high reputation in the literary world, but also have a good mass base.
After the list of winners was announced, it naturally gained everyone's recognition.
But as long as it is a prize evaluation, some people always feel regretful, and this year's Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award is the same.
Some people think that Jia Pingwa's "Abandoned City" should win the award, while others think that Wang Anyi's "Documentary and Fiction"
If it weren't for the encounter with "White Deer Plain", it would actually be worth an award.
Someone also talked about Wang Xiaobo's "Golden Age" and believed that this novel should be qualified to be awarded. If this novel can be evaluated, he might win the Best Novella Award.
Wang Xiaobo, who was famous in later generations, is not well-known in the domestic literary world now. One of his representative works, "The Golden Age", was serialized by Wandao's United Daily News two years ago.
Later, it was published in Wandao and Xiangjiang one after another, but it was not published in the mainland until this year, and it did not cause much response.
Since it was published in the mainland this year, it is not qualified to participate in the evaluation.
There were many people talking, and there were also many reporters pulling people to interview, such as the "Wenyi Daily", "People's Daily", "Yanjing Youth Daily", "Wenhui Daily", and "Mingpao" and other media sent people today, and the courtyard was very lively for a while.
Seeing that the award ceremony was getting closer, three award-winning writers including Yu Hua, Cheng Zhongshi and Feng Jicai couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
At this time, Meng Weizai, chairman of the jury of this Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award, Secretary of Group D of the National Association for Literature and Lin Chaoyang walked from the Chuihuamen to the courtyard.
The three of them talked and laughed when they entered the yard, which attracted everyone's attention.
"Hello, comrades!" Ma Feng took the lead and waved to everyone and greeted everyone, and applause immediately sounded in the courtyard.
Immediately afterwards, Meng Weizai also greeted everyone. When it was Lin Chaoyang's turn, he formally bowed to everyone present to show respect, and the applause on the scene became even more enthusiastic.
Seeing that the award ceremony was about to be held, Meng Weizai walked to the steps at the door of the main room and immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.
"Dear leaders, literary colleagues and journalists present, good morning everyone! Welcome to the 4th Zhuang Chongwen Literature Awards ceremony--."
Meng Weizai is the chairman of the jury, and he was the first to open the awards ceremony to deliver a speech.
When Lin Chaoyang and everyone applauded and supported him, Li Tuo sneaked up to him and asked, "What are you discussing in the East Courtyard just now?"
"nothing."
"You're boring now. What are you doing together? Treat me as a young man who has never seen the world?"
Lin Chaoyang glanced at him speechlessly, "Why are you so gossiping?"
"How can this be called gossip? I care about the development trends of the literary world."
The more Li Tuo asked, the more he refused to say it, and he was so anxious that he was so nervous that he was so sad that he was so sad that he asked for it. For him, this was even more uncomfortable than killing him.
However, Li Tuo felt helpless even though Lin Chaoyang was not talking about his life or death. Just as he was asking Lin Chaoyang tirelessly, Meng Weizai's speech ended and the award ceremony began.
Feng Jicai was the first to come forward to receive the award, his face flushed and extremely excited.
Although prices have risen rapidly in recent years, 100,000 yuan is still a figure that cannot be reached by the working class.
What's more, the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award has a greater influence than before.
As both fame and fortune are gained, you will naturally be cheering as a winner.
After Feng Jicai finished his acceptance speech, Lin Chaoyang stepped forward and he was arranged to award the Best Novella Award today.
Yu Hua looked even more excited than Feng Jicai. Feng Jicai became famous in the 1970s and won more than one National Literature Award. Yu Hua is different from him.
Being famous is too late and never gets away from awards.
This time, "Living" won the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award all at once. There is no need to mention the joy. When I received the award, my hands and feet were trembling with excitement, and my mind was blank.
Seeing him like this, Lin Chaoyang smiled and patted his arm, "Don't be nervous, you are the protagonist today, everyone is waiting for you to speak."
After hearing what he said, Yu Hua took a deep breath and nodded.
But when he looked up, those dozens or hundreds of pairs of eyes, each of whom was an important figure in the domestic literary world, was his unattainable dream.
For some reason, Yu Hua suddenly thought of his first experience in his editing office for "People's Literature".
".-I remember that "People's Literature" was still in Dongsibazhao Hutong. It snowed heavily that day. It was my first time to come to Yanjing. I caught up with the snow again. I felt that it was new everywhere.
It was already afternoon when I arrived at the editorial department. Because it was snowing, everyone in the editorial department got off work early, and only Teacher Yushu was still there. It happened that she wrote me and asked me to come to Yanjing to revise the manuscript.
She called out my name as soon as she opened her mouth. The first time I came to the north, I was wearing thin clothes. The next day she specially brought me a thick dress.
In that snowy and unfamiliar environment, I felt so friendly when I saw Teacher Yushu.
By the way, that day was the first time I met Teacher Chaoyang. He came to pick up Teacher Yushu from get off work. That time, the couple invited me to my house for dinner—"
The tension and excitement in Yu Hua's heart dissipated in his memories of the past, and the past was told in a leisurely manner, and everyone present listened with relish.
".—Later, I studied at Luxun Academy of Literature and often went to Xiaoliubukou Hutong, made many good friends, and left many beautiful and precious memories.
Until today, I stood here and received one of the most important awards in my life.
It should be said that Xiaoliubukou Hutong witnessed my literary career.
Thank you Teacher Yushu for pulling me out of a bunch of unknown young people, thank you Teacher Chaoyang for your help on the road of writing over the years, thank you for the jury for your recognition of me, thank you for all readers, and thank you for literature!”
Yu Hua's speech was not long, but every sentence was sincere and he said five "thank you" in the end, which made everyone present unable to help but move, and the applause was thunderous.
As the applause sounded, Yu Hua couldn't help but feel excited again, and gave Lin Chaoyang a hug.
When Cheng Zhongshi walked to the steps, applause came from the audience.
In the more than a year since the publication of "White Deer Plain", Cheng Zhongshi has received countless flowers and praises, but he can't hide his excitement in the face of the recognition of the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award.
After saying the remarks, he was still unsatisfied and even shouted to everyone on the spot.
"When Tai Niang knelt down and his soul flew out of the sky, she was so scared that she knelt in fear and was so desolate that the Qin Opera was floating above the courtyard of Xiaoliubukou, and also drifted to all directions of Yanjing.
The award ceremony of the 4th Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award has ended, and the members of the jury and winners have to be interviewed.
The guests who came to attend the award ceremony did not leave. There is a rare event like this in two years. Of course, everyone should get close to each other when they meet.
Everyone was scattered inside and outside the house in the west courtyard, talking very well and dancing.
Li Tuo gathered several people to surround Lin Chaoyang. He was always curious about what Lin Chaoyang had talked to Ma Feng and Meng Weizai in the East Courtyard just now.
Lin Chaoyang waved to Ma Feng, who had just received the interview, "Old Ma!"
"What's the matter?" Ma Feng walked over and asked.
Lin Chaoyang said to Li Tuo: "Ask him!"
Ma Feng looked at Li Tuo, and Li Tuo's momentum suddenly weakened. After all, Ma Feng is now the top leader of the Cultural Association.
"It's nothing. I heard from Chaoyang that Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award is going to be reformed?"
Good boy!
Lin Chaoyang glared at Li Tuo, "If you bully the weak and fear the strong, you will throw dirty water on me."
Of course, Li Tuo's words were confused. He thought that Lin Chaoyang and Ma Feng had been plotting in the East Courtyard for a long time. If Ma Feng had no other matter, he would not have to find Lin Chaoyang. It was most likely that Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award.
Lin Chaoyang glared at him, and he looked calm. What's wrong with pinching the soft persimmon?
Ma Feng thought Lin Chaoyang had revealed the news to Li Tuo, and said in a deep thought: "It cannot be said to be reform, it is mainly to expand the influence of contemporary literature."
Li Tuo followed his words and said, "This is a great thing!"
He didn't know if it was a good thing. He was just following Ma Feng's cliché, and Lin Chaoyang didn't expose him.
The content Ma Feng talked to him in the morning was not a special secret, but Lin Chaoyang felt that it might be better to reveal it by Ma Feng himself.
"The starting point is of course good. But the resistance and difficulties are also great, after all, it involves the WJ issue.
Wandao and Southeast Asia are relatively sensitive. Chaoyang happens to be very influential in the literary circle of Xiangjiang. After thinking about it, we think we can use Xiangjiang as a pilot and include Xiangjiang’s literary works in the review first.”
After listening for a long time, Li Tuo finally understood that what Ma Feng asked Lin Chaoyang to chat was to broaden the selection scope of Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award.
Ma Feng mentioned Xiangjiang, Wandao, and Southeast Asia. This is to include the entire Chinese cultural circle in the selection. It is ambition, but there are many problems.
After a moment of thinking, he understood the pros and cons of this matter and said, "It is also a problem to be shortlisted for the primary election. It is difficult for students to access the literary works of Xiangjiang. If you haven't even read them, how could you nominate?"
Ma Feng nodded, "This is also something we need to do. I was just talking to Lao Meng about whether it can make the literary club increase its efforts to introduce Xiangjiang literary works, especially the introduction of current newly published and published works."
"It's not enough to introduce publishers alone—
The two were having a lot of chatter. Without Li Tuo's entanglement, Lin Chaoyang was planning to return to the East Courtyard, but was dragged down by Cheng Zhongshi, who had just received an interview.
"Thanks to the idea you gave me!
Cheng Zhongshi looked at Lin Chaoyang and said happily.
Last year, "White Deer Plain" received a warm response after its publication in Contemporary. The editorial department of Contemporary organized a seminar on work for Cheng Zhongshi. During the meeting, Lin Chaoyang suggested that Cheng Zhongshi sign a royalty contract with the Humanities Society.
Now that "White Deer Plain" has been published for a year, it has sold nearly one million copies. Cheng Zhongshi has also gained nearly half a million royalties and has become rich all of a sudden.
If Lin Chaoyang hadn't had Lin Chaoyang's idea, Cheng Zhongshi would have missed such a huge fortune.
After receiving huge royalties and just won the award, Cheng Zhongshi was extremely excited and pulled Lin Chaoyang to chat.
Yu Hua stood by, followed by a reporter from Wenhui Po in Shanghai. His eyes showed a bit of anxiety and frequently winked Cheng Zhongshi.
Cheng Zhongshi didn't understand the meaning and asked him, "What's wrong?"
Yu Hua introduced the reporter, "Comrade reporters have some questions and want to interview Teacher Chaoyang."
Cheng Zhongshi stepped aside when he heard this, and the reporter asked, "Teacher Chaoyang, are you still treating him this year?"
Hearing this question, Cheng Zhongshi suddenly realized.
"Oh, I almost missed the matter."
Seeing him, Yu Hua couldn't help laughing. When Yu Hua learned that he had won the award, his first reaction was to be happy, and his second reaction was that he could finally have a meal in Xiaoliubukou Hutong.
He had eaten many meals in Xiaoliubukou Hutong, but what he was most looking forward to was undoubtedly the meal that Lin Chaoyang treated to after winning the award.
In recent years, Xunweizhai Cultural Salon will be held as scheduled, but because Lin Chaoyang is not here, the inviting guests to dinner is gone, which immediately makes the cultural salon a lot more overshadowed.
For many years, the incident of "Lin Chaoyang treats guests to dinner" has long been linked to national literary awards such as the National Excellent Short and Medium Stories Award, Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award and Mao Dun Literature Award.
Its significance has far exceeded the meal itself, and many contemporary writers are proud to be invited by Lin Chaoyang to a meal.
Chapter completed!