This year's theme:
Where lies the Originality in Chinese Literature?
BEIJING, May 13, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- On April 15, 2024,
the seventh Blancpain – Imaginist Literary Prize was officially
launched. From now until May 15, the
organizing committee will accept submissions from publishers,
publishing companies or authors themselves. The final winners will
be announced at the award ceremony in October. The young writer who
wins the first prize will receive a bonus of 300,000 yuan. The finalists will receive the
Young Friend of Blancpain award, a certificate for the finalist's
work, and a bonus of 20,000 yuan to
support their creative efforts and to encourage young writers to
continue their work.
The Literary Prize is an "impartial, authoritative and
professional" award in the field of Chinese literature that aims to
discover and encourage outstanding young writers under the age of
45. The co-sponsors, Blancpain and the Imaginist, continue on
their quest to convey a simple but meaningful message to the
public: "Reading makes time more valuable."
As every year, the 2024 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize has
brought together a new team to serve as the members of jury. By
doing so, the prize maintains the diversity and high caliber of the
judging team by assembling many important and iconic figures in the
field of Chinese literature and culture. This year's jury lineup
brings together Joan Chen, Lo
Yi-chin, Shuang Xuetao, Xu Zidong and Zhang Dinghao (in
alphabetical order).
Theme of the
2024 Blancpain - Imaginist
Literary Prize: Where lies the
Originality in Chinese Literature?
Every year, the Literary Prize shines a spotlight on a
theme that captures the essence of creativity or the zeitgeist,
inviting writers and like-minded individuals to delve into its
intricacies for a collective exploration and discussion.
As the clock ticks into 2024, the saying "When in doubt, learn
from artificial intelligence (AI)" has evolved from a fleeting joke
into a bona fide, albeit intermittent, aspect of our daily routine.
The streets are adorned with billboards, subtly enhanced by a
growing array of virtual voices. The sixty-second AI-generated
videos flow gracefully, revealing diverse perspectives with
unparalleled precision. AI's involvement in the creation of novels,
even winning literary accolades, has sparked widespread discussion.
The subject of AI has emerged as an inescapable and profoundly
interwoven thread in our conversations.
Yet, herein, we do not aspire to propagate the "threats of AI,"
nor do we endeavor to delve into the myriad applications of AI
tools. Rather, the rapid evolution of AI, akin to a polished
mirror, offers us an unparalleled opportunity to introspect upon
our own existence:
If the intricate tapestry of human thought and judgement, woven
from the threads of history and personal experience, finds itself
overshadowed by the vast reach of big data, then what truly
qualifies as "original" work? And amidst this digital deluge, does
a spark of human "creation" remain, unquenchable and irreplaceable?
How much of our understanding of the world and our place within it
is derived from acquired knowledge, and how much springs forth from
the wellspring of "our" creativity? If each human soul is merely a
contingent creation, are we perhaps destined to forever wander in
the shadows of "originality," never truly embracing it as our
own?
-- Literature, ever attuned to the pulse of "man" and "the
world," cannot divorce itself from the depths of "the self";
indeed, these themes are ever-present in its eternal quest for
meaning and understanding.
In the realm of literary creation, one might inquire:
What defines the "originality" of what we call "original
literature"? Does it arise from a sense of autonomy, a break with
precedent, or a singular bond? Is it the spark of perpetual
self-renewal or the embodiment of vitality? Must it be inherently
"new," grounded in a fresh phenomenon, identity, or subject matter,
expressed through a novel style, language, or rhetoric? How does
this originality intersect with the venerable literary traditions
and paradigms? How does it dance with the pulse of contemporary
society? As "creativity" transforms into a commodity, are the
prevalent forms and topics reflections of our societal concerns, or
mere replicas generated by the relentless churn of big data? In the
tapestry of a literary work, which thread is most vital:
authenticity, uniqueness, or completeness? Are they all necessary,
or is one paramount? Is 'originality' in our current evaluation
system overvalued? Or is it being lightly attributed?
As human subjectivity is increasingly called into question, the
moment has perhaps arrived to reflect on the imperative of
originality through the stronghold of literature: in what manner
can we aspire to be "authentic individuals," strive towards a
"novel world," and thereby, reclaim a "genuine literary
terrain"?
Jury of the
2024 Blancpain - Imaginist
Literary Prize
Joan Chen, actress, film
director, screenwriter, and writer. She starred in films like
Little Flower, The Last Emperor, and Red Rose White Rose, and directed films such
as Autumn in New York,
Her, and English. She is also the author of
Catfish (forthcoming).
Lo Yi-chin, writer. His representative works
include Surname of the Moon, And Now She Remains in
You, My Future 2nd Son's Memory about Me, The
Western Xia Hotel, and Daughter, among
others.
Shuang Xuetao, novelist. He has published a
collection of short stories, including Moses on the Plain,
The Aviator, and The Hunter; full-fledged novels like
Silent Age, Tianwu Shouji, and Winged Ghost;
and a collection of miscellaneous essays, The Black Sheep Among
White Sheep.
Xu Zidong, Professor Emeritus of the School of Chinese at
the University of Hong Kong and Chair
Professor of East China Normal University - Zijiang Program. He is
the author of New Theory on Yu Dafu, Reading Eileen Chang,
Rereading Lu Xun, Xu
Zidong on Modern Chinese Literature, and Rereading the
Chinese Novel of the 20th Century. He has been a resident guest
on talk shows such as "Behind the Headlines With Wen Tao" and
"Yuanzhuo Pai".
Zhang Dinghao, literary critic and poet. He has published
numerous collections of poetry and essays, such as Ji Jian Jun Zi and Mengzi Dufa, among
many others.
About the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize
The Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize, co-founded by the
prestigious Swiss watchmaker Blancpain and China's foremost publishing brand Imaginist,
is the first accolade to be jointly established by a commercial
brand and a publishing house, with the goal of identifying and
supporting talented young writers under 45. Since its inception,
the Literary Prize has upheld the principles of impartiality,
authority, and professionalism, steadfastly maintaining these
standards as its cornerstone.
Engagement of the members of the latest generation just entering
adulthood is always a key indicator that determines the future of
the world of literature. In the field of literary creation,
talented young authors are always seeking an opportunity, while
publishing platforms are looking for potential authors, and, at the
same time, aim to attract more attention and garner more
engagement. Many contemporary classical authors were discovered and
recognized in their youth, as literary awards specifically
designated for up and coming authors were available to them. For
example, Naipaul, Coetzee and Kazuo
Ishiguro all won the Man Booker Prize in their youth, and
went on to earn the Nobel Prize in Literature at a later stage in
their writing careers. Renowned Japanese authors, among them,
Shusaku Endo, Kenzaburo Oe and
Ryu Murakami, were each recipients
of the Akutagawa Prize in their youth. In today's world, literary
creation is a lonely and long road for young authors. The literary
prize is designed to create a future that gives authors the space
to focus on the creation of their works just as calligraphers are
given the space and time to practice their craft.
Imaginist, the most influential publisher in China, has been dedicated to discovering the
best authors who write in Chinese, offering an opportunity for
thoughtful words to be published, while imagining another
possibility for books. Works by Mu Xin, Kenneth Pai Hsien-yung,
among others, have become even more valuable with the passage of
time, nourishing the emotional life for generations of readers.
Imaginist has, for a long time, been focused on publishing both the
literary classics alongside the works of some of the most dynamic
and thoughtful young authors who care about the human condition
through the diverse collection of works that they have created with
their open-minded insights. There's always great literature out
there to be discovered, and the best of it always pushes the
boundaries and explores new horizons. That's the core idea behind
what Imaginist strives for in literature.
Bearing the identity mark of Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie
(MDHH), Blancpain is a truly luxury watchmaking brand. For
Blancpain, a creator of classic timepieces, watchmaking is as much
a result of enduring love as writing. Since its establishment in
1735, Blancpain has ushered in the age of branded watchmaking. Over
the past 289 years, navigating the ever-changing tides of time and
numerous historical junctures, Blancpain has steadfastly upheld its
brand philosophy of solely crafting mechanical watches and
maintaining unwavering quality standards, considering MDHH as its
eternal passion. This devotion resonates deeply with authors'
dedication to literature and their pursuit of creating classic
works, with a shared purpose. Moving forward, Blancpain sees
literature as an extension of time - this is Blancpain's take on
literature.
Call for Entries
Requirements:
Entries must be in Simplified Chinese, published as a standalone
volume between 1 May 2023 and
30 April 2024, exclusively in
mainland China. All novels or
collections written in Chinese are eligible for submission.
Collections comprising multiple works by different authors or
anthologies will not be considered. Short story collections must be
first-time publications and should not include stories that have
appeared in other published novels by the same author.
The entry age limit is set at 45 years old or younger,
calculated as of the author's age at the time of his or her work's
initial publication. The publication date refers to the first-print
date indicated on the copyright page, and reprinted editions are
ineligible for this award.
How to Register
Entries can be submitted either by publishing entities
(publishers or publishing houses) or directly by individual
authors.
For publisher recommendation:
If the submission is made by a publishing entity (publisher or
publishing company), the recommending unit must compile a list of
the recommended works in an official letter, fill out the
"Blancpain-Imaginist Literary
Prize Recommendation Form," affix the official seal
(download the recommendation form here), and submit it along with
five copies of the work's sample to the Jury Office. Each unit is
limited to nominating two works, and explicit consent from the
author must be obtained prior to submission.
For author submission:
For self-nominations, authors must fill out the "Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize
Recommendation Form," sign it and attach a copy of their personal
ID, along with five copies of the work's sample to the Jury Office.
Each author is limited to submitting one work for
consideration.
Please note that the submission deadline for this year's Prize
is 15 May 2024, based on the delivery
date stamped by the courier or postmark.
In addition to the paper materials mentioned earlier, kindly
submit the electronic version of your work in PDF format, along
with the front cover and a three-dimensional book cover (excluding
the waistband, JPEG file not exceeding 5MB), and the electronic
"Recommendation Form" as a WORD document to the designated email
address. Upon receipt, the Jury Office will confirm your submission
for evaluation via email. Please note that sample books will not be
returned.
The Jury Office reserves the right to disqualify any
organization or person who is found to be ineligible to participate
in the competition.
Receiving Address
Address: Blancpain – Imaginist Literary Prize Jury Office,
Building 26, Xinghua Dongli, Hepingli, Dongcheng District,
Beijing
Postcode: 100013
Tel: 010-84255532 (ext. 8096)
Email for Submission: BLANCPAIN-IMAGINIST@imaginist.com.cn
Rules
- Throughout the evaluation process, the organizing committee
respects the autonomy of the jury and entrusts them with the sole
discretion to determine the shortlist and final award
recipients.
- All jury members are required to read all the entries for the
year.
- Entries nominated by any jury member will be considered for
inclusion on the longlist.
- All judges will thoroughly examine the nominated works multiple
times. At the shortlist evaluation
meeting, they will collectively score, discuss, and vote,
ultimately selecting the top five works for the shortlist.
- The jury will deliberate during the morning session of the
award ceremony to determine the recipient of the year's first
prize.
Stay tuned
On 1 August, the Jury Office will unveil the longlist, compiled from two or three initial
candidates proposed by each jury member.
On 13 September, the Jury Office will announce the shortlist, determined by the five
nominations made by a majority vote of the jury.
The final winner (1) will be announced at the Award Ceremony
scheduled in October.
For further details on the selection criteria and the progress
of the prize, you can keep track by
visiting the official website of the Prize at
http://www.ilixiangguo.com/literary.html.
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