HKBU honours Taiwan novelist Lo Yi-chin with “The Dream of the Red Chamber Award”

HKBU held an award presentation ceremony today (21 September) for Taiwan author Mr. Lo Yi-chin whose novel Hotel Xixia won "The Dream of the Red Chamber Award: The World's Distinguished Novel in Chinese". Mr. Lo was awarded HK$300,000 for winning the competition, which was held for the third time.

The Chairman of the final judging panel, Professor Chen Sihe, said the judges were of the opinion that Hotel Xixia told a story of trauma and redemption, diaspora and root-seeking by yoking together two sets of subjects: the mysterious disappearance of the Xixia Dynasty in the 11th century and a parade of grotesque spectacles in a decaying "hotel". Mixing personal confession and national narrative, magic realism and erotic fantasy, black humour and melancholy tonality, Mr. Lo depicts the modern Chinese experience at its most complex and intriguing. With its dazzling language, labyrinthine structure, and kaleidoscopic imagery, Hotel Xixia represents a major breakthrough in contemporary Chinese fiction.

Professor Chen said Mr. Lo spent four years writing Hotel Xixia, a period during which he overcame serious depression thrice. The final judging panel also believed that awarding the first prize of the Award to Hotel Xixia is a challenge to the worrying trend of market-oriented, entertainment-driven and vulgar writing in the literary arena. He said: "In this environment, authors who seriously explore ways to create a pure form of beauty and a depth of expression seem to be solitary figures, and are all the more valuable."

Mr. Lo expressed his excitement and gratitude on receiving the Award. He thanked everybody for the recognition and honour bestowed on Hotel Xixia and shared his experience of writing the novel with the guests at the presentation ceremony. Mr. Lo concluded: "I truly hope that this highest honour for the Chinese novel is not just a 'Dream of the Red Chamber' for every single lonely novelist who struggles to create, but an 'Expo of Dreams' for exchanging life experiences, memory and spiritual history in the next round of prosperity for Chinese fiction."

Guests attending the ceremony included Mr. Chung Ling-hoi, Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture); Mr. Ma Fung-kwok, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council; Mr. Zhang Da-peng, President of Y. Cee Chemicals Ltd, HKBU Honorary University Fellow, and donor of The Dream of the Red Chamber Award; Mr. Wilfred Wong, Council Chairman; Professor Albert Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor; and Professor Chung Ling, Convener of the The Dream of Red Chamber Award.