The 11th Mao Dun Literature Prize winners were announced in August, with five novels receiving awards. These included The Snow Mountain and the Homeland by Yang Zhijun, Baoshui Village by Qiao Ye, Ben Ba by Liu Liangcheng, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains by Sun Ganlu, and Resonance by Dong Xi.
The Mao Dun Literature Prize, established in 1981, is considered the most prestigious award in the world of Chinese literature. However, there has been a lot of online discussion about the recent winners of the prize, as many of the awarded works are not well-known compared to other nominated authors and popular works. It’s difficult to determine if they truly deserve the award without reading them myself. However, this discussion brings to mind a book that I personally enjoy, which was also awarded the Mao Dun Literature Prize – Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet.
The author of Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet, Alai was born in the Sichuan Aba Tibetan area of Barkam County and graduated from Barkam Teachers College. Although Alai had previously published works, they were neither bestsellers nor famous. Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet was rejected by more than a dozen publishers before being published by People’s Publishing House of Literature in 1998 – four years after it was first written in 1994. There, the editor of Footprints of the Eye recognized Alai’s talent and decided to publish the book. The book became a great success and even won the Fifth Maodun Prize in Literature in 2000.
The main character in Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet is the son of a Han Chinese woman and a notable Tibetan leader in Khamber, conceived on a drunken night. The novel chronicles the rise and fall of the “native chieftain system” in the Tibetan region of Sichuan through the eyes of this naive son.
The author’s use of Tibetan storytelling and a distinct historical perspective illuminates the turbulent times. The story is a blend of fact and fiction, avoiding self-pity and instead presenting a weighty yet graceful narrative that reveals the poignant and profound experiences of those living on the margins of history.
I find the simplicity of the book’s text to be inspiring. The author, who is Tibetan, uses exotic metaphors and philosophies in many of the dialogues. For example, in a conversation between a father and son, the father asks, “Tell me what love is?” The son responds, “It’s bubbles in your bones.” The father understands the metaphor and replies with a smile, “You fool, it’s the bubbles that will dissipate.” The book also delves into heavy thinking and interrogation about the lack of love in religion and the prevalence of hate.
Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet is an exceptional literary piece that reveals individual stories and historical secrets with both insight and subtlety. The language used is both rational and emotional, making it a remarkable read.
The novel also highlights the significance of the Mao Dun Literary Prize and the success of award-winning literature. As we look forward to this year’s new award-winning works, we wonder if they will be able to match the high standard set by Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet. Let’s wait and see!
