Chapter 12 Han Shaogong talks about Gao Xingjian's Nobel Prize in Literature

Recently, Han Shaogong accepted a telephone interview with the American "New York Times" and the French "Le Monde" to talk about Gao Xingjian's winning of this year's Nobel Prize in Literature: Gao Xingjian has been active in mainland China's literary scene since the 1980s, and was mainly engaged in writing and directing dramas in France in the 1990s, which may not be known to the younger generation of Chinese readers.He is an accomplished playwright, novelist, and literary theorist. He deserves our congratulations for winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.It is a good thing that the first writer who wants to write mainly in Chinese wins the Nobel Prize, which also shows that Chinese writing is having an increasing influence in the process of world civilization.

Of course, literary awards are not sports competitions, and winning the Nobel Prize is not equivalent to winning the world championship. Other awarding organizations can make other choices and evaluations, but this does not prevent Gao Xingjian's creations from being worthy of encouragement through awards. Like most awards, the awarding of the Nobel Prize has always involved political factors.China engages in reform and construction according to its own national conditions, and does not need to receive political orders from any institution.But even if people do not agree with the political orientation embodied in the Nobel Prize, they should not give up eating because of choking, and should not give up literature because of politics.Even Zhou Zuoren's works are currently being printed and distributed in large quantities in China and are widely acclaimed. Why is Gao Xingjian unacceptable?Many foreign writers whose political orientation does not meet the mainstream standards of China have been widely promoted and respected in China after winning the Nobel Prize or other awards. Why can’t a compatriot or a writer of Chinese descent be treated with the same tolerance and kindness?

Gao Xingjian's literary creation deserves the Nobel Prize or other awards, which deserves our happiness.