2023-24 “Literary CUHK” Essay Competition Award Ceremony Review
The awards ceremony for the Ninth Literary CUHK Essay Competition was held on 22 November 2024 by the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The winning entries of the competition were selected from over six thousand assignments submitted in the ‘University Chinese I and II’ courses. Nearly four hundred submissions, including those from the Open Group, entered the second review for the competition. After six months of adjudication, a total of 24 essays were awarded.
Several guests were invited to officiate the ceremony and present awards, including Prof. Nim Yan WONG (Associate Dean of Arts and Associate Head of Chung Chi College), Prof. Wing Hung KO (University Dean of Students), Prof. Enders Kwok Wai NG (Acting Dean of Medicine), Prof. Zhixiu LIN (Director of the School of Chinese Medicine), Prof. Kenneth Kam Siu CHEUNG (Dean of Students of New Asia College), Ms. Yolinda Chui Yan WONG (College Secretary of Wu Yee Sun College), Prof. Wendong CUI (Final adjudicator of the competition) and Prof. Nicholas Louis CHAN (Vice-Chair of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature).
Contestants are encouraged to depict the scenic beauty both on and beyond the campus and to express their personal feelings and thoughts. Dr. Yuen Man CHEUNG (Writer and Language Instructor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Prof. Emily Tsz Yan CHAU (Assistant Professor, Department of Chinese, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong) and Prof. Wendong CUI (Assistant Professor, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) serve as final adjudicators of the competition. The award-winning works cover a wide range of topics, including the use of the metaphor of a ‘tiger’ to represent a father, expressing the complex emotions between parents and children; exploring death education in China; and reflecting on life through encounters with ‘nothingness’, and more. The essays have demonstrated exceptional skills in conveying emotions, vividly depicting landscapes, and offering insightful critiques, showcasing the literary talents of CUHK students.
Prof. Nim Yan WONG pointed out in her speech that ‘Literary CUHK’ has provided many opportunities for students and alumni from different faculties to shine and has recognized their creative works. She encouraged students to continue writing and to actively participate in the competition.
Prof. Nicholas Louis CHAN noted in his speech that the competition aims to enhance students’ interest in Chinese writing, cultivate their observation and expression skills, and promote a literary atmosphere on campus. He believed that we can engage in deep reflection and perceive the world more subtly through writing, enriching our lives with literature.
In the sharing session, Prof. Wendong Cui encouraged everyone to reflect on their own emotions and struggles through metaphor or a distanced perspective. By viewing personal experiences from a distance, this writing approach helps create works that resonate more deeply with readers.
Additionally, the ceremony also featured the ‘Awardees’ Recitation Session,’ during which five students took the stage to recite selected portions of their entries, offering the audience an alternative way to appreciate the excellence of their work beyond reading.
To motivate students’ interest in learning the Chinese language, the Department has edited and published teaching materials for students by combining the unique historical background and environmental features of CUHK. This includes a collection of selected literary works about CUHK, known as CUHK, Landscape, and Humanities (中大．山水．人文). ‘Literary CUHK Essay Competition’ has been organized for all students and alumni every year since 2015 to arouse their interest in Chinese writing and to enhance their observation and expressive skills through the activity. The winning entries of this competition will be displayed at the New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library from February 24 to March 7, 2025. All are welcome to visit.
More Information on ‘Literary CUHK’ is available at the ‘Learning Chinese Outside Classroom’ webpage at https://www.chltcac.cuhk.edu.hk/culitrecentnews.
