Yan Lianke

Prof. Yan Lianke (born 1958) is a renowned contemporary Chinese writer and academic. He currently holds the IAS Sin Wai Kin Professor of Chinese Culture at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and serves as Professor at the School of Liberal Arts of Renmin University of China. His work spans novels, short stories, and literary theory, often exploring political, historical, and social themes through a critical lens.

• Education: BA in Political Education (Henan University, 1985), MA in Literature (PLA Academy of Art, 1991)
• Awards: Lu Xun Literature Prizes, Franz Kafka Prize, Newman Prize, and international recognition for his humanistic and socially conscious writing

Yan’s research and writing focus on the intersection of literature, memory, and truth-telling in authoritarian contexts. His theoretical work, such as the 2020 lecture On Memory, critiques the erasure of personal and collective recollection in modern China. His novels, including Four Books and Dreams of Ding Village, are celebrated for their allegorical depth and spiritual realism.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• 2014 Franz Kafka Prize (first Chinese recipient)
• 2017 Dream of the Red Chamber Award
• 2021 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature
• 2022 Lee Hochul Prize for Peace
• 2024 Nebula Award for Contribution to Global Chinese Literature

Yan’s teaching and creative writing programs at HKUST and Renmin University emphasize the ethical role of literature in documenting human experiences and challenging historical amnesia. His work has been translated into over 30 languages, with more than 150 foreign publications.