China Writers Association or Chinese Writers Association (CWA, Chinese: 中国作家协会; pinyin: Zhōngguó Zuòjiā Xiéhuì) is a subordinate of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC). Founded in July 1949, the organisation was initially named the China National Literature Workers Association. In September 1953, it was renamed the China Writers Association. In April 2012, the organisation changed its translated name to China Writers Association.
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It now has more than 9,000 registered members, with branch associations across the nation. The first CWA Chair was Mao Dun, under the leadership of the then CFLAC Chairman Guo Moruo. In 1985, Mao Dun was succeeded by Ba Jin. The incumbent Chair is Tie Ning since 2006. Other successive Associate Chairs include Ding Ling, Feng Xuefeng, Lao She, Ke Zhongping, Shao Quanlin and Liu Baiyu.
Chairs and Vice-Chairs
- Mao Dun (1949–1981)
- Ba Jin (1984–2005)
- Tie Ning (2006–present)
Note: The list is incomplete.
Controversy
The bylaws of the Writers Association indicate that it is a “mass group voluntarily formed from China's authors,” but, during this period, it was not purely an organization of such a nature. It was a coordinator and guarantor of an author's creative activities, artistic exchanges, and legitimate rights and interests, but its more important functions were to exercise political and artistic leadership and control of a writer's literary activities, and to guarantee that literary norms were implemented.
Publications
The Chinese Writers' Association publishes several magazines, including 《人民文学》 Renmin wenxue (People's Literature) (monthly), 《中国作家》 Zhongguo zuojia (Chinese Writer) (bimonthly), 《诗刊》 Shi kan (Poetry) (monthly), 《民族文学》 Minzu wenxue (Folk Literature) (monthly), 《小说选刊》 Xiaoshuo xuankan (Selected Novels) (monthly), and Newspaper of Art (weekly). Its publishing arm is the Chinese Writers Publishing House. It also issues 《文艺报》 Wen yi bao (Literature and Art Newspaper) (currently three times a week).