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Mao Dun Literature Prize (Chinese: 茅盾文学奖; pinyin: Máo Dùn Wénxué Jiǎng) is a prize for novels, established in the will of prominent Chinese writer Mao Dun (for which he personally donated 250,000 RMB) and sponsored by the Chinese Writers Association. Awarded every four years, it is one of the most prestigious literature prizes in China. It was first awarded in 1982.
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Selection rules
According to selection rule, any work, authored by Chinese nationals, published in mainland China, and with over 130,000 characters, is eligible.
The selection committee in the Chinese Writers Association holds the voting poll twice, and the winner must receive over 2/3 of the votes cast. The process is highly selective and each time, the number of winners is between 3 and 5. The prize is awarded every four years, though it was originally awarded every three years.
Criticism
The award was recently criticized for the 2011 awards, when it was revealed that eight of the top ten on the list were either the chair or vice-chairpersons of prominent provincial writers' associations. An editorial in the China Daily stated "official status cannot and should not be a criterion for literary excellence. That's why people doubt the authenticity of prizes that are awarded to officials for their literary achievements."
Past winners and their works
Note: English titles may be literal and not book translations.
1982
1985
1991
Honorary Prize
1997
2000
Awarded in Mao Dun's hometown, Tongxiang, Zhejiang on November 11, 2000
2005
2008
2011
2015
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