On March 29, “Creating Between Tradition and Modernity: Mo Yan’ s Dramatic Literature International Symposium” was held at Beijing Normal University (BNU). Dramatic literature constitutes a vital branch of Mo Yan's creative work. Among his significant works are "Women De Jing Ke", "Farewell My Concubine", "The Aroma of Wine", "The Spirit of Rooster", and "The Crocodile". Some of the works were performed by Beijing People's Art Theater and Yanghua Theatre, which caused huge social repercussions.

The symposium was co-hosted by the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BNU, the BNU International Writing Center, the Chinese Association of Contemporary Literature, the International Department of the China Writers Association, and Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House. Experts from academic, publishing and theater circles, more than 70 scholars from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, Turkey, Mexico, Serbia and other countries, as well as undergraduates from Williams University in the United States, Peking University Yenching Academy and Nanjing University-Johns Hopkins University Center for Sino-American Cultural Studies, gathered at BNU for in-depth discussions and exchange on the dramatic literature of Mo Yan.

Kang Zhen, vice president of BNU, pointed out that Mo Yan's creation always resonates with the revival of Chinese culture in the new era. He fully affirmed the literature education of the International Writing Center of BNU, and spoke highly of the gratifying achievements made by writers such as Mo Yan, Yu Hua, Su Tong, OuyangJianghe and Xi Chuan in literary creation in recent years.

Qiu Huadong, vice chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, praised Mo Yan's exploration of integrating opera and drama, and cited the views of Greek dramatists, stressing that drama should face the epochal issues. He hoped that Chinese and foreign scholars can explore the artistic value of his plays and the enlightenment to the revival of literature and drama.

Mo Yan, professor of BNU and director of the International Writing Center, introduced his creative experience. He put forward the view that when discussing novels, the dramatic nature of novels should not be ignored either, and when discussing dramas, the literary quality of dramas must also be taken into account.

Wang Lijun, dean of the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BNU, Su Tong, a famous writer and professor at BNU, Liana, Professor at the Center for Asian and African Studies at the National Academy of Mexico, and Wang Shidong from Regent’s College at University of Oxford, and other experts and scholars shared their views and insights on Mo Yan's works.

Wang Lijun, dean of School of Chinese Language and Literature at BNU

Su Tong, a famous writer and professor at BNU

The symposium featured three themed sessions of keynote presentations. The participants analyzed Mo Yan's works and expressed their own opinions.

In summarizing the first session, Bai Ye, research fellow at the Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and honorary president of the Chinese Association for Contemporary Literature, emphasized that one of the significant roles of this symposium was to establish Mo Yan's identity as a "dramatist". The session explored the interplay between his novels and plays.Mo Yan’s works are powerful enough to reshape the aesthetic landscape of contemporary theater.

In summarizing the second session, Professor He Shaojun, distinguished professor at Shenyang Normal University, praised the richness and diversity of perspectives shared by the speakers. He shared his own views on Mo Yan's drama creation, pointing out its similarities with Shakespeare, Beckett and other plays.

In summarizing the third session, Chen Fumin, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highlighted three central themes: the relationship between traditional literature and dramatic literature, the distinctive artistic features of Mo Yan’s plays, and the motivations behind his dramatic writing.

The first keynote session

The second keynote session

The third keynote session

Professor Zhang Ning from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BNU delivered the concluding remarks for the symposium.He made a summary from five aspects, such as the positioning of Mo Yan's drama, his dramatic language, stylistic innovation, artistic exploration and the contemporary value.

At the event

The “Mo Yan’ s Dramatic Literature International Symposium” was part of the 2025 BNU Drama Culture Week’ s series of activities jointly organized by the School of Chinese Language and Literature and the International Writing Center, which began on March 28.