From May 6 to 8, the “May Reading Season” Wang Meng Series of Academic Events was held at Ocean University of China (OUC). Wang Meng, recipient of the national honorary title “People’s Artist” and former Minister of Culture; his wife Shan Sanya, senior journalist of Guangming Daily; Chen Yan, Vice Chairperson of the China Writers Association and winner of the 10th Mao Dun Literature Prize; Yu Zhigang, former President of OUC; Lu Guangzhi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC OUC Committee; and Wang Xuepeng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC OUC Committee and Vice President of OUC, attended the events.
On May 6, a seminar on Chen Yan’s works and an academic lecture by Chen Yan titled “On Fiction and Drama” were held. In his speech, Lu Guangzhi noted that since Wang Meng joined OUC in 2002, he has provided strong impetus for the development of the humanities at the university. The establishment of a number of academic brands, including the University Resident Writers, the Distinguished Scholars’ Courses, and the “Science, Humanities, and Future” Forum, significantly enhanced the university’s reputation and cultural influence. During the discussion and sharing session, six undergraduate and graduate students gave engaging reflections on Chen Yan’s fiction and drama. The seminar was chaired by Professor Wen Fengqiao, Director of the Wang Meng Research Institute.
At the academic lecture that followed, Chen Yan emphasized that literary creation is a marathon and that writers must draw experience from the classics and gain insights through close engagement with the world. In response to the challenges of the fragmented information era, he called on writers to reflect on how to create works with a broad social vision. Wang Meng spoke highly of Chen Yan’s writing, saying that it reflects the richness of realist literature.
On May 8, Wang Meng was invited to OUC’s Undergraduate Excellence Lecture Series for a dialogue titled “Life and Literature: Face to Face with Wang Meng”. In his speech, Wang Xuepeng noted that Wang Meng is a symbolic figure in contemporary Chinese Literature and a literary master renowned both at home and abroad. Wang Meng has always stood with the people and moved with the times. His works embody a deep love for the country and the people, as well as rich wisdom about life. Having influenced generations of readers, he is a well-deserved literary master and a spiritual role model.
Wang Meng engaged in extensive and candid discussions with faculty members and students on life and literature. He noted that traditional culture is carried not only by cultural relics and ancient books, but by the spiritual lineage that lives on in the values and worldviews of people today. He offered an in-depth interpretation of the internal logic of integrating the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. In the era of new media, Wang Meng encouraged students to read more “difficult books”, urging them to set high standards for themselves and acquire abilities that can truly be put into practice. He also wrote a message for the Undergraduate Excellence Lecture Series, encouraging undergraduates to refine their minds and character and continue to pursue excellence. Wang Xuepeng presented Wang Meng with the honorary certificate of “Blue Dream Navigator”. The dialogue was presided over by Zhou Nini, Party Secretary of the College of Liberal Arts, Journalism and Communication.
