CUHK’s Department of Chinese Language and Literature recently held an awards ceremony for the Ninth Literary CUHK Essay Competition. Entries were selected from more than 6,000 assignments submitted for the University Chinese I and II courses, of which nearly 400 submissions (including additional articles from an open group) entered the competition’s second round. After six months of adjudication, a total of 24 essays received awards.

Guests invited to officiate the ceremony included Professor Wong Nim-yan, Associate Dean of Arts; Professor Ko Wing-hung, University Dean of Students; and Professor Nicholas Louis Chan, Vice-Chair of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature.

Contestants were encouraged to capture scenic beauty both on and beyond the campus, while reflecting on and expressing their personal feelings. Dr Cheung Yuen-man, Writer and Language Instructor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Professor Emily Chau Tsz-yan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong; and Professor Cui Wendong served as final adjudicators for the competition.

The award-winning works covered a wide range of topics, including using the metaphor of a tiger to express the complex emotions between parents and children; exploring education concerning death in China; and reflecting on life through encounters with nothingness. The essays demonstrate exceptional skill in conveying emotions, vividly depicting landscapes, and offering insightful critiques, showcasing the full breadth of CUHK students’ literary talents.

In her speech at the awards ceremony, Professor Wong stressed how the competition has provided opportunities for students and alumni from different faculties to shine and recognise each other’s creativity. Professor Chan noted in his speech how the competition aims to enhance students’ interest in Chinese writing, cultivate their observation and expression skills, and promote a literary atmosphere on campus.

The ceremony also featured a recitation session, during which five students took the stage to recite selected portions of their entries, offering the audience another way to appreciate the excellence of their work.

The Department has organised the Literary CUHK Essay Competition for all students and alumni every year since 2015. This year’s winning entries will be displayed at the New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library from 24 February to 7 March 2025. Members of the public are welcome to visit.