Ethnic literature awards celebrate national diversity

Singers and dancers in ethnic costumes perform during the 2024 China Literature Gala: Junma Awards Night at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 16. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Should the topic of wheelchair-bound Chinese writers come up, Shi Tiesheng is usually the first to be mentioned. Despite his disability, the strength conveyed in his words is profoundly moving. Today, the emergence of Ma Jun, who writes under the pen name of Liu Kexing, has introduced a new wheelchair-bound writer to the public, one who shares his touching story, much like Shi.

Born in 1995, Ma is the youngest laureate this year for the Junma Awards for Ethnic Literature in the prose category. Disabled since birth, and severely shortsighted, Ma has faced immense challenges throughout his life and although he was admitted to university at 21, his health prevented him from enrolling.

As he struggled with pain, he found solace in Shi's work, particularly his acclaimed book Wo Yu Ditan (The Temple of Earth and Me). Inspired, Ma embarked on his own literary journey, pouring his experience into his writing. His award-winning book, Qing Bai Shijie (The Green and White Stone Steps), captures the complexities of life through the lens of his personal struggles.

"In the world of literature, I stood up," Ma said in a video played at the award ceremony. "Shi Tiesheng illuminated my path, and I hope to be a light for others."