Recipient of literary publication fund

A total of RM4,000 worth of publication fund was awarded to UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies Head of Modern Chinese Literature Studies Unit Dr Lee Soo Chee by the Guangxi Association of Malaysia Literary Publication Fund (马来西亚广西会馆文学出版基金) recently.

Dr Lee’s book, titled “Flowers Come into Blossom: Essays on Sinophone Malaysian Literature (《花开成塔——马来西亚华语语系文学论述》)”, researched on the Malaysian Chinese (Mahua) Literature’s poetries, proses, novels, short stories, literary views and comments, and literary publications.

The research also focused on 15 Mahua literature authors, including Lu Yutao, Wen Renping, Du Yunxie, Li Zishu, Fu Chengde, Ye Beisi, Chen Cuimei, Wu Xinlin, Liu Yulong, Zhang Yiping, Wang Runhua, Zhong Yiwen, Gong Wanhui, Bing Gu and Chen Chuanxing, and “Jiao Feng (《蕉风》)”, which is a prominent literary publication of Mahua Literature.

Dr Lee was introduced to the publication fund by renowned Mahua Literature author Bing Gu (冰谷) who encouraged him to collect his research works on Mahua Literature in the recent years. The collected work would be then forwarded to the Guangxi Association of Malaysia Literary Publication Fund for their consideration in awarding the fund.

Mahua Literature author Bing Gu (left) encouraged Dr Lee to apply for the literary publication fund

Dr Lee with prominent scholar and author Wang Runhua (right) during a conference

Dr Lee (left) and Fu Chengde in a literary event

Dr Lee (far left) with Wen Renping (second from right) in a conference

With his ancestors from Guangxi’s Rong County (广西容县), the publication fund awarded also holds a special meaning to him. Expressing his gratitude to the Association, Dr Lee said, “The publication is my preliminary reflection on the criticism and research of Mahua Literature from the year 2010 to 2017. I had spent seven to eight years from conceptualizing the book, to collecting and studying the information and then to finally complete writing this book. At the same time, I am very grateful to all the writers and the persons-in-charge for providing me with ample information and also for graciously accepting my interview. I strongly feel that there is the need to keep the resources and archive the materials of Mahua Literature properly and professionally for the present and future research works.”

Dr Lee attending the 2^nd International Conference on World Chinese Literature in China to publish his research paper on modernist poetry

An academic whose passion is Sinophone studies, Dr Lee has over the years been immersing himself in the study of the criticism and research of Mahua Literature. “UTAR’s research in the areas of Sinophone and Mahua Literature is strong because our research team which consists of academics and students has also displayed the passion, interest, responsibility and purpose in research. On top of that, we also motivate and encourage one another to contribute more to this emerging field,” said Dr Lee.

He added that his students who are interested in Mahua Literature must first cultivate the historical awareness of Mahua Literature and build a foundation of knowledge and experiences. They will then need to work hard in strengthening their understanding on literary criticism theories as they will be useful in text analysis. On top of that, the students must also carefully read through the Mahua literature texts.

Dr Lee attending a literary talk with his Chinese Studies students 

The Guangxi Association of Malaysia Literary Publication Fund is an annual fund by the Guangxi Association of Malaysia to encourage the participation of the Guangxi descendants in Malaysia to create literary works and produce literary research so as to promote the concept of caring for Guangxi. Of all the annual applications, only one application will be chosen by the judges to be published. The applicant’s work can be in categories such as novel, prose, poetry, theatre, children literature, literary criticism and academic research, and literary exposition.