On July 30th, local time, 2012 Nobel laureate for literature and prestigious writer Mo Yan was awarded the title of Honorary Doctorate by PUCP. Accompanied by JoséLeón Herrera, Director of Center for Oriental Studies of PUCP, Ricardo Sumalavia Chávez, Vice Director of Center for Oriental Studies of PUCP, Ruben Tang, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute at PUCP, and Huang Hao, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at PUCP, Mo Yan paid a visit to the Confucius Institute at PUCP.
At the auditorium of Academic Department of Humanities of PUCP, Aldo Panfichi Huamán, Vice President of PUCP, awarded Certificate of Honorary Doctorate to Mo Yan. In his speech, Mo Yan expressed that despite the long geological distance between China and Peru, Chinesepeople, through literature, can learn about Peruvians’ lifestyle, their thoughts and feelings, as well as the country’s history and reality. China, Peru and Latin America all enjoy profound historical traditions, rich cultural heritage and colorful life.
Aldo Panfichi Huamán awarding Certificate of Honorary Doctorate to Mo Yan
In the afternoon, Mo Yan and his delegation arrived at the Confucius Institute and visited the library, classrooms, multi-media laboratory, administrative offices and common rooms there. With the interpretation of Ruben Tang and Huang Hao, Mo Yan watched a picture exhibition displaying the ten years of development of the Confucius Institute, and learned about the Confucius Institute’s school-running characteristics and development process. Mo Yan also expressed compliment and encouragement to the Confucius Institute for its achievements made over the past decade. At the director’s office, Mo Yan kindly inscribed his classic works, The Republic of Wine, Big Breasts and Wide Hips, Sandalwood Death, Red Sorghum and Frog that are collected by the Confucius Institute. In return, he was given a book titled El Extenso y Caudaloso Rio de la Civilizacion: China y Latinoamerica, Aprendizaje Mutuo(Long River of Culture: Mutual Learning between Chinese and Latin American Civilizations) by the Confucius Institute.
At the seminar
It is worth noting that many students of the Confucius Institute who love Chinese literature, being informed of Mo Yan’s visit, hurried to the Confucius Institute together with Mo Yan’s works, hoping to catch a glimpse of the master in literature. Mo Yan passionately gave his autograph to them as a memento.
Group photo
Reportedly, another important event in Mo Yan’s visiting schedulein Peru was to participate in the 24thInternational Book Fair of Lima. As an influential book fair in Latin America, International Book Fair of Lima draws the attention of artists worldwide. Mo Yan’s visit set off a crazeforhimself and his works there and promoted the literary exchanges between China and Latin America. The Confucius Institute of PUCP will continue to create more opportunities for China-Peru cultural exchanges, give a greater play to its role as an envoy of non-governmental exchanges between China and Peru. In the land of Latin America where magic realism is harbored, it help more Confucius Institute students and local residents know and fall in love withChinese literature. (cited from Confucius Institute Headquarters, source: Confucius Institute at PCUP)
