Renowned writer Liu Zhenyun delivers a literary lecture to celebrate HKMU’s 35th Anniversary and the opening of the Museum of Hong Kong Literature

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) and the opening of the Museum of Hong Kong Literature, the School of Arts and Social Sciences of HKMU collaborated with the Museum of Hong Kong Literature to host a literary lecture on 27 May. Renowned writer Liu Zhenyun was invited as the keynote speaker. Themed “Master Lecture: The Philosophical Essence of Literature”, the event featured Liu's sharing of his insights on literature, which greatly enriched the literary and artistic ambience on the occasion.

The literary lecture, officiated by HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, and Curator of the Museum of Hong Kong Literature Mr Anthony Pun Yiu-ming, attracted nearly 230 students, staff and other members of the public. Liu elaborated on the relationship between literature and philosophy, sharing with the audience that philosophical thinking is an essential component of literary creation. He stated that while philosophy emerges from life, profound philosophical ideas can often be expressed through simple literature. “Philosophers attempt to explain the world clearly, while literature can express things that are not clear and understandable, such as human emotions,” he said.

Liu is a member of the Chinese Writers' Association. He has written several acclaimed works, including the novels Tofu, Someone to Talk to, I Did Not Kill My Husband, and One Day Three Autumns, and was honoured with “The Dream of the Red Chamber Award: The World’s Distinguished Novel in Chinese”, the Mao Dun Literature Prize and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.