Nobel Laureate in Literature, Mr Xingjian Gao, spoke at a seminar entitled “Literature - the Consciousness of Language” on April 22, 2010, organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Dong Hwa University (NDHU).

In the seminar, Mr Gao explained the consciousness of language through his semi-autobiographical novel, Soul Mountain (1990). To him, human consciousness must be based on a person. In all languages, there are three grammatical persons, I, you and he/she, which reflect the development of human consciousness. In his writing, character is not the most important focus but rather the subject who watches, listens and observes the world. He evokes a situation in his works for readers to enter, experience and feel.

The seminar attracted over 100 attendees. Other than students and faculty members of NDHU, influential figures of the literary circle of Taiwan were also excited to participate.

Mr Xingjian Gao is a prolific novelist, playwright, critic and painter. In 2000, he was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity, which has opened new paths for the Chinese novel and drama.