The 25th Yuan Ze Literature Award Concluded Successfully: New “Image and Text” Category Inspired Cross-Disciplinary Creativity

To encourage students to engage in literary creation and cultivate humanistic literacy, the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature at Yuan Ze University organized the Yuan Ze Literature Award, which celebrated its 25th edition this year. The 25th Yuan Ze Literature Award Concluded Successfully: New “Image and Text” Category Inspired Cross-Disciplinary Creativity

To encourage students to engage in literary creation and cultivate humanistic literacy, the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature at Yuan Ze University organized the Yuan Ze Literature Award, which celebrated its 25th edition this year. With the theme “A Breeze Brushes Ink Robes”, the competition attracted over 290 entries across five categories: modern poetry, prose, fiction, image and text, and the high school division. The event showcased the vibrant energy and diverse creativity of the younger generation in literary expression.

Shih-Hui Hung, Chair of the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature, stated that this year marked the first introduction of the “Image and Text” category, encouraging participants to combine visual imagery with written language and explore cross-disciplinary expression. She noted that this new category represented a breakthrough innovation, aiming to create more open and inclusive possibilities for literary competitions while attracting creators with artistic potential.

The high school division, now in its third year, was expanded for the first time to accept submissions from senior high schools across Taiwan. The increasing number of entries each year reflected the strong enthusiasm and commitment of young people to literary creation. Many of the submitted works addressed social issues or conveyed personal emotions, demonstrating high school students’ critical thinking and command of language. The first prize in the high school division was awarded to Tzu-Hsuan Yen from Neili Senior High School for her work “Silent Collapse”, which metaphorically portrayed the decay of a house to reflect changes in family relationships and the delicate inner world of adolescence. The piece received unanimous praise from the judges.

In the fiction category, Chuan-Ching Kuo won first prize for “Sewn Body”, which used sewing as a metaphor to highlight the patchwork nature of Taiwan's multicultural society, drawing attention to the lived experiences of migrant workers. The narrative's vivid bodily imagery was especially well-received by the judging panel. The Judges’ Award in the fiction category went to freshman Tzu-En Kao, whose work reflected on AI through a humanistic lens, questioning whether AI-generated poetry in the age of technology could be considered emotional or sentient.

In the Image and Text category, Chih-Chi Chiu won first prize for “Inverted Blue”, a piece based on a photograph taken during a flight. Judge Shih-Ming Chang commented that photography often depends on luck and timing; this image captured a fleeting moment of beauty, paired with imaginative associations between sky and ocean, making it an outstanding entry.

Chi-Hung Lee, one of the guiding professors, explained that the theme “A Breeze Brushes Ink Robes” encouraged creators to draw inspiration from the details of daily life and explore personal emotions as well as contemporary currents. He noted that the overall quality of submissions was impressive, showcasing both linguistic finesse and emotional depth. Many first-year students performed remarkably well, demonstrating their willingness to experiment with new forms of expression and develop their unique literary styles.

The list of winners had been officially announced, and all awarded works would be compiled and published in a year-end collection, inviting literature enthusiasts from all sectors of society to witness the creative energy of Taiwan’s youth. The organizers extended their special thanks to the Taoyuan Department of Cultural Affairs for its financial support, which enabled the event to proceed smoothly and successfully. Yuan Ze University vowed to continue fostering a strong literary atmosphere on campus, allowing more aspiring creators to shine on this platform.