Chi Zijian (Chinese: 迟子建; born 27 February 1964) is a Chinese novelist.^[1] She is best known for her novel The Last Quarter of the Moon which won the Mao Dun Literary Prize (2008), one of the most prestigious literature prizes in China.^[2][3]

Biography

Chi was born in Mohe County, Heilongjiang in February 1964. Her father, Chi Zefeng (迟泽凤), was the president of a local school. Chi Zijian was named after his father's idol Cao Zijian, a poet and prince of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period.

Chi entered Daxing'anling Normal College (大兴安岭师范学校) in 1981, graduating in 1984. She started to publish novels in 1983.^[4]

In 1988, Chi was accepted to Northwest University, majoring in writing. One year later, she attended Beijing Normal University and Lu Xun Literary Institute.

In 1990, Chi joined the Heilongjiang Writers Association.

Her novel, The Last Quarter of the Moon, was published in 2005, which won the Mao Dun Literary Prize in 2008.

Chi won the Lu Xun Literary Prize in 1996, 2000, and 2007.

Political career

Chi was a member of the 12th and 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).^[5] On January 15, 2020, she was elected vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee.^[5]

Works

Novels

• Manchukuo (伪满洲国)
• The Last Quarter of the Moon (额尔古纳河右岸)

Novellas

• White Snow and Crow (白雪乌鸦)
• All Night in the World (世界上所有的夜晚)
• Yellow Chicken and White Wine (黄鸡白酒)
• Good Night, Rose (晚安玫瑰)

Short stories

• Fog, Moon, and the Cattle Pen (雾月牛栏)
• Qingshui Xichen (清水洗尘)
• A Jar of Lard (一坛猪油)

Awards

• 6th Zhuang Zhongwen Literary Prize (1993)
• Fog, Moon, and the Cattle Pen – Lu Xun Literary Prize (1996)
• Qingshui Xichen – Lu Xun Literary Prize (2000)
• All Night in the World – Lu Xun Literary Prize (2007)
• The Last Quarter of the Moon – Mao Dun Literature Prize (2008)^[3]

Personal life

In 1998, Chi married Huang Shijun (黄世君), who was the CPC County Committee Secretary of Tahe. In May 2002, Huang died in a car accident.