Writer Li Chiao (original name Li Nengqi) is an important guest writer in Taiwan and also the winner of the 38th Executive Yuan Cultural Award of the Ministry of Culture. (cited from Li Chiao's Facebook)

The Ministry of Culture announced the winner of the 38th Executive Yuan Cultural Award, which was won by the writer Li Chiao (original name Li Nengqi) and Taiwanese opera actress Tang Meiyun. The Minister of Ministry of Culture, Cheng Lichun, personally congratulated them on the phone and affirmed that the two winners have had outstanding performance and outstanding contributions in the fields of literary creation and traditional art.

Li Chiao’s writing style is realistic and he is dedicated to the revitalization of Hakka culture

Li Chiao, born in Miaoli in 1934, is an important Hakka writer in Taiwan and one of the important novelists born in the 1930s. His novels were mainly based on realistic style and he often wrote the fragility of people and life, while caring for the environment, development, culture and people in Taiwan. The emotions and pains were also reflected in his work.

Li Chiao wrote many books which were varied in content. From novels and essays to cultural discourses, he has been promoting the revitalization of Hakka culture for many years. His important works include "The Cold Night Trilogy", "Bitter Water Pit" and "Spring of Blue Clouds at Sunset". Among them, the "Cold Night Trilogy" is considered to be his most important work. He used Taiwan during the Japanese Rule as the main body of writing to show the greatness of mother’s love, the dignity and suffering of the people, and the attachment to the land.

Born in a Taiwanese opera family, Tang Meiyun was selected one of the top ten outstanding young women

Tang Meiyun was born in a family of songs and operas in Tainan in 1965. She specializes the opera martial artist in the Taiwanese opera. In addition to playing as Sheng in the traditional Taiwanese opera performances, she also studied the Peking Opera performances and had special performances in the opera singing which mainly in Duma tune or cha̍p-liām-á (murmuring).

Tang Meiyun's performances were from performance in the open air to Taiwanese opera on TV. In 1989, she first appeared on the stage of the National Drama Theatre with the "Braveness and Tenderness, wild goose flies to the South," and in 1998 she founded Tang Meiyun's Taiwanese Opera Troupe. Every year, the big annual dramas were boldly crossing the border and tried different performance forms and theme content which fully demonstrated the beauty of multicultural integration, and expanded the performance form of the modern Taiwanese operas.

Tang Meiyun has won numerous awards. In addition to being awarded for being selected one of the top ten outstanding young women in the country, she has also won the Golden Bell Award for Best Actress, Art of the Year Award for Best Actress and National Literary Award (Drama).

The famous opera actress Tang Meiyun was awarded the 38th Executive Yuan Culture Award. The photo was the 27th Award ceremony of Traditional Art of the Golden Melody Awards, Tang Meiyun was giving a speech (right). (Information photo, provided by the Ministry of Culture)

The Executive Yuan Cultural Awards are the highest national cultural awards hosted by the government to recognize the lifelong achievements of outstanding artists. The review procedures are rigorous: at first, a nomination was written on paper and then needed to pass in preliminary review. After the agreement of at least 3 reviewers, they will be submitted to the council for review. More than 2/3 of the members have to attend and 3 or more of the members must agree. After the adoption, it will be reported to the Executive Dean for approval, and the Executive Director will personally award the cultural medal, certificate and bonus of NT$1 million. This year's awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled to be held on May 9 at the Wes 1st t Hall of Huashan Creative Park.

Information source Storm: https://www.storm.mg/article/885918