Author Mo Yan 'surprised' by Nobel Prize win

Beijing: Having won the Nobel Prize for Literature Thursday, Chinese writer Mo Yan said he was "very surprised" at his win as he felt there were many good writers, much higher ranked than him.

Mo Yan whose real name is Guan Moye was nominated along with Canada's Alice Munro and Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, Xinhua reported. The winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Literature was announced at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm.

Speaking to reporters in his hometown Gaomi city in Shandong province, Mo said: "(I was) very surprised upon winning the prize because I felt I was not very senior in terms of qualification (among Chinese writers). There are many good writers and my ranking was not so high,"

After winning the Nobel on Thursday, Chinese writer Yan said he felt there were many good writers in the running.

Expressing his reaction on learning about his Nobel Prize win, Mo said: "I was having dinner when I received the news. I was surprised."

"The Nobel Literature Prize is a very important literature prize, but not the top award. It represents the opinions of the jury. I am satisfied with my major works and I still keep writing by hand.

Mentioning about his work Mo said his works were Chinese literature, which is a part of world literature, "They show the life of Chinese people as well as the country's unique culture and folk customs.

"...my novels described human beings in the broad sense. I wrote in the perspective of a human being. These works stand beyond regions and ethnic groups."

Mentioning about the influences on his writings, Mo said: "The folk arts and folk culture accompanied my growth and I was influenced by the cultural elements I witnessed through my childhood.

"When I picked up the pen for literature creation, the folk cultural elements inevitably entered my novels and affected and even determined the artistic styles of my works."

Born into a farmer's family in a village in Gaomi, Mo has been known since the late 1980s for his novels such as Big Breasts and Wide Hips and Red Sorghum, later adapted into a film.

"I want to express my gratitude to all friends who support me, as well as those who criticize me," said the Chinese author at his Nobel Prize win.

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