Renowned writer Mr. Mo Yan is dean of the College of Literature of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, director of the Beijing Normal University International Writing Centre, and vice-president of the China Writers Association. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012. Mr. Mo Yan started his literary career in the 1980s and his international breakthrough came in 1986 when he published the epic novel Red Sorghum. After this success, Mr. Mo Yan went on to publish numerous works, including Big Breasts and Wide Hips, Sandalwood Death as well as Life and Death are Wearing Me Out, which were translated into many languages. Mr. Mo Yan also received the Nonino International Prize for Literature, the Grand Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize and was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by France. In recognition of his phenomenal achievements in literature, the University conferred upon Mr. Mo Yan the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa.