Society in Transition

How do we talk about a past that remains unspoken? What does it mean to transform memory into literature in a country where history is often selectively remembered? And what role do writers play in a society marked by rapid change and social tensions?

Zhang Yueran, born in 1982 in the city of Jinan, is one of the most influential literary voices in contemporary China. Her critically acclaimed novels explore family trauma, the legacy of the Cultural Revolution, generational rifts, female identity, and growing inequality. Her novel Cocoon has been widely praised for its subtle portrayal of inherited silence and unresolved guilt, while her recent work Women – Seated examines shifting power structures through the lens of women affected by corruption, precarity, and structural injustice.

In a moderated conversation Zhang Yueran will reflect on a society in transition – and the role of literature in making sense of what is left unsaid. Topics will include memory and historical denial, class divides, feminist resistance, and the emotional legacy of China's one-child policy. The discussion will also touch on how Zhang’s work is received in China, and how younger generations are beginning to confront the traumas of the past.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from a major Chinese author whose writing opens intimate and political windows onto contemporary Chinese society. Join us for a thought-provoking evening of literary insight and social reflection.

Moderator: Ella Soesanto, Asia Program Officer, Heinrich Böll Foundation

Contact: 
Rafael Klabisch
Project Officer Asia
Heinrich Böll Foundation
E rafael.klabisch@boell.de
 

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

Please register in advance. Unfortunately, the number of seats for this event are limited. If we are at capacity, the conversation will be transmitted via video to other rooms.

» Towards Greater Accessibility
At the Heinrich Böll Foundation, we are constantly striving to remove barriers. Whether in our building, in the release of publications or at online events. All information on this can be found under the following link: https://www.boell.de/de/auf-dem-weg-zur-barrierefreiheit