Wong Meng Voon



Singapore Infopedia

Background

Wong Meng Voon (黄孟文; b. 27 July 1937, Perak, Malaya–), who also writes under his pen name Meng Yi (孟毅), is one of Singapore’s most eminent Chinese authors.1 Well-known for his mini-fiction, Wong actively promotes the Chinese mini-novel genre to the world through his creative writing and critical studies.2

Early life

Wong’s family was forced to relocate to Pahang, Malaya, during the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1941. He began his elementary education in Pahang in 1946.3 At the tender age of 10, he began reading classical Chinese novels, and at 17 began reading English books.4 His interest in reading books of both languages helped lay the foundation for his bilingualism. 

In 1958, Wong moved to Singapore and studied at the Faculty of Chinese at Nanyang University. After receiving his doctorate from the University of Washington in the United States in 1975, Wong returned to Singapore and worked in the civil service for several years before joining the private sector in 1983.5 His overseas exposure and working experiences proved to be enriching resources for his short stories, and resulted in a change of his writing style. In fact, many commentators viewed his return from America as an important turning point in his writing career.6  


Education7
1961: Bachelor of Arts, Nanyang University, Singapore.
1966: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Nanyang University, Singapore.
1968: Master of Arts, University of Singapore, Singapore.
1975: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Major accomplishments

Wong started writing Chinese short stories at the age of 16 and became well-versed in fiction writing, especially in the form of mini-fiction.8 Several of Wong’s works were translated into other languages. For example, Glimpses of the past was translated into English and Tagalog, When I meet Huilan again into English and Japanese, and The official’s chair into English and Malay.9 

Two of Wong’s early short-story compilations, When I meet Huilan again (1968) and I want to live (1970) were very well received when they were first published.10 These two compilations, representative of his earlier writing style, were full of compassion for the under-privileged in local society. However, the publication of The happy nest (1991) after his return from America marked a distinct change in his writing style. His works became more reflective of the global society, and his writing style more distant and satirical.11 Wong explained that this change in style was inevitable as his life experiences made him realise that human nature was not as beautiful as he had imagined it. He found it difficult to continually sing praises of human nature, and thus chose a satirical tone for his writings.12


Besides writing fiction, Wong has actively supported the development of the Singapore Chinese literary circle and promoting the genre of mini-fiction. Before he left for America in 1970, Wong established the Singapore Association of Writers together with other Singaporean writers.13 Upon his return in 1976, he became the association’s president, remaining in this position for 20 years. He also assumed various other positions, including vice-president of the Asian Chinese Writers Association, president of the World Chinese Writers Association (Singapore branch), honorary president of the Singapore Association of Writers, and charter president of the World Chinese Mini Fiction Research Association.  Wong has also taken up research positions, including those with the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture at Nanyang Technological University, and China’s Guangdong Zhanjiang Normal University.14


Wong has published essays, written academic research papers, edited literary magazines and compiled several anthologies that showcase the works of Singaporean authors. One of the most significant works which he edited is A preliminary study of the history of Singapore Chinese Literature, published in 2002. This book, which took nearly nine years to complete, is a study of the Chinese literary scene in Singapore from 1919 to 1995, and is arguably the first work that systematically documents the development of Singapore Chinese literature.15 


After his retirement in 2000, Wong  taught modern Chinese literature, and Singapore and Malaysian Chinese literature at the Department of Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Institute of Management.16


Over the course of his writing career, Wong has received numerous awards and accolades in honour of his efforts and accomplishments in the literary field. In 1978, he was awarded the Translation Prize by the National Book Development Council of Singapore. In 1981, he became the nation’s first Chinese-language literature recipient of the Cultural Medallion Award. Accolades from beyond Singapore include the South-East Asia Writer Award bestowed by the royal family of Thailand in 1981; the Life-long Achievement for World Chinese Micro-Fiction Award – jointly awarded by the World Chinese Micro-Fiction Research Association, the Micro-Fiction Association of China and the Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House – in 2008; the Life-long Achievement Award for Micro-novels at the 4th Zhengzhou Micro-novels Festival in China in 2011; and Contribution Award at the 12th World Conference on Chinese Micro-novels in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2018.17


Published books
18

1969: Zai Jian Huilan De Shi Hou [When I meet Huilan again]
1970: Wo Yao Huo Xia Qu [I want to live]
1971: Song Dai Bai Hua Xiao Shuo Yan Jiu [A study of short stories and novels of the Sung Dynasty] 
1980: Xin Ma Wen Yi Cong Lun [Essays on Singapore and Malaysia's Chinese Literature]
1981: Glimpses of the past: stories from Singapore and Malaysia
1989: Sulyap sa lumipas: mga kuwento mula sa Singapore at Malaysia [Glimpses of the past: stories from Singapore and Malaysia]
1991: An Le Wo [The happy nest]
1993: Chao Yang Cong Wo Shen Bian Lue Guo [The sun brushes against me]
1994: Xue Fu Xia Dong [The ups and downs of an institute] 
1995: Huang Mengwen Wen Ji [A collection of Wong Meng Voon’s writings]
1996: Huang Mengwen Wei Xing Xiao Shuo Xuan Ping  [A collection of mini-fiction and commentaries by Wong Meng Voon]/ Xin Hua Wen Xue Ping Lun Ji [A collection of essays on Singapore’s Chinese Literature]
1997: A! Dong Fang Cheng Shi [Ah, the oriental city!]
2004: Huang Mengwen Wei Xing Xiao Shuo [A collection of micro-novels by Wong Meng Voon]
2007: Huang Mengwen Zhong Pian Xiao Shuo Zi Xuan Ji [A self-collection of short stories by Wong Meng Voon]/Wei Xing Xiao Shuo Wei Xing Lun [A study on mini-fiction] 
2008: Xin Hua Wen Xue.Shi Hua Wen Xue Ping Lun Yu Shi Liao Xuan Ji [Singapore Chinese Literature and World Chinese Literature – selected essays and historical materials]/Huang Mengwen Wei Xing Xiao Shuo Zi Xuan Ji [A self-collection of mini fiction by Wong Meng Voon]
2012: Huang Mengwen Xuan Ji [A collection of works by Wong Meng Voon]
2013: Wenbie Haizi, Wenbie Manila [Kissing a child goodbye, kissing Manila goodbye]

Awards
19

1951: Literary Award (Novel), Ma Yi (Ant magazine), Penang, Malaysia.
1958: Literary Award (Novel), Nanyang University Chinese Society, Singapore.
1978: Translation Prize, National Book Development Council of Singapore, Singapore.
1981: Cultural Medallion (Literature), Singapore / South-East Asia Writer Award, Thailand.
1994: Special Literary Award (Prose), Beijing Radio, China.
1996: Literary Award (Prose), Top China magazine, China.
2008: Whole-Life Accomplishment on World Chinese Mini-Fiction Award, World Chinese Mini-fiction Research Association.
2011: Life-long Achievement Award for Mini-novels, 4th Zhengzhou Mini-novels Festival, China; CI-NTU Nanyang Chinese Literature Award, Confucius Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.20
2013: Nanyang Distinguished Alumni Award, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.21
2018: Contribution Award, 12th World Conference on Chinese Micro-novels. 22

Family
23
Wife: Wong married his ex-Nanyang University classmate, Tan Hua Sok (Chen Huashu), in 1964.

Daughter: Wong Yin Wei.
Son: Wong Kai Yan.



Author 

Tan Chee Lay



References
1. Luo Ming 骆明, ed., Xinjiapo huawen zuojia zhuanlue新加坡华文 作家传略 [Xinjiapo Hua wen zuo jia zhuan lue] (Singapore: Singapore Arts Association, 2005), 151 (Call no. Chinese RSING C810.092 XJP); Leo Suryadinata, ed., Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, vol. 2 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2012), 1284. (Call no. RSING 959.004951 SOU)
2. Luo Ming, Xinjiapo huawen zuojia zhuanlue, 151.
3. Shi Cuan 石川, Huang meng wen ping zhuan黄孟文评传 [Commentary on Huang Mengwen] (Singapore: UniPress, 1997), 5. (Call no. Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
4. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 145–46.
5. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 145, 149.
6. Huang Mengwen 黄孟文, Huang mengwen weixing xiaoshuo zìxuan ji黄孟文微型小说自选集 [Anthology of Huang Mengwen's Miniature Novels] (Shanghai: Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, 2008), 141. (Call no. Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW)
7. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 146.
8. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 145.
9. Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients: Citations (Singapore: Nanyang Technological University, 2020)
10. Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients.
11. Suryadinata, Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent, 1285.
12. Huang Mengwen 黄孟文, Xin Hua wen xue ping lun ji新华文学评论集 [Xinhua Literary Critic Collection] (Singapore: Yunnan Garden Elegant House, 1996), 242. (Call no. Chinese RSING C810.095957 HMW)
13. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 145.
14. Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients; National Arts Council, Singapore, Annual Report FY2008/09 (Singapore: National Arts Council, 2009), 90 (Call no. RCLOS 700.95957 SNACAR-[AR]; National Arts Council, Singapore, Annual Report FY2009/10 (Singapore: National Arts Council, 2010), 94. (Call no. RCLOS 700.95957 SNACAR-[AR]
15. Huang Mengwen and Xu Naixiang 黄孟文 and 徐乃翔,eds., Xinjiapo huawen wenxue shi chugao新加坡华文文学史初稿 [The first draft of the history of Chinese literature in Singapore] (Singapore: Department of Chinese, National University of Singapore, 2002), 457. (Call no. Chinese RSING C810.095957 XJP)
16. Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients.
17. Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 Recipients; Chen Yongxin 陈永新, “Shijie huawen weixing xiaoshuo yantao hui 40 zhounian huang mengwen yu xi ni er huode gongxian jiang” 世界华文微型小说研讨会40周年 黄孟文与希尼尔获贡献奖 [Conference of World Chinese Mini-fiction 40 years of Mini-fiction Wong Meng Voon and Xi Ni Er are recipients of the contribution award], Lianhe Zaoabao 联合早报, 25 December 2018. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
18. Xu Fuji 许福吉, ed., Huang mengwen xuanji黄孟文选集 [Anthology of Huang Mengwen] (Singapore: Bafang Culture Studio, 2012), 384 (Call no. Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW); Huang Mengwen 黄孟文, Wenbie haizi, wenbie manila吻别孩子,吻别马尼拉 [kiss goodbye kids, kiss goodbye manila] (Chengdu: Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House, 2013). (Call no. Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW)
19. Xu Fuji, Huang mengwen xuanji, 383.
20. Xu Fuji, Huang mengwen xuanji, xv; Zhang Xina 张曦娜, “Nanyang huawen wenxue jiang 2011 dezhu luo ming yu huang mengen ——xinhua wentan de tuishou” 南洋华文文学奖2011得主 骆明与黄孟文 ——新华文坛的推手 [Winner of the Nanyang Chinese Literature Award 2011, Luo Ming and Wong Meng Voon, who are contributors to the development of Singapore Chinese literature], Lianhe Zaoabao 联合早报, 18 November 2011, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
21. Melissa Lin, “NTU Honours 23 Alumni,” Straits Times, 13 October 2013, 16. (From NewspaperSG)
22. Chen Yongxin, “Shijie huawen weixing xiaoshuo yantao hui 40.”
23. Shi Cuan, Huang meng wen ping zhuan, 4, 146.





1. 骆明. (主编) [Luo, M.] (Ed.). (2005). 《新加坡华文 作家传略》[Xinjiapo Hua wen zuo jia zhuan lue]. 新加坡: 新加坡文艺协会, p. 151. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 XJP); Suryadinata, L. (Ed.). (2012). Southeast Asian personalities of Chinese descent: A biographical dictionary (Vol. 2). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, p. 1284. (Call no.: RSING 959.004951 SOU)

2. 骆明. (主编)[Luo, M.] (Ed.). (2005). 《新加坡华文作家传略》[Xinjiapo Hua wen zuo jia zhuan lue]. 新加坡: 新加坡文艺协会, p. 151. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 XJP)
3. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, p. 5. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
4. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, pp. 145–146. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
5. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, pp. 145, 149. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
6. 黄孟文 [Huang, M. W.]. (2008). 《黄孟文微型小说自选集》[Huang Mengwen wei xing xiao shuo zi xuan ji]. 上海: 上海文艺出版社, p. 141. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW)
7. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, p. 146. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
8. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, p. 145. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
9. Nanyang Technological University. (2020). Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 recipients: citations. Retrieved 2020, April 8 from Nanyang Technological University website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/NanyangAlumniAwards/Recipients/Documents/2013%20citation%20booklet.pdf
10. Nanyang Technological University. (2020). Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 recipients: citations. Retrieved 2020, April 8 from Nanyang Technological University website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/NanyangAlumniAwards/Recipients/Documents/2013%20citation%20booklet.pdf
11. Suryadinata, L. (Ed.). (2012). Southeast Asian personalities of Chinese descent: A biographical dictionary (Vol. 2). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, p. 1285. (Call no.: RSING 959.004951 SOU)

12. 黄孟文 [Huang, M. W.]. (1996). 《新华文学评论集》[Xin hua wen xue ping lun ji]. 新加坡: 云南园雅舍,p. 242. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.095957 HMW)
13. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: UniPress, The Centre for the Arts, National University of Singapore, p. 145. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)
14. Nanyang Technological University. (2020). Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 recipients: citations. Retrieved 2020, April 8 from Nanyang Technological University website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/NanyangAlumniAwards/Recipients/Documents/2013%20citation%20booklet.pdf; National Arts Council. (2009). Annual Report FY2008/09. Singapore: National Arts Council, p. 90. (Call no.: RCLOS 700.95957 SNACAR-[AR]; National Arts Council. (2010). Annual Report FY2009/10. Singapore: National Arts Council, p. 94. (Call no.: RCLOS 700.95957 SNACAR-[AR]
15. 黄孟文, 徐乃翔. (主编) [Huang, M. W., & Xu, N. X.] (Eds.). (2002). 《新加坡华文文学史初稿》[Xinjiapo hua wen wen xue shi chu gao]. 新加坡: 新加坡国立大学中文系, p. 457. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.095957 XJP)
16. Nanyang Technological University. (2020). Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 recipients: citations. Retrieved 2020, April 8 from Nanyang Technological University website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/NanyangAlumniAwards/Recipients/Documents/2013%20citation%20booklet.pdf

17. Nanyang Technological University. (2020). Nanyang Alumni Awards 2013 recipients: citations. Retrieved 2020, April 8 from Nanyang Technological University website: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/NanyangAlumniAwards/Recipients/Documents/2013%20citation%20booklet.pdf; Chen, Y. X. (2018, December 25). 世界华文微型小说研讨会40周年 黄孟文与希尼尔获贡献奖 [Conference of World Chinese Mini-fiction 40 years of Mini-fiction Wong Meng Voon and Xi Ni Er are recipients of the contribution award]. 《联合早报》. [Lianhe Zaobao]. Retrieved from Factiva.
18. 许福吉. (主编)[Xu, F. J.] (Ed.). (2012). 《黄孟文选集》[Huang Mengwen xuan ji]. 新加坡: 八方文化创作室, p. 384. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW); 黄孟文 [Wong, M. V.]. (2013). 《吻别孩子,吻别马尼拉》[Wenbie Haizi, Wenbie Manila]. 成都市:四川文艺出版社. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW)
19. 许福吉. (主编)[Xu, F. J.] (Ed.). (2012). 《黄孟文选集》[Huang Mengwen xuan ji]. 新加坡: 八方文化创作室, p. 383. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW)
20. 许福吉. (主编)[Xu, F. J.] (Ed.). (2012). 《黄孟文选集》[Huang Mengwen xuan ji]. 新加坡: 八方文化创作室, p. XV. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C813.4 HMW); 张曦娜 [Zhang, X. N.]. (2011, November 18). 南洋华文文学奖2011得主 骆明与黄孟文 ——新华文坛的推手 [Winner of the Nanyang Chinese Literature Award 2011, Luo Ming and Wong Meng Voon, who are contributors to the development of Singapore Chinese literature]. 《联合早报》[Lianhe Zaobao], p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
21. Lin, M. (2013, October 13). NTU honours 23 alumni. The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.

22. Chen, Y. X. (2018, December 25). 世界华文微型小说研讨会40周年 黄孟文与希尼尔获贡献奖 [Conference of World Chinese Mini-fiction 40 years of Mini-fiction Wong Meng Voon and Xi Ni Er are recipients of the contribution award]. 《联合早报》. [Lianhe Zaobao]. Retrieved from Factiva.
23. 石川 [Shi, C.]. (1997). 《黄孟文评传》[Huang meng wen ping zhuan]. 新加坡: Uni Press, 1997, pp. 4, 146. (Call no.: Chinese RSING C810.092 SC)




The information in this article is valid as at April 2020 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.


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