Shan Sa
Encyclopedia
Shan Sa is the pseudonym
of Yan Ni (born October 26, 1972 in Beijing
, China
), a French
author
and painter
. The Girl Who Played Go was the first of her novels to be published outside of France
, and won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
(a prize voted by secondary school students). Her second novel to appear in English translation was Empress
(2006). She was awarded chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
in July 2009 and chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite
in May 2011.
Shan Sa is also a painter with exhibitions in Paris
, New York
, and Shanghai
.
poet Bai Juyi. At age 8, she published her first poetry collection, and went on to obtain the first prize in the national poetry contest for children under 12 years, an event that created a public upheaval. After graduating from secondary school in Beijing, she moved to Paris
in August 1990 thanks to a grant by the French government. Settling there with her father, a professor at the Sorbonne University, she quickly adopted the French language. In 1994, she finished her studies of philosophy
. From 1994 to 1996 she worked as a secretary of painter Balthus
. Thereafter she published her first two novels and a collection of poetry, meeting with great critical acclaim including the 1998 Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman (Prix Goncourt for first novel) for Porte de la paix céleste. In 2001 she reached the top of her success with the publication of her most famous book so far, The Girl Who Played Go (La Joueuse de Go in French). The book received good feedback from readers and was awarded a number of prizes, including the 2001 Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
(Prix Goncourt of the High-school students) and has been translated to 32 languages.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Yan Ni (born October 26, 1972 in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
), a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. The Girl Who Played Go was the first of her novels to be published outside of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
The Prix Goncourt des Lycéens was created in 1987 as a sort of younger sibling of the Prix Goncourt, a prize for French language literature. The ten members of the Académie Goncourt select twelve literary works as nominees...
(a prize voted by secondary school students). Her second novel to appear in English translation was Empress
Empress (novel)
Empress is a French biographical novel by Shan Sa, a French author who was born in Beijing. It is based on the life of Empress Wu Zetian....
(2006). She was awarded chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
in July 2009 and chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
in May 2011.
Shan Sa is also a painter with exhibitions in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Biography
Shan Sa was born as Yan Ni in Beijing, China, to a scholarly family. She adopted the pseudonym Shan Sa from a poem by the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
poet Bai Juyi. At age 8, she published her first poetry collection, and went on to obtain the first prize in the national poetry contest for children under 12 years, an event that created a public upheaval. After graduating from secondary school in Beijing, she moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in August 1990 thanks to a grant by the French government. Settling there with her father, a professor at the Sorbonne University, she quickly adopted the French language. In 1994, she finished her studies of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. From 1994 to 1996 she worked as a secretary of painter Balthus
Balthus
Balthasar Klossowski de Rola , best known as Balthus, was an esteemed but controversial Polish-French modern artist....
. Thereafter she published her first two novels and a collection of poetry, meeting with great critical acclaim including the 1998 Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman (Prix Goncourt for first novel) for Porte de la paix céleste. In 2001 she reached the top of her success with the publication of her most famous book so far, The Girl Who Played Go (La Joueuse de Go in French). The book received good feedback from readers and was awarded a number of prizes, including the 2001 Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
The Prix Goncourt des Lycéens was created in 1987 as a sort of younger sibling of the Prix Goncourt, a prize for French language literature. The ten members of the Académie Goncourt select twelve literary works as nominees...
(Prix Goncourt of the High-school students) and has been translated to 32 languages.
Awards
- Winner of the Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman for Porte de la paix céleste (Gate of Celestial Peace) in 1998.
- Winner of the Prix Cazes-Brasserie Lipp for Les quatre vies du saule (The Four Lives of the Willow) in 1999.
- Winner of the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens (French Wikipedia) in 2001 and the 2004 Kiriyama Prize for fictionKiriyama PrizeThe Kiriyama Prize is an international literary award given to books which will encourage greater understanding of and among the peoples and nations of the Pacific Rim and South Asia...
for La Joueuse de Go (The Girl Who Played Go).