HONG KONG — As artificial intelligence reshapes daily life, a leading Chinese author has argued that literature, grounded in love and wisdom, remains the most authentic medium for cross-cultural connection. Speaking at the 10th World Association for Chinese Studies Conference (WACS 10) on August 14 at the University of Hong Kong, Xuemo delivered a keynote titled "Using Literature to Connect the World: Wisdom and Transcendence in the AI Era." His accompanying paper was featured on the front page of the conference journal, drawing immediate attention from international scholars.
Xuemo described his creative process as entering a state of "holistic consciousness," shedding ego and sensory limits to let the work emerge as a natural response to human suffering and aspiration. "Love and wisdom," he said, "are the soul of great literature." His ideas resonated across disciplines. Professor Richard Van Ness Simmons, Director of Chinese Studies at the University of Hong Kong, highlighted Xuemo's masterful use of Liangzhou dialect—a linguistic treasure carrying five thousand years of agrarian heritage. Simmons noted that Xuemo's collaboration with translator Howard Goldblatt, involving millions of characters of dialogue over dialectal nuances, sets a new standard for cross-cultural fidelity.
European Academy of Sciences member Professor Martin Woesler drew parallels between Xuemo's narrative voice and Western phenomenological thought, praising his strategy of granting translators creative freedom—a "game-changer" for bringing Chinese literature to global readers. Scholars from Uzbekistan, Europe, and China's top universities joined the discussion, reflecting widening international interest in Xuemo's work.
Xuemo concluded, "The real barrier to cross-cultural understanding is never technique. It is the depth of our care for life itself." With more than 80 books and translations in 31 languages, he has become one of China's most translated and internationally recognized living authors. His landmark works—including the Desert Trilogy, Into the Desert, and the monumental eight-volume epic Suosalang—have earned recent honors such as the New York City Big Book Award, the International Book Awards, and the International Impact Book Awards (2024–2025).
At a time when algorithms increasingly shape human experience, Xuemo's growing global readership and rising academic recognition suggest a deep, counter-intuitive truth: the more technology advances, the more the world hungers for stories that speak directly to the shared human condition—across all borders, languages, and ages. For Xuemo's latest book, Eternal Love, readers can find it on Amazon.
