Cai Chongda (born May 27, 1982) is a Chinese journalist, magazine editor, and writer, best known for his memoir, Vessel: A Memoir (pinyin: Pínáng). He currently serves as the executive editor of China News Weekly.

Cai Chongda
Cai at 2024 Hong Kong Book Fair
Native name
蔡崇達
Born (1982-05-27) May 27, 1982 (age 42)
Dongshi, Fujian, China
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • writer
  • editor
NationalityChinese
Alma materQuanzhou Normal University
Notable worksVessel: A Memoir
Chinese name
Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCài Chóngdá
Southern Min
Hokkien POJChhòa Chông-ta̍t

Early life and education

edit

Cai was born on May 27, 1982, in the seaside town of Dongshi, Fujian, China to an underprivileged family.[1] At the age of 16, he won first place at a national composition competition, and published a book the following year. He attended Quanzhou Normal University, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2004.[2]

Career

edit

At 24, Cai became the News Editor of Modern Weekly, a Chinese magazine.[3] At the age of 27, Cai became Director of Reporting at GQ China, becoming the youngest person to hold this position across GQ's 17 international branches.[1] In 2015, he founded Magmode, a menswear brand.[1][3]

Works

edit

In 2014, he published the essay collection, Pínáng (皮囊). The book became a bestseller in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, selling over 3 million copies in China.[4][1][5] In 2021, it was translated by Dylan Levi King into English, published under the title Vessel: A Memoir.[5] Vessel's film rights have since been purchased by Andy Lau, a Hong Kong actor.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "VESSEL". Frankfurt Rights. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  2. ^ "泉籍知名文化人访谈系列之五 蔡崇达:泉州文化最缺的是营销". 泉州网. 2013-03-22. Archived from the original on 2015-01-06.
  3. ^ a b "Cai Chongda". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  4. ^ a b LEVI KING, DYLAN (2020-10-19). "What's Going Wrong with Chinese Literature in Translation?". RADII. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  5. ^ a b Blumberg-Kason, Susan (2021-07-17). ""Vessel" by Cai Chongda". Retrieved 2022-02-26.