The 1982 Golden Tripod Awards

The Golden Tripod Award was established in 1976 by the Government information Office (GIO) of the Executive Yuan which directs the domestic publishing industry. The aim of the award is to cite publicly outstanding publications and members of the profession in order to raise the quality of publishing in the Republic of China. Awards are given under four classes: books, news, magazines, and recordings.

Last December the awards were held for the seventh time and each time has seen improvement. In 1981 the awards were televised for the first time, helping to broaden their impact and influence. Last year two new award categories were added, news editing and arrangements on recordings. For the first time there were cash awards; each publishing company was presented with NT$100,000 (US$2,500) and each individual received NT$30,000.

Because of these changes the entries in 1982 doubled over the previous year. There were 2,111 entries in the news class, 125 magazines, 852 books, and 100 different entries in the recording class. On the other hand, there were only 28 awards given, compared to 57 in 1981, making the awards much more competitive.

The Golden Tripod Awards Ceremony is different from most others in that winners are announced well beforehand. But this is not to say it is without glamour. Setting the stage for the presentation of the book awards was a performance of Peking Opera given by the Ming Tuo Troupe.

Last year's Outstanding Book Award was given to Chinese Fairy Tales; The Dictionary of Western Art; The Development and Accomplishments of Chutse's Philosophy; The Wonders of the Insect World; The Revised Mandarin Dictionary; and A Collection of Thirty Years of Literature.

The 1982 winners of the Author's Award were Peng Sheng-yang for his book The Growth of Weeds in Sugarcane Fields and Chemical Elimination, Chao Kang and his wife, Chen Ching-yi, for their History of the Chinese Land System, and Chang Ning-ching for Golden Dawn. The Cover Design Award went to Huang Chin-tang and Tsui Chien-tsai for their work on A Revelation of the Meanings behind Idioms.

The book awards have been criticized as being awarded exclusively to books on very technical subjects. Tang Chi-ming of the GIO's Publishing Department commented after the ceremony that he does not feel this criticism is justified. He pointed out that the fairy tales are for children, the dictionaries can be used by anyone, and two of the books are collections of essays and short stories, certainly not technical writing. Only the books on philosophy, history, and agriculture could be considered specialized.

Premier Sun Yun-suan addressed the audience at the invitation of GIO General-Director James Soong. The Premier congratulated the publishing industry for continuing to grow and advance despite the worldwide recession. He continued, "Last year gift certificates for books were popular. This is proof that our compatriots are striving for knowledge and self-improvement. I hope everyone will continue the habit of reading in order to encourage our publishing industry to distribute more and better publications throughout every corner of society."

Director-General Soong also addressed the gathering. He referred to the old saying that one day without reading made conversation dull; three days made one obnoxious. Reading cultivates one's inner beauty, one's conversation will be more interesting, and one will be more social and get along well in society.

The five awards in the news class were presented by four veteran journalists. The four, all over 70, were received with a standing ovation when they came on stage. The 1982 winners of the Columnist's Award were Han Han and Ma Yi-kung for their series "Care, Participate, Develop--We Only Have One World." The Photojournalism Award went to Tsao Chi-jen for his photo "1/2000th of a Second Crash." The Editing Award was given to the editors of the Central Daily News while the United Daily News economics bureau was awarded the Reporting Award for a series of articles on investment. Wu Chi-jen collected the News Analysis Award for his comments in the Great China Evening News entitled "Public Media Is Not a Privileged Class."

There are over 2,000 magazines published in the ROC, giving Taiwan more magazines per capita than anywhere else in the world. Therefore competition is fierce and survival is not easy. Last year's winners of the Outstanding Magazine Award were Commonwealth, Shih Pao Magazine, and Artist.

According to Kao Hsin-tan, one of the MC's, an editor is the soul of a magazine. They need to be competent, courageous, and talented. The award was presented to Commonwealth's editor, Diane Yin.

The Art Design Award was presented by Wang Che, creator of the Chinese comic strip "Lao Futse." Wang, who lives in Hong Kong, was the only guest invited to attend from overseas. He presented the award to Chien Chang-yuan, art editor of the Home Decoration Magazine.

A special award was presented to Liang Tsai-ping for his continuous effort in promoting the music of the chin (zither). Quality Recording Awards were given to "Chinese Folk Music" volumes 12, 13, 14, and 15, "The Five Tone Flute (3)"; and a collection of Li Chien-fu's songs.

Yu Kuang-ching received the award for best lyrics for "Hearsay". Chen Yang's "Butterfly Dance" won top honors in the composition category, and Lu Chui-kuan won honors for his work on "Yellow River Boatman's Song."

The 1982 ceremony had two special features. Firstly, the awards were all presented by the older generation of the literary and art world, giving the audience and TV viewers a chance to see those people they have admired for so long. Secondly, all cash awards were donated by the winners to the Republic of China Copyright Association, to help in its fight against the pirating of books.

[Picture Caption]

1. The ceremony was closed by the Chung Hsing University and Tunhua Children's Choruses singing the "Golden Tripod Song." 2. Premier Sun Yun-suan attended the awards ceremony and expressed his encouragement and hopes for the publishing industry. 3. GIO General-Director James Soong commented that reading not only improves our individual lives but also beautifies society as a whole. 4. Yu Kuang-chung received the lyrics award. 5. Liang Chung-ming and Liang You-ming are twins and together presented the design award. 6. Ouyang Yuan-mei accepted the reporting award on behalf of the Central Daily News economics bureau. 7. A performance of modern dance preceded the presentation of recording awards.

1. A performance of "Hearsay", winner of the lyrics award. 2. Quality Recording Award winner, Li Chien-fu, thrilled the audience with a performance. 3. James Soong with winners in the magazine class. 4. Tribute to a year's work well done.

Left: Home Decoration Magazine won design honors. Right: Chinese Fairy Tales, an outstanding series of books.

Premier Sun Yun-suan attended the awards ceremony and expressed his encouragement and hopes for the publishing industry.

A performance of modern dance preceded the presentation of recording awards.

GIO General-Director James Soong commented that reading not only improves our individual lives but also beautifies society as a whole.

Yu Kuang-chung received the lyrics award.

Liang Chung-ming and Liang You-ming are twins and together presented the design award.

Ouyang Yuan-mei accepted the reporting award on behalf of the Central Daily News economics bureau.

A performance of "Hearsay", winner of the lyrics award.

Quality Recording Award winner, Li Chien-fu, thrilled the audience with a performance.

James Soong with winners in the magazine class.

Tribute to a year's work well done.

Home Decoration Magazine won design honors.

Chinese Fairy Tales, an outstanding series of books.