Taofen Foundation of China

The Taofen Foundation of China (韬奋基金会) is the only nationwide public-interest foundation in the People's Republic of China dedicated to the press and publishing sector. It is named after Zou Taofen (邹韬奋, 1895–1944), the celebrated journalist, publisher and political commentator whose career included editing Life Weekly (《生活》周刊) and founding the Life Bookstore (生活书店). The foundation was established in September 1986 in Shanghai on the initiative of twelve figures from the press, publishing, cultural and educational circles, including Hu Yuzhi, Xia Yan, Ye Shengtao, Lu Dingyi and Ba Jin. In December 2011 its headquarters moved to Beijing. Its supervising authority is the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The foundation works across four broad areas. First, it preserves and studies the Taofen spirit and cultural legacy, commissioning and publishing works about him, holding academic seminars, and researching his life, journalistic and publishing activities and their contemporary value. Second, it cultivates and recognizes press and publishing talent: it co-organizes the Taofen Publishing Award (韬奋出版奖), the highest honor in China's publishing industry, together with the Publishers Association of China; it hosts the "Taofen Cup" National Book Editing and Proofreading Competition (韬奋杯全国图书编校大赛) on behalf of the National Press and Publication Administration; and it runs the Taofen Publishing Talent Development Forum and specialized editorial training courses. Third, it conducts research and practice around nationwide reading. It has created secondary branches and special funds, launched the journals 《阅读与成才》 and 《社区文化》, and takes part in the National Reading Conference, hosting the National Reading Research Forum and book-donation programs such as "书香暖神州". Its National Reading Book Donation Project, established in 2013, has donated books to public reading platforms in ethnic minority areas, old revolutionary base areas and less-developed regions across all 31 provincial-level divisions of China. Fourth, as a charitable organization it engages in social responsibility work, including poverty alleviation, epidemic response and disaster relief. The foundation is headquartered at Building 10, No. 135 Beilishilu, Xicheng District, Beijing, and publishes annual work reports and audited financial reports. Its public-facing activities include the Taofen Publishing Talent Development Forum, the National Reading Research Forum, the "书店之选" (Bookstore Choice) awards, and a range of donation and reading-promotion projects.

The Taofen Foundation of China takes its name from Zou Taofen (邹韬奋, 1895–1944), born Zou Enrun in Fujian and rooted in Yujiang, Jiangxi. Zou was a leading cultural warrior, patriot, publisher and journalist of modern China. He graduated from St. John's University in Shanghai in 1921, became head of the editorial department of the Chinese Vocational Education Society in 1922, and in October 1926 took over as editor-in-chief of Life Weekly (《生活》周刊), turning it into a widely read current-affairs publication. In 1932 he founded the Life Bookstore (生活书店), which published large numbers of progressive books and journals. He was forced into exile abroad in 1933, returned in 1935 to launch 《大众生活》, founded 《生活日报》 in Hong Kong in 1936, was arrested in the same year with six other Shanghai cultural leaders in the "Seven Gentlemen Incident", launched 《抗战》 in 1937, and edited 《全民抗战》 in 1938. He died in Shanghai on 24 July 1944. The foundation itself was established in September 1986 in Shanghai, initiated by twelve figures from the press, publishing, cultural and educational circles, among them Hu Yuzhi, Xia Yan, Ye Shengtao, Lu Dingyi and Ba Jin. It describes itself as the only nationwide public-interest foundation in China's press and publishing sector, and its supervising authority is the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. In December 2011 its headquarters were relocated from Shanghai to Beijing. Over the following decades the foundation built a portfolio of activities around the Taofen legacy. It commissions and publishes works on the Taofen spirit, holds academic seminars, and studies his life, journalistic and publishing work and the modern publishing history he represents. It co-organizes the Taofen Publishing Award (韬奋出版奖), described as the highest award in China's publishing sector, together with the Publishers Association of China, and on behalf of the National Press and Publication Administration it hosts the "Taofen Cup" National Book Editing and Proofreading Competition (职工组). It also runs the Taofen Publishing Talent Development Forum and editorial and publishing training courses, and cooperates with sister associations and publishing and cultural institutions on talent-development activities. On reading promotion, the foundation has created secondary branches and special funds, launched the journals 《阅读与成才》 and 《社区文化》, and participates in the National Reading Conference, hosting the National Reading Research Forum and book-donation programs such as "书香暖神州". Its National Reading Book Donation Project, set up in 2013, has donated books to public reading platforms in ethnic minority areas, old revolutionary base areas and less-developed regions across all 31 provincial-level divisions of China. The foundation also frames its work within charitable and social responsibility goals, citing contributions to nationwide reading, poverty alleviation, epidemic response and disaster relief. It publishes annual work reports and audited financial reports, and maintains its office at Building 10, No. 135 Beilishilu, Xicheng District, Beijing.

• 2013

  The National Reading Book Donation Project is established.

• 2011

  The foundation's headquarters move from Shanghai to Beijing in December.

• 1986

  The Taofen Foundation is established in September in Shanghai on the initiative of twelve press, publishing, cultural and educational figures.

• 1944

  Zou Taofen dies in Shanghai on 24 July.

• 1932

  Zou Taofen founds the Life Bookstore (生活书店).

• 1926

  Zou Taofen becomes editor-in-chief of Life Weekly (《生活》周刊).

• 1895

  Zou Taofen (Zou Enrun) is born on 5 November in Fujian, with ancestral roots in Yujiang, Jiangxi.

China's only nationwide public-interest foundation in the press and publishing sector, combining publishing-talent recognition, nationwide reading promotion and charitable donation programs.

• Taofen Publishing Award

  Described by the foundation as the highest award in China's publishing sector, organized jointly with the Publishers Association of China.

• "Taofen Cup" National Book Editing and Proofreading Competition

  Hosted by the foundation on behalf of the National Press and Publication Administration (staff group).

• Taofen Publishing Talent Development Forum

  A recurring forum on publishing talent development; the 15th edition was announced for 2026.

• National Reading Research Forum

  Held as part of the National Reading Conference, co-organized with the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication and China Press and Publication Media Group.

• National Reading Book Donation Project

  Established in 2013; donates books to public reading platforms in ethnic minority areas, old revolutionary base areas and less-developed regions.

• Journals 《阅读与成才》 and 《社区文化》

  Two journals founded by the foundation in service of nationwide reading.

1. 1韬奋基金会官网首页taofenfoundation.com
2. 2韬奋简介_韬奋基金会taofenfoundation.com
3. 3基金会简介_韬奋基金会taofenfoundation.com
4. 4年度报告_韬奋基金会taofenfoundation.com
5. 5Wikidata: TAOFEN FOUNDATION OF CHINAwikidata.org
6. 6维基百科：韬奋基金会zh.wikipedia.org