The Newman Prize for Chinese Literature was established in 2008 by Peter Gries, director of the Institute for US-China Issues at the University of Oklahoma (OU).

The winner is selected based on literary merit; any living author writing in Chinese is eligible for a recommendation.

Nominations for candidates and the selection of the winner are both handled by an international jury of what OU describes as "distinguished experts."

The Director of the OU Institute for US-China Issues counts the ballots to record each round of votes.

The jury will continue voting until it narrows to one candidate, the winner.