Over the last few months a number of reporters have e-mailed to ask about the state of Chinese literature in translation, particularly in light of Mo Yan's winning the 2012 Nobel Prize for Literature. But most cite just a handful of authors and works in their questions--- and Shanghai Baby, translated by yours truly over a … Continue reading Chinese Fiction in Translation: Novels/Novellas with “Ethnic” Theme
Mo Yan’s Nobel and Chinese Fiction Exports: Time to “Serve the Reader”?
Resting on translation Professor Xie Tianzhen’s desk is a recent dissertation by one of his students, ‘The Dream of the Red Chamber’: A Century of English Translations. It documents the strong preference of Western readers for David Hawke’s edition, though Chinese specialists consider it flawed compared to the more accurate version by Yang Xianyi and … Continue reading Mo Yan’s Nobel and Chinese Fiction Exports: Time to “Serve the Reader”?
“The Shepherd’s Dream”: An Excerpt from Alai’s “King Gesar”
Several years ago, UK publisher Canongate commissioned contemporary ethnic Tibetan writer Alai to pen his own creative version of the King Gesar saga. The plan: to launch Alai's King Gesar (格萨尔王, 阿来著) as part of its global Myth Series, joining other creatively re-told tales including The Penelopiad (Margaret Atwood’s take on Penelope of The Odyssey), Baba Yaga Laid an Egg (Baba Yaga as … Continue reading “The Shepherd’s Dream”: An Excerpt from Alai’s “King Gesar”
Thoreau’s “Walden”, Translator Li Jihong and the Missing Aliens
As the sun sets here in Antalya, Turkey, by now the controversial English-to-Chinese translator Li Jihong (李继宏, below) should already have delivered his speech today at the Shanghai Book Festival, entitled " 经典何以需要新译？" (“Why do the classics need new translations?) His spiel was part of the official launch event for his newest translation, 《瓦尔登湖》(Thoreau's Walden). … Continue reading Thoreau’s “Walden”, Translator Li Jihong and the Missing Aliens
“Tibet Code”: China’s New Imaginary
In Inventing Chinese Mass Tourism to Tibet, we see the creative marketing of China's Tibet moving into high gear: The most recent and most spectacular staging of Tibetan history and culture, specifically intended for tourist consumption, was announced in 2013. Three mass entertainment companies combined in 2013 to turn the best selling Chinese fantasy book … Continue reading “Tibet Code”: China’s New Imaginary
“Het laatste kwartier van de maan”: Launching August 20
If you don't know Chinese and prefer not to read Chi Zijian's classic <额尔古纳河右岸> about the twilight of the Evenki in English later this year you can enjoy it in Dutch---Het laatse kwartier van de maan. It will be available from The House of Books beginning the latter part of August 2013. But please note: … Continue reading “Het laatste kwartier van de maan”: Launching August 20
Chutzpah!: Latest Issue Devoted to Writers of non-Han Descent
Good news from the bimonthly Chinese literary magazine Chutzpah! (天南): the latest edition (Issue 14) is devoted entirely to writing by authors of non-Han descent. Several languages are involved here—most are published in Chinese, but some were written in other tongues and then translated into Chinese, while one has been rendered in English. The latter … Continue reading Chutzpah!: Latest Issue Devoted to Writers of non-Han Descent
Au Tibet, les conflits sanglants entre Christ et Bouddha
Dans Au Tibet, les conflits sanglants entre Christ et Bouddha, Bertrand Mialaret nous signale un roman et un événement actuels qui traitent sur l'histoire des religions au tibet du XIXe siècle: Un livre et une exposition sont centrés sur les conflits sanglants entre le Christ et Bouddha à la frontière du Yunnan chinois et du Tibet. Deux … Continue reading Au Tibet, les conflits sanglants entre Christ et Bouddha
Caixin’s “Day in the Life of a Beijing Black Guard”: Straight out of “Champa the Driver”
In January 2013, Beijing-based Chan Koonchung’s novel The Unbearable Dreamworld of Champa the Driver (《裸 命》, 陈冠中) was published in Chinese in Hong Kong. The closing chapter recounts how a young, naïve Tibetan chauffeur from Lhasa proudly takes his first job in the capital, working in what he refers to as “Preserving Stability Hotel” (维稳宾馆). … Continue reading Caixin’s “Day in the Life of a Beijing Black Guard”: Straight out of “Champa the Driver”
Chi Zijian, la mort des shamans et des éleveurs de rennes
Bertrand Mialaret examine la traduction anglaise du roman chinois de Chi Zijian, Last Quarter of the Moon (额尔古纳河右岸, 迟子建著), l'histoire de la crépuscule des Evenki dans la dernière partie du XXe siècle (l'article français en entier): Les Evenki ont de l’amour pour leurs rennes qui sont beaucoup plus qu’un troupeau, presque des partenaires. « In my eyes, … Continue reading Chi Zijian, la mort des shamans et des éleveurs de rennes
Altaic Storytelling 