May 24, 2012

A while ago I learnt from an MCLC post that the Spring issue of wienzeile, a magazine for literature, art and politics, published in Austria would feature Chinese contemporary literature and art. Given my interest in Chinese literature, and that in translation, I applied for a free copy which just arrived in the post.

The issue themed ‘mit dem kopf durch die chinesische mauer’ 橫穿長城的頭顱 from a poem by Liu Jixin, contains works by writers from the PRC and Taiwan, including Hsia Yu, Yan Jun, Hung Hung, Zheng Xiaoqiong, Yu Jian, Ma Lan, Qi Ge, Wu Yinning, Lin Weifu, Tong Yali, Pang Pei and Liao Yiwu. All translated into German and many of them printed with the Chinese original.

The violent image on the front cover, see illustration here, is art by Linda Bilda from Vienna. According to Martin Winter, translator of most of the pieces in this issue, the editorial team was originally divided about the cover. Eventually the view of a prominent Chinese author (included in this issue) who said it represented ‘Heutiges China’ (China today) settled it.

The magazine was official launched on 17 May in Vienna, with a live performance by poet and artist Yan Jun. For more information about the magazine, see website: http://wienzeile.cc/magazin/62/.

Written by: Audrey

March 14, 2012

Every week the Chinese Civilisation Centre contributes an article to the Chinese language newspaper Wen Wei Po. The topics of the articles include Chinese culture, heritage, history, literature etc. Given the pro-PRC nature of the newspaper, the contents should not contain sensitive issues or anything provocative.

Some of the articles are written by teaching staff of the Centre who share their latest research results, but most are accounts of the lectures by visiting scholars. Take for instance the article of 26 February 2012, which is based on the lecture ‘Between Loyalty and Treachery: Yan Song and Emperor Jiajing’ (see online version  忠奸之間：嚴嵩與嘉靖皇帝) by Lee Cheuk-yin, Professor at the National University of Singapore. This is an interesting historical probe into whether the Grand Secretary Yan Song was as evil and cunning as he is usually depicted.

Another recent article which was published on 4 March is ‘Behind the Glamour: Cultural Significance of Qing-dynasty Imperial Dress’ (see online version 華彩的背後－清代宮廷服飾的文化內涵) based on a lecture by Yan Yong, Research Fellow at the Palace Museum. This is very informative about the robes of the emperor, and the rules on what he should wear on which occasion and why.

If you are interested in the newspaper, please visit: Wen Wei Po. For more background information on this and other media in Hong Kong, you may wish to read ch. 5 ‘Media Structure and Regime Change in Hong Kong’ by Chin-Chuan Lee, in The Challenge of Hong Kong’s Reintegration with China, edited by Ming K. Chan (Hong Kong University Press, 1997).

Written by: Audrey