Culture

Egyptian stories about Chinese culture

By Mai Ashour ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2016-01-26 14:54:24

In January 2015 I went to Xi'an, and met Fang Yingwen, a Chinese writer and calligrapher. What really touched me is that he brought me some special food, and I remember he told me that it was from Huimin Street (it is a famous attraction in Xi'an,full of Chinese Muslim restaurants) and that strongly emphasized how Chinese respect others' beliefs, thoughts and traditions.

Last summer I had a cultural discussion with my teacher at the Chinese Academy Of Social Sciences (CASS). One of the themes we discussed was marriage customs in China and Egypt. I discovered many similarities between both countries and how family ties are important and strong in China.

"Chinese literature touched me," "Chinese people have deep and warm feelings." "Chinese people deeply value family relations as we do". These were the remarks made by some readers after reading Chinese poetry and short stories I had translated from Chinese into Arabic. I do believe that literature reflects society and culture, and helps people know more about other nations. Two months ago, I published some poems for Wang Guozhen in different Arabic magazines. I totally did not expect that readers would be fascinated by his poems that way. It was very interesting for them to read modern poems that reflect modern Chinese thinking.

What I can tell is that Egyptians are attracted, interested and fascinated with Chinese culture and literature, because they touch something real, deep, ancient and similar to their civilization and culture.

 

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