Conference: Cultural translation needed to extend TCM’s global reach

The voices of traditional Chinese culture, and in particular that of TCM, should be heard and understood by more people around the world, said Zhao Yanchun, professor of Shanghai University, at a symposium on Chinese cultural promotion held in Beijing on July 13.

The precedent-setting academic event gathered around 400 professionals and experts in the circles of traditional Chinese medicine, cultural translation and international communication.

The conference established the Committee of Translation and International Promotion of Traditional Chinese Culture (COTIP) to push translation and the "going global" of traditional culture, with TCM culture as a core.

Zhang Wangxi, vice-president of Beijing Language and Culture University, addresses the conference.

Scholars exchanged views on the current challenges and prospects of translation and international promotion of TCM.

Wang Binhua, professor at the University of Leeds, stressed that differences in languages, cultural backgrounds and thinking methods bring difficulties to international promotion of TCM theories and culture. Cultural connotations should be given enough consideration in the translation of medical materials.

According to Shelley Ochs, an American specialist in TCM, culture is an important way to spread scientific research results. Medical translation should provide the target audience with a sense of cultural identity, and all translated terms must be both reasonable in accuracy and appealing.

The conference was co-sponsored by Beijing Language and Culture University and the COTIP. The second symposium will be held at Southwest Jiaotong University in 2020.