Editor's note: There are hundreds of Western literary masterpieces translated and known in China, but Chinese classics, including Dream of the Red Chamber, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin and Journey to the West are hardly known or understood in the West. What do you think of China's classic literature? Forum readers share their opinions.
BlondeAmber (Ireland)
There are thousands of books published every year in the world, millions of books already published over the centuries. If China wants more of its literature known, it should translate it into other languages. I read translations of these four books and found them heavy going, akin to reading an 18th century novel (usually in more than one volume).
Screenshot from the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber".[Photo/IC] |
I’ve lived in China for quite a considerable time including my graduate school years, travelled and worked in a few cities and still choose my destination taking into consideration the density of smog or PM2.5 particulate matter in the region.