w88 casino News(Contributed by the International Chinese Education (Business) Practice and Research Base)On May 11, 2024, the Athens Business Confucius Institute at w88 casino and the Shanghai Writers Association jointly hosted a lecture with the theme "From Myth to Fantasy: The Imaginary Journey of Chinese Literature". This event aims to promote cultural exchanges between China and Greece and explore the rich imagination and far-reaching influence of Chinese literature.
Yan Hongwei, Chinese Director of the Athens Business Confucius Institute, and Ma Wenyun, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Writers Association, delivered speeches respectively.
Four outstanding writers from the Shanghai Writers Association gave wonderful sharings on Chinese mythological stories and their evolution in literary creation.
Ms. Cui Xin, chief editor of "Shanghai Literature" magazine, first shared the literary evolution of "The Legend of the White Snake", from the earliest "Li Huang" to "The White Snake Forever Towns Leifeng Pagoda" by Feng Menglong, to "The Green Snake" by modern writer Li Bihua and "The World" by Li Rui and his wife. She showed how this classic legend has been constantly reinterpreted and innovated across time and space.
The famous novelist Ms. Xu Lan expressed the connection between literature and time in poetic language. She mentioned the famous lines of the ancient Chinese poet Li Bai, and deeply discussed the descriptions of the sun, moon and stars in Chinese mythology, and how these elements are reflected and inherited in modern science fiction novels.
Mr. Lu Zheng, the vice president of "Grudge" magazine, took "Journey to the West" as an example and told how this work drew inspiration from real historical events and was reinterpreted in different forms in different eras, thus becoming a treasure in the treasure house of Chinese literature. He also recommended works such as Ma Boyong's "Taibai Venus Is a Little Annoyed" and Jin Hezai's "The Legend of Wukong", as well as the 1986 version of "Journey to the West" TV series and movie "Westward Journey", demonstrating the continued influence of "Journey to the West" in contemporary culture.
Mr. Yang Binhua, Director of the Writing Research Office of the Shanghai Writers Association, focused on the influence of Chinese mythological stories on modern and contemporary literature. He introduced in detail classic myths such as "Nuwa Mending the Sky", "Houyi Shoots the Sun" and "Chang'e Flying to the Moon", and explained how these stories inspired the creative inspiration of literary giants such as Lu Xun and Guo Moruo, and how they have a new life in contemporary literature.
During the exchange session, Costa Vitos, a student from the Athens Business Confucius Institute, asked: “Why do Chinese literature and mythology like to use the image of dragon so much?”
Director Yang Binhua replied: This question is very good. It involves the different understandings and symbolic meanings of dragons in Chinese and Western cultures. First of all, the Chinese dragon is not the same animal as the dragon described in Western stories. In Western culture, dragons are usually depicted as evil creatures, greedy and cruel, and are often associated with stories of heroic confrontation. In China, the image of the dragon is more complex and multifaceted. Chinese dragons can be kind or ferocious, but most of the time, they represent good fortune and strength, and are symbols of wisdom and authority. At the same time, Chinese dragons are very common in mythology and literature, and they are often endowed with various magical abilities and important roles. Chinese writers also like to use the image of dragons to enrich storylines and convey specific cultural values and moral implications. Finally, we are also proposing that in order to more accurately convey the unique cultural meaning of the Chinese dragon, it should not simply be translated as "dragon", but a special word, such as "long", should be created to specifically refer to the dragon in Chinese culture.
This lecture is not only a literary feast, but also a cultural exchange and collision. It not only allows Greek friends to have an in-depth understanding of the charm of Chinese literature, but also builds a bridge for mutual understanding and respect between the two cultures.
