On the morning of April 3, 2026, Zhang Bing, Researcher at the Institute of Russian Culture, Peking University, Professor at the Institute of Foreign Literature and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and Yunshan Chief Expert, was invited to Shenzhen University to deliver a keynote lecture titled “The Meaning of Chinese Culture in Foreign Narratives.” The lecture was hosted by Professor Jiang Yuqin of the School of Humanities, Shenzhen University. Attendees included Professor Wang Chunjing, Associate Professor Yang Xiaoxia, Associate Professor Lin Yan, Associate Professor Zhou Junfeng, Associate Research Fellow Ou Yulong, and Dr. Guo Shuyu from the School of Humanities, as well as Assistant Professor Zhou Mingying from the School of Foreign Languages, along with PhD and master’s students in Comparative Literature.
Professor Zhang Bing argued that the foreign narrative of Chinese culture is essentially a process of continuous interpretation, elaboration, and even reconstruction in cross-civilizational communication. As Chinese culture spreads abroad, it generates new value and meaning, which not only contributes to the cultural development of the host countries but also manifests its own global significance and pluralistic values. Through four case studies, she specifically analyzed the narrative reconstruction and value generation of Chinese culture in Russia.
First, Professor Zhang Bing took as an example the case of the 18th-century Russian Enlightenment dramatist Denis Fonvizin, who introduced the Chinese classic The Great Learning through a French translation. She discussed how this Chinese original text acquired new value abroad. The famous line from The Great Learning—“The Way of the Great Learning lies in manifesting bright virtue, in loving the people, and in resting in perfect goodness”—was interpreted at the time as emphasizing rational enlightenment and individual happiness, thus serving as an intellectual catalyst for the Russian Enlightenment.
Second, Professor Zhang Bing noted that the transmission of classical Chinese novels also exhibits characteristics of foreign reconstruction. Zhuangzi’s Drumming on a Basin and Achieving the Great Dao from Feng Menglong’s Stories to Enlighten the World was the first Chinese novel to be introduced into Russia. Its core Daoist theme of "attaining immortality through enlightenment of the Dao" was rewritten by the translator. The ending, in which Zhuangzi remarries a young widow, was given a happy resolution. This adaptation not only incorporated Enlightenment ideals of human liberation but also aligned with popular aesthetics, endowing the work with new connotations.
Next, Professor Zhang Bing pointed out that in the avant-garde art of the Russian Silver Age, Chinese New Year prints became a source of inspiration for artistic innovation. Russian avant-garde painters drew nourishment from Chinese New Year prints, incorporating traditional elements such as “surplus year after year” (abundance) into their works. They adopted the vivid color styles of these prints, transforming them into an important component of avant-garde art and enriching their own artistic expression.
Finally, Professor Zhang Bing used the poem “Out of the East Gate” from the Zheng Airs (Classic of Poetry) as an example to analyze the new qualities endowed upon Chinese poetry through its transmission abroad. The Russian Symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont incorporated his own creative style into his translation of “Out of the East Gate,” adding new imagery and elements of Russian folk culture. As a result, the poem, originally expressing pure love, acquired Symbolist characteristics and became an extension of his personal creative work.
During the interactive session of the lecture, both faculty and students asked questions enthusiastically, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of academic exchange. Associate Professor Yang Xiaoxia sought Professor Zhang Bing’s advice on how to balance “fidelity” and “beauty” in translation, as well as how to borrow cultural imagery. Professor Zhang Bing suggested that translators should consider the specific context, attend to rhythmic and aesthetic qualities, and flexibly employ a variety of translation methods. Doctoral student Yuan Yi asked whether China had exerted cultural influence on countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries, and how one might go about demonstrating such influence. Professor Zhang Bing responded that one should base their analysis on facts and take an objective view of how foreign countries shape and interpret China’s image. Professor Jiang Yuqin sought Professor Zhang Bing’s advice on how students can deepen their understanding of foreign literature and culture, as well as how to determine a research topic for a thesis. Professor Zhang Bing emphasized the importance of “rooting in one’s own culture while facing the world,” choosing a topic of appropriate scope, focusing on the accumulation of primary sources, and cultivating a clear sense of research questions.
Professor Jiang Yuqin concluded the lecture, remarking that Professor Zhang Bing’s talk was insightful and multi-perspectival, offering an in-depth analysis of the dissemination, localized adaptation, and creative application of Chinese literature and art within Russian literary culture. The lecture came to a successful close amidst warm applause!
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