Thursday, September 28, 2000, updated at 14:04(GMT+8)
Life
First Batch of "Great China Anthology of Literary Works" Published
Having undergone a period of nearly hundred years in which the "western culture penetrated into China", the Chinese culture will likewise spread to the west in the new century. At the symposium for the publication of the Great China Anthology of Literary Works held Tuesday, scholars said China would for the first time like to introduce this anthology to the world.
Since Yan Fu began to introduce western classical writings to China in the early 20th century, China has done a big job in translating and importing many a western masterpieces, representing the western civilization. On the contrary, China's time-honored history and splendid culture have seldom been introduced to the world due to some historical reasons. In view of this, Press and Publication Administration initiated the compilation of the Great China Anthology of Literary Works. Ji Xianlin, Ren Jiyu, Jin Kaicheng, Yang Xianyi, Li Funing and other scholars serve as the academic consultants of the anthology with Foreign Languages Press, New World Press and Hunan People's Press participating in the work of compilation.
The Great China Anthology with both English and Chinese versions has selected 100 most influential and representative works from the classics of ancient China, ranging from the period of Spring and Autumn and Warring States to the modern times. The anthology include philosophy, religion, politics, economy, military, history, literature, science and technology, and it will present to the peoples of the world the civilization of China. The first batch of the books includes Analects of Confucius, Lao-tzu, Mencius, Lao Book of Master Chung and Apotheosis of Heroes, the Scholars, A Tale of Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marshes, A Dream of Red Mansions.
As reported the publication of English version of the Great China Anthology will be followed by French, German, Russian and Arabian with not only the translation of full texts but also the selected works..
At the symposium for the publication of the Great China Anthology of Literary Works held Tuesday, scholars said China would for the first time like to introduce this anthology to the world.