78-year-old former diplomat dedicates self to cultural exchanges through Russian version of Chinese classics

Yao Peisheng Photo: Courtesy of China Translation and Publishing House

Photo: Courtesy of China Translation and Publishing House

 

At the age of 78, Yao Peisheng collaborated with a Russian poet to publish the Chinese-Russian bilingual edition of the book series Classics in Paintings this year. Comprising three volumes - The Book of Poetry in Paintings (The Book of Songs), Tang Poetry in Paintings, and Song Lyrics in Paintings, the series covers the most classical Chinese literary works.

To a casual observer, the septuagenarian's literary foray, his age notwithstanding, is marvelous. However, Yao is, in fact, a former ambassador whose three decades of diplomatic service and post-retirement passion for literature, translation, and the Chinese and Russian languages, have helped facilitate the dissemination of traditional Chinese cultural works overseas.  

Yao hopes that the joint efforts which saw the completion of the volumes will inspire fellow translators to unite and contribute their ideas and efforts to enhancing the quality and quantity of cultural exchanges.

"Cultural exchanges are the best way to promote friendship and peace among nations and ethnics. Despite the different areas and systems found in each country's culture, the themes and orientations advocating for friendliness, trust, and showcasing positive images are consistent," Yao told the Global Times.

This belief has also been the driving force behind his commitment to promoting Chinese-Russian cultural exchanges after dedicating over 30 years to diplomatic service.

Bilingual works

The Book of Songs, Tang Poetry, and Song Lyrics stand as eminent representatives of ancient Chinese poetry. The bilingual edition of the book series Classics in Paintings, is expected to serve as a gateway for Russian-speaking readers and Chinese-Russian language enthusiasts to delve deeper into the artistry, inspiration, and techniques of ancient Chinese poets.

To enhance comprehension, annotations are added below many translated works. Accompanying the works are exquisite illustrations of classical and modern styles created by renowned artists, including the late prominent painter Chen Peiqiu.

After six years of dedicated effort, scholars from China and Russia collaborated to translate over 300 classical Chinese poems, with around a hundred poems in each volume. Among these, the Song Lyrics in Paintings filled a gap in Russian translations of Song Lyrics, serving as the first such collection, Yao noted.

According to Yao, although Russian and other former Soviet Sinologists have been translating and introducing Chinese culture since the early 18th century, the complexity of the Chinese language and discrepancies in their understanding of the original texts often led to vague, inaccurate, or even incorrect translations. 

Looking ahead, Yao aspires to complete a comprehensive translation of The Book of Songs, which is China's earliest collection of poetry and shows grass-roots people's longing for a peaceful and happy life. 

According to Yao, only a hundred out of the 305 poems from The Book of Songs have been translated so far, leaving 205 more to be translated. Once accomplished, a new translation will open new possibilities for the in-depth study of classical Chinese literature and facilitate Chinese language learning for Russian readers.

Additionally, he plans to review the translated works of Song Lyrics, rearranging the current format which doesn't distinguish between poems and lyrics. He acknowledges the inherent challenges and intends to consult with colleagues to overcome them. 

Yao continues to indulge in his habit of reading and learning even today. During the interview with the Global Times, Yao pulled out well-thumbed old books from his backpack. 

His passion for literature and cultural exchanges has remained consistent, as attested to by his extensive diplomatic career.

Diplomatic journey

Yao embarked on his diplomatic journey in 1973, and has served as the Chinese ambassador to four former Soviet republics such as Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Kazakhstan. He retired in 2006.

Recalling his tenure, Yao cited an example in 2002, when the first China Culture Day was held in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, to celebrate a decade of China-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations. The event showcased drawings from the Beijing Art Academy and featured spectacular troupe performances, captivating local audiences with Chinese culture.

During his ambassadorial tenure in Kazakhstan, he narrated the story of Xian Xinghai, a Chinese composer, who, during World War II, found refuge in Kazakhstan and contributed significantly to the country's national music. Led by Yao, the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan compiled a commemorative volume, featuring speeches from leaders of both countries and works from prominent individuals, to honor Xian's legacy.

Yao was born in a rural village near the Yangtze River in Taicang, East China's Jiangsu Province. Both of his parents were farmers. 

He began learning Russian in junior high school in 1958 and has maintained his language fluency since. To this day, Yao keeps up the practice of reading in Russian.

In 1964, Yao pursued Russian language studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. This extensive linguistic background, from secondary to tertiary education, laid a strong foundation for his future diplomatic career. In early 1973, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was dispatched to the Chinese Embassy in the former Soviet Union, starting his decades long diplomatic career.

In the future, Yao plans to extensively promote the three translated works in Russian-speaking regions abroad. Additionally, he intends to discuss the possibility of translating the three books into other languages. Such translation work would encompass a total of eight languages, five spoken in Central Asian countries, and three in Baltic states. 

"I believe that this endeavor holds significant value as it offers a new pathway for local readers to understand and study classical Chinese literary works in their native languages," Yao said. He also admitted that "undertaking such a project requires time and comprehensive support."