A Hundred Years of Sinicization: The Dissemination and Acceptance of Slovenian Literature in China

Abstract

In China, Slovenian literature is seen as part of Yugoslav literature within the wider framework of Eastern European literature, and its transmission and reception has spanned over a century. This process can be divided into three phases: before the mid-twentieth century, from the 1950s to the early twenty-first century, and from the second decade of the twenty-first century onwards. Each phase reflects shifts in China’s social, cultural and political landscape, which are reflected in different approaches to translation and cultural activities. In the first phase, Chinese readers viewed Slovenian literature as “literature of small nations,” resonating with its themes of social issues and national circumstances. In the second phase, Slovenian literature was regarded as “socialist literature” and “Third World literature,” with translations focusing on social struggles and achievements. In the third phase, Chinese scholars began to re-evaluate the diversity of Eastern European literature, and Slovenian literary works gradually gained influence in Chinese society. This paper explores the processes of translation, adaptation and cultural exchange of Slovenian literature in China highlighting its significant role in promoting cultural understanding between China and Slovenia. It also emphasizes the need for future efforts to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries in order to promote global cultural diversity.