Int'l Students Translate Renowned Chinese Poem into 16 Languages

As a tribute to XU Zhimo (1897-1931), one of the most renowned romantic poets of 20th-century Chinese literature, 19 international students at Zhejiang University have translated his poem “Ouran” (literally “By Chance”) into 16 languages.

From left to right: Rocco Forgione, Franciele Kavafara Pires, Sascha Thomas Athey

Franciele Kavafara Pires, a 25-year-old Brazilian student and an avid reader of this free-thinking poet, initiated the translation activity. When she proposed the idea for commemorating the 86th anniversary of XU’s death, it gained tremendous support from her fellow students.

Majoring in Chinese literature, Italian student Rocco Forgione had heard of XU long ago but never read his poems in the Chinese language. Inspired by Franciele, he also decided to translate "Ouran" into Italian.

“I really appreciate the rhythmic beauty of XU Zhimo’s poetry. When you read his poem, you feel as if being intoxicated by a lovely melody,” Rocco said.

White marble with lines from "On Leaving Cambridge", located in King's College, Cambridge

Before coming to ZJU, British student Sascha Thomas Athey studied Chinese History at the University of Oxford. One of his favorites is XU’s best-known poem “On Leaving Cambridge".

At the University of Cambridge, there is a stone of white marble at the Backs of King's College on which this poem is inscribed. "It is really beautiful,” said Sascha.

The following lines were taken from "Ouran" ("By Chance"), widely interpreted as a love poem:

“You have your direction and I have mine.

Remember if you will.

Better yet if you forget.

The bright light we have exchanged in our encounter.”

Franciele found these lines the very depiction of her state of mind. ZJU seems a magnet for a galaxy of students from various countries. Here they study Chinese culture together and befriend each other. However, after this short encounter, they will head for different destinations. As the years roll on, they might still remember or start to forget each other, but this encounter will always be fantastic.

The students' translations

With a keen interest in Chinese culture, most participants in this translation activity are enrolled in the Master’s Program of China Studies based at ZJU’s International Campus in Haining, where the poet was born. The students spent five days completing this mini translation project.

XU Zhimo

After graduating from Hangzhou High School, XU Zhimo went to Peking, Clark, and Columbia universities, where he studied law, history, and economics respectively. While in King's College of Cambridge, he fell in love with English romantic poetry, including works of Keats and Shelley. On November 19, 1931, XU was killed in an airplane crash on the way from Nanjing to Beijing. Despite his short life, XU left a profound influence on Chinese poetry by reshaping it under the influences of Western poetry and the vernacular Chinese language.