Dante in modern Chinese culture

The Divine Comedy is one of the most translated works by an Italian author and as a result it has spread throughout the world. Even the distant Republic of China appreciates the writing of Dante.

The Divine Comedy is really a universal work. Writers and academics from all over the world have come closer to this reading and, having analyzed and translated his poetry, gave a personal interpretation and found parallels between the Italian culture at the time of Dante and the Chinese nation.

A Chinese translation of the Divine Comedy. 

The Divine Comedy and the Rising Sun

The echo of the charm of the Divine Comedy has gone even as far as China. Although the interest in the work is relatively recent, Chinese intellectuals and cultural institutions have promoted Mandarin collective readings and published essays about depth analysis of the versi that are curious.

In the first half of the twentieth century, the presence of Dante in Chinese writings is infrequent. Among the first ones to appear are poet Xin Luoma (New Rome) and Chinese writer Liang Qichao, published in 1902.

Chinese poet Xin Luoma.

Dante: a prophet, poet

Other references are routed to the presentation of the historical figure of Dante, especially those admired in Chinese literature as a poet, prophet, soul, and father of the Italian nation.

Next to the exaltation of his patriotism, the image of Dante is emblematic for being a celebrator of love as a superior feeling, pure and ethereal. In fact there are frequently references to Beatrice in the poems of Xu Zhimo and those of Yin Fu. The latter, also called his beloved “Beatrice of the East”.

Chinese poet Xu Zhimo.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, not only Dante, but also the Divine Comedy, became more appreciated. It is in those years, in fact, appears the first complete translation of the work - from the French version - edited by Wang Weike. For the original Italian version we would have to wait until 2000, when Tian Dewang published his translation.

The Divine Comedy in Chinese painting

References to the Divine Comedy are found not only in the Chinese literature, but also in the arts. In 2006 three Chinese artists had painted the picture Discussing the Divine Comedy with Dante. The painting represents a hypothetical group where there are many characters, Eastern and Western, with several references to the symbolism and metaphorical world.

A Chinese painter interprets Dante and his world as Chinese. 

Despite the diversity, and sometimes the incompatibility between the Italian and Chinese culture, we note the recognition of Dante's masterpiece is still modern, adaptable and appreciated by readers all over the world, including those in China.By Selena Zamarian