Chinese self-portrait

Author: Chen Jitong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: ; Content Summary:
In the history of the modern "Westernization of Chinese Learning," there are three Chinese authors whose works can truly be said to have been popular in the West:
They are Chen Jitong, Gu Hongming, and Lin Yutang. The three succeeded one another and were all from Fujian. Today, Gu and Lin are well-known and their works are widely read by scholars, while Chen Jitong remains obscure. This cannot be called anything but a neglect on the part of historians.
Chen Jitong studied in France and engaged in diplomatic work for nearly 20 years, proficient in multiple languages such as French, English, and Latin. He was hailed as the "first person in our country to study French literature" (as cited by Zeng Pu). He mainly wrote in French throughout his life, publishing numerous works that "received great praise from the French literary world." The French literary giant Frédéric Mistral praised his writing as "honest and light." His books were often reprinted multiple times and translated into other languages.
The Chinese Self-Portrait and The Chinese Joy are Chen Jitong's most important French works. The first one, in particular, was his breakthrough work. It was the first time he faced European readers, presenting his views on the social life of his own nation and the Sino-Western cultural exchange from the perspective of a Chinese person, thus pioneering the path for Chinese people to independently engage in such cultural exchange activities. Gu Hongming and Lin Yutang were both influenced by him. The two books were later published in English editions. This is the first time a Chinese translation of them has been published.