Poland is a unique country, and the Chinese know way too little about it, says journalist Du Jing, the author of China’s first publication entirely devoted to contemporary Polish culture
The book whose original title, Wo, wenhua Bolan translates as I, the Polish Culture is a result of Du Jing’s eight years of regular travels to Poland. During these journeys, she carried out various interviews and talks with Polish artists and politicians, and gathered numerous photographs. But Du Jing’s fascination with the country goes a long way back. At the official book launch evening in China’s southern city of Kanton, she commented:
I first felt this curiosity as a child, when my parents would listen to Chopin. I asked them, who is the author of this music, what country does he come from?
Du Jing’s interest deepened in 2011, at the time of Poland’s presidency of the EU council. Throughout the second half of that year, a special cultural programme prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute ushered in a roster of events presenting Poland’s rich and fascinating culture and art in countries as distant as China. Hence the title of Du Jing’s book, which draws on one of the Institute’s flagship projects, I, CULTURE.
Marcin Jacoby, the manager of Project Asia from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute said that throughout the presidency Du Jing was invited to all the events organised in Beijing, and did attend all of them, writing up reviews for China’s major press titles. According to Jacoby, Du’s book, as a project authored, initiated and produced by the Chinese has a much better chance of reaching Chinese readers than any Polish endevours that attempt to promote Polish culture.
Jacoby explained:
Should the book get translated into Polish, it would not find too large a readership. But written as it is for the Chinese public, in a rather Chinese manner, it has a large potential over there. (...) It is not the first book about Poland to come out in Chinese, but it is the first one to deal with a contemporary Poland.
According to Du Jing, this kind of a book is a significant read for the Chinese, since, as they condsider Poland to be a small country, they are very often unaware of the richness of its culture. Du also points to the differences between Poland and countries of western Europe:
Europe’s true heart is located in Poland. Poland was always subject to cultural exchange with its neighbours, but it maintained its distinct character. What makes Poland different from other European countries is a particular trait: bravery and courage in face of trouble. The difference lies in this courage and the ability to survive. Thanks to this, Polish culture is indestrucible.
In a volume of nearly 400 pages, Du presents the major genres of Polish art, from architecture and painting, through music, theatre and the cinema, to fashion, Polish cuisine and jewelry making. She also touches upon historic and political themes and Polish-Chinese relations.
Wo, wenhua Bolan is illustrated with photographs of Poles and iconic tourist destinations such as the Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square) in Warsaw, the salt mine in Wieliczka and the medieval Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. The author’s intention is to build a bridge between the Chinese and Polish nations as well as insitgate an interest and desire to visit Poland amond the book’s readers.
The publication of the book benefited from the financial support of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Editor: SRS
Source: press release