UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and Irish Institute for Chinese Studies successfully hosted “International Forum on Exchange and Development of Chinese-Irish Literature”
To mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland, the first “Literature in Dialogue & Mutual Learning among Civilizations—International Forum on Exchange and Development of Chinese-Irish Literature” was held at the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland from 15 to 19 July 2024. The conference was jointly hosted by UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and UCD Irish Institute for Chinese Studies, and co-organised by the School of Foreign Languages of Renmin University of China and Global Literature Today of Beijing Normal University.
H.E. He Xiangdong, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, and Professor Dolores O’Riordan, Vice-President of UCD, attended the opening ceremony of the forum, which chaired by Professor Wang Liming, Director of UCD Irish Institute for Chinese Studies. Ambassador He Xiangdong pointed out that the exchange of culture and literature should be and must be two-way. This forum would build a cultural bridge between China and Ireland, helping Chinese and European people understand each other’s history and literature, and contributing to enhancing the friendship between the two countries. Professor O’Riordan expressed that this forum would be a celebration of Irish culture including its literature and poetry. This event would be very much in line with UCD’s vision and strategy, which aims to bring the best of the world to Ireland and bring the best of Ireland including its distinct cultures to the world. The forum is a very important bridge in building connections between China and Ireland beyond academic work.
56 experts, scholars and PhD candidates from China, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore attended the forum. With the theme of “Literature in Dialogue & Mutual Learning among Civilizations”, the forum had in-depth discussions on China and Ireland from the perspective of world literature, the comparative study of Chinese and Irish literature, Irish novels in the eyes of Chinese scholars, and Chinese translations and studies of Irish plays.
From 17 to 19 July, cultural salons were held at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MOLI), James Joyce Centre, James Joyce Tower and Museum and the National Library of Ireland. The salons are based on “The Literariness of Contemporary Chinese-Irish Writing”, “The Perspective of Chinese Scholars on Joyce and Modern Irish Literature”, “Joyce and Contemporary Irish Literature in China”, “Irish Literature and Chinese Literature”, exploring the artistic value of Irish literature and its far-reaching influence on world literature. The salons reveal the development of Chinese-Irish literature interaction by sharing the history of translation and reception of Irish writers and works in China and their influence on contemporary Chinese literature.
China and Ireland have maintained friendly and cooperative relations since the establishment of their bilateral diplomatic relations, with close economic and cultural exchanges. Both countries have proud literary traditions, playing important roles in world literature. Since the 18th century, images, portrayals, and representations of China have continuously entered Irish literature; Irish poets and writers such as Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney have had significant influence on modern and contemporary Chinese literature. Chinese scholars have also made unique contributions to the study of Irish literature worldwide. We encourage the ongoing partnership between Chinese and Irish writers and academics in the 21st century, as they bolster exchanges, deepen mutual learning, and contribute to shared prosperity and development.
The successful organisation of the literature forum and cultural salons not only built a valuable platform for the literary interaction between China and Ireland, but also contributed to promoting mutual understanding and respect between the two cultures. In the future, with the organisation of similar activities, it is believed that Chinese-Irish literary interaction will go into a more glorious chapter.
都柏林大学孔子学院与爱尔兰中国研究院成功举办中国-爱尔兰文学交流与发展国际论坛
正值中国、爱尔兰建交45周年之际， 2024年7月15-19日首届“ 文学对话与文明互鉴：中国-爱尔兰文学交流与发展国际论坛” 在爱尔兰都柏林大学孔子学院举行。论坛由都柏林大学孔子学院、都柏林大学爱尔兰中国研究院主办，中国人民大学外国语学院、北京师范大学《今日世界文学》杂志社协办。
中国驻爱尔兰大使何向东阁下，都柏林大学副校长Dolores O’Riordan教授出席论坛，爱尔兰中国研究院院长王黎明教授主持了开幕仪式。何向东大使指出，文化和文化交流是双向的，本次论坛将成为中爱之间的文化桥梁，帮助中国和欧洲人民了解彼此的历史和文学，为增进两国友谊作出积极贡献。 O'Riordan教授表示，本次论坛作为一场盛大的爱尔兰文化庆典，聚焦于爱尔兰文学的璀璨成果。这一盛事紧密契合了都柏林大学倡导的跨文化交流理念，旨在促进不同文化间的相互理解。它不仅是一次学术交流，更是构筑起中爱两国学术互鉴与文化共鸣的重要桥梁。
来自中国、英国、美国和新加坡的56名专家、学者和博士生出席了论坛。本次论坛以“文学对话与文明互鉴”为主题，与会代表就世界文学视野中的中国与爱尔兰、中国与爱尔兰文学比较研究 、中国学者眼中的爱尔兰小说研究 、爱尔兰戏剧的中文翻译与研究等议题进行了深入研讨。
7月17-19日，论坛分别在爱尔兰文学博物馆、詹姆斯•乔伊斯博物馆、詹姆斯•乔伊斯塔楼博物馆、爱尔兰国家图书馆举行文化主题沙龙。沙龙以“中国-爱尔兰当代写作的文学性”、“中国学者眼中的乔伊斯和爱尔兰现代文学”、“乔伊斯与爱尔兰当代文学在中国”、“爱尔兰文学与中国文学”为主题，从多个角度探讨爱尔兰文学的艺术价值及其对世界文学的深远影响。通过分享乔伊斯、叶芝等作家和作品在中国的译介历程、接受情况及对当代中国文学创作的影响，揭示了中爱文学交流的历史脉络与未来趋势。
中爱两国自建交以来，一直保持着友好合作关系，双方经贸往来密切，文化交流频繁。两国拥有引以为傲的文学传统，都在世界文学领域中有着举足轻重的地位。18世纪以来，中国元素源源不断进入爱尔兰文学；王尔德、萧伯纳、乔伊斯、贝克特、希尼等爱尔兰诗人和作家对中国现当代文学发展产生过重要影响；而中国学界亦为世界的爱尔兰文学研究做出了独特贡献。两国文学创作和学术将赓续前缘，加强交流互鉴，促进共同繁荣发展。
此次文学论坛和文化沙龙的成功举办，不仅为中爱两国文学界搭建了一个宝贵的交流平台，也为促进两国文化的相互理解和尊重作出了积极贡献。未来，随着更多类似活动的举办，相信中爱文学交流将迎来更加辉煌的篇章。
撰稿：师艺荣、谢江南 摄影：James Zhao