Last Wednesday, the series was launched in Beijing Understanding Chinese Classicsorganized by Edições de Línguas Estrangeiras and supported by the Brazilian Embassy in China. The works The Analects of Confucius, Daodejing e The Immortal of Southern China: A Cultural Reading of the Zhuangzitranslated by Brazilian sinologist Giorgio Sinedino, seek to bring Brazilians closer to the rich Chinese cultural heritage.
Sinedino highlighted that translating Chinese classics requires not only in-depth knowledge of the language, but also an understanding of the works’ ideological connotations and social context. He consulted comments from philosophers such as Zhu Xi, from the Southern Song dynasty, to enrich the translation and ensure that the Brazilian public could access the content in its essence.
For decades, Chinese literature was translated into Portuguese from other languages, such as English and French, which often undermined fidelity to the original text. Sinedino’s project breaks this barrier, offering direct translations that better reflect the depth of classical Chinese culture.
The editor-in-chief of the China International Communications Group, Gao Anming, highlighted that the translations open a new door for Brazilian readers to explore the richness of Chinese culture, strengthening exchanges between the two countries. China and Brazil also announced 2026 as the China-Brazil Year of Culture, reaffirming their commitment to expanding cultural ties.
Zhang Wenwei, advisor to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assessed that the works translated by Sinedino not only promote cultural understanding, but also reflect the partnership between the countries. Professor Zhang Minfen, from Shanghai, believes that the classics allow a deep dialogue between cultures, bringing Brazilians closer to Chinese philosophical thought.
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/classicos-chineses-chegam-ao-brasil-por-meio-de-traducoes-ineditas/
