| This project discusses the history of the reception of the literature of German-speaking countries in China from the beginning to the present. Against the background of Hans Robert Jauß's theory of reception, I am pursuing the idea that historical and social changes make a significant difference in the reception process of the literature of German-speaking countries in China. It is therefore the purpose of my dissertation to investigate how certain groups of Chinese readers “translated” this literature during various historical periods for Chinese audiences. At the beginning of the 20th century, western literature, including German literature (e.g. Schiller's Wilhelm Tell which promotes the idea of national independence), was introduced to China by progressive intellectuals with the intention of awakening and liberating China from a national crisis. In the 1920's, a literary magazine, Monthly Short Stories, played a major role in introducing German literature in China. Chinese translations of German literature including Goethe's Die Leiden des jungen Werther, Storm's Immensee and Schnitzler's works evoked not only nationwide reactions among young people, but also gave modern Chinese literature a new impetus with regard to form and content. The reception of German literature was hindered by events such as the war with Japan (1937–1945) and the Civil war (1945–1949). Of interest is nevertheless that in the 1930's and 1940's texts by Jewish writers and by others exiled by the Nazis were translated into Chinese and that these writers found a great amount of sympathy. In the 1950's, after the formation of the P.R. China, the reception of German literature was restricted by severe political decisions, therefore limiting the influence of German literature to texts by authors from the GDR. After the Cultural Revolution, literary works depicting the lives of common people during World War II and Post-War Germany, for example Böll's Erzählungen, were well received. At the same time, texts by authors such as Novalis, Nietzsche, Kafka etc. who had been chastised in the 1950's and 1960's, found acceptance now. In the late 20 th century's new era of political and economic reform in China, the reception of German literature shows a promising future. |
