What do foreigners perceive Chinese culture to be like? Recently, the district library's nationwide reading initiative "Young Library" under the project "Window of Europe" introduced a new lecture titled "Chinese Culture through the Lens of the Other." Starting from cultural translation, stories of international students, and other authentic cases, the lecture invites attendees to step outside their own experiencees and reevaluate Chinese culture.

The lecture was delivered by Ye Lan, an associate professor at the School of International Cultural Exchange at Tongji University, who has taught in German universities for over two decades. As a Chinese language teacher in Germany, she frequently engages in various cultural exchanges and, aside from teaching, has translated several German novels. This has fostered her deeper contemplation of both cultures. In her presentation, she shared heartfelt thoughts about cultural interactions, focusing on how Europeans and international students in China perceive China and its culture.

As the saying goes, "One cannot see the true face of Mount Lu because one is right in the middle of it." Looking at oneself from another's perspective helps avoid the narrow-mindedness of assuming the whole sky is only as large as the well one sees from. She recounted how Chinese learners view China, varying from romantic to realistic, from obscure to concrete, reflecting not only different historical stages of China but also the evolving perspectives of foreigners on China. During the lecture, Ye Lan highlighted some "descriptions by others" from recent years, whether grand or minute, touching upon fields like culture, education, and trade, inevitably prompting the audience to ponder: In today's rapidly changing world, how has the latest foreign impression of China evolved?

In addition to exploring the changing image of China from others' perspectives, Ye Lan emphasized the need to "understand the uniqueness of culture." She elaborated on several uniquely Chinese cultural concepts, such as the Confucian concept of "ritual" in culture, the Chinese sentiment of "nation and family," and the distinctive understanding of "heaven" and "all under heaven." For Chinese people, these concepts are an intrinsic part of their cultural DNA, yet they pose considerable challenges for foreigners to grasp because understanding a concept involves delving into an unfamiliar cultural system. Sinologists don't just rely on textual translation; they may also need to observe actual objects, engage in deep discussions with Chinese scholars, and expend considerable effort, reflecting the rigorous scholarly approach and the depth and uniqueness of Chinese culture. In contrast, the everyday observations of international students tend to focus more on the character traits of the Chinese, such as their infrequent verbal expressions of love, the generally quiet and serious demeanor of Chinese students, and their emphasis on courteous speech.

The entire event, starting from the "other's perspective" to reflect on Chinese culture and contrasting Eastern and Western cultural differences, provided attendees with insights into cultural reflections, coexistence, and translation.

It is reported that this lecture was organized in collaboration with the Shanghai Translators Association as part of the "Window of Europe" project "The Belt and Road" series. Its aim is to help the audience understand the challenges and value of cross-cultural communication and understanding. Moving forward, "Window of Europe" will continue to take readers on a literary Silk Road, exploring the literature and beauty of other countries, and encountering the world through reading.