Sinologist finds common themes between China and Egypt

Mai Ashour reads her first book in Chinese while studying at Cairo University.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

How did you become interested in Chinese literature? What are the literary works that introduced you to the world of Chinese literature?

When I was studying Chinese in Chinese Language and Literature Department at Cairo University, I used to attend lectures on Chinese culture, philosophy, history and literature, and subconsciously fell in love with Chinese literature. It happened because it is very deep, unique and full of philosophy, and I discovered many common themes between China and Egypt.

At first I started reading some classic writings of Zhang Ailing, San Mao, Lao She and Bing Xin, then I started reading Chinese modern literature. I read the works of Zhou Guoping, Bi Shumin, Feng Jicai, Xue Xiaochan, Fang Yingwen, Long Yingtai, shi Tiesheng, Han Han, Xi Murong and Li Yueliang , and a lot of writings and works from Taiwan and Hon Kong.

What is the first book that you read in Chinese? When did you decide to translate Chinese literature, and when did you actually get start?

The first book I read in Chinese was Hongyanlushui, or For Love or Money, from Zhang Xiaoxian, at that time I was in grade three in the university. And then I read Laiba, Haizi (Come, kid) from Chi Li.

I started translating Chinese works when I was at grade two. At that time professor Hisham El Malky, a lecturer, conducted a translation workshop for us and the result was that we translated Chinese idiom stories. After graduation, I started translating Ranghaizixuexi (Make study enjoyable to kids) by Yang Xia and it was published 2012.

In 2013 I decided to start translating literature as I felt it was about time to introduce a lot of Chinese literature, especially modern literature, to Arab readers, so I started translating Chinese Short stories, poses and poems. I published them in different Arabic magazines, cultural newspapers and websites in order to reach the largest number of Arab readers all over the world.