On July 17, 2023, the College held a thesis proposal conference on a key Chinese academic literature translation and publishing project funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC) for 2022 to 2023, for a book titled Cultural History of the Yuan Dynasty (Russian Edition). This project was jointly applied by Huang Mingtuo, teacher of the Russian Department and China Social Sciences Press (CSSP). Huang Mingtuo is the project leader.
The opening report was presided over by Professor Yan Guodong, Dean of the College. Meng Delong, Vice Director of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Department, Nankai University, Ren Xiaxia, Director of the International Cooperation and Publishing Department, CSSP, and Liu Jiaqi, editor of CSSP, attended the report. Xiao Yuqiu, Professor at the Faculty of History, Nankai University, Bai Wenchang, Vice President of Heilongjiang International University, and Anna Anisova, Associate Professor of the College of Foreign Languages, Nankai University, formed the defense committee. Scobioala Ana, a project member and postgraduate student at Nanjing Normal University, attended the meeting.
Professor Yan first introduced the participating experts and extended a warm welcome. Vice Director Meng congratulated the College on its approved Chinese academic translation projects and other NSSFC projects. He said that the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Department of Nankai University emphasizes and supports the promotion of related projects. Director Xia congratulated the College on the successful approval of publishing Culture History of the Yuan Dynasty (Russian Edition), introduced the translation projects of CSSP in recent years, and expressed the attached importance to the project.
Professor Xiao Yuqiu, convenor of the defense committee, presided over the oral defense. Project host Huang Mingtuo reported the project status from four aspects: the anticipated result, the team, the organization of translation, and the promotion plan. The defense committee affirmed the project report and made comments as well as suggestions.
Professor Xiao pointed out that due to special historical and geographic factors, the Russian Sinological community has traditionally attached importance to the historical study of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. The Russian translation of Cultural History of the Yuan Dynasty will help to disseminate Chinese scholars’ position on the cultural history of the Yuan dynasty to the Russian Sinological community. Although some relevant works have been published in the past two decades, they were often limited to a separate cultural field. The translation of this book will fill the research gap.
According to Professor Bai Wenchang, there has been a growing interest in ancient Chinese culture among all sectors of Russian society in recent years. The Russian translation of this book will help deepen Russia's understanding of ancient Chinese culture, religion, institutions, and other fields, promoting Sino-Russian humanistic exchanges and cooperation. Associate Professor Anna Anisova believes that the Russian translation of this book will boost cross-civilization exchanges and mutual learning, better presenting Chinese culture to the world. In addition, members of the project team also discussed and exchanged views with the experts on translation skills, material collection, audience awareness, and language style.
At last, after deliberation, the defense committee confirmed that the project planning and time arrangement are reasonable, the team is strong in ability, the division of labor is clear, and the project is applicable for translation and publishing. Huang Mingtuo thanked the leaders and experts, saying that he would further optimize the translation work based on the valuable suggestions of the expert group to ensure the completion of this project.
