Shakespeare’s Influence on Modern Chinese Literature and Culture

Co-sponsored by the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

Shakespeare has had an important influence upon modern Chinese literature and culture since the 1830s, which constitutes a significant part of Shakespeare’s global impact. Based on the rich sources recently accessible in Chinese and English databases, this talk reconsiders Shakespeare’s impact on modern China, especially in the indigenization of the sonnet and the rise of huaju (spoken drama). The abundant, newly discovered data reveal Shakespeare’s multi-faceted contributions to the shaping of modern Chinese literature and culture. This is a modest effort to revise literary, theatrical, and cultural histories.