Launching the first product of the literary collaboration project with Taiwan.

Wednesday - December 6, 2017 18:01

In March 2017, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU) reached an agreement with National Cheng Kung University and the Tainan Municipal Bureau of Culture (Taiwan) on collaborative research, translation, and literary publishing programs. To date, after approximately nine months of implementation, the first products of the collaborative project have begun to be published. On December 2nd, 2017, the short story collection "Spring Dream in Hulu Alley" by writer Ye Shidao (translated by a team of lecturers from the Department of Oriental Literature - Faculty of Literature, published by the Literature Publishing House) was officially released to Taiwanese readers.

The launch ceremony for the short story anthology was held on the grounds of the Diep Thach Dao Literature Museum, with the participation of representatives from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vice Rector Hoang Anh Tuan, representatives from the Faculty of Literature – Dr. Nguyen Thu Hien, and representatives from the translation team – Ms. Nguyen Thanh Dien.

On the Taiwanese side, attendees included the Director of the Tainan City Cultural Affairs Department, the Director of the Taiwan Literature Museum, and professors from universities across Taiwan. Also present at the launch ceremony was a special group of readers: Vietnamese mothers who were brides, along with children of mixed Vietnamese and Taiwanese heritage.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the Tainan City Department of Culture, Yeh Tze-shan, particularly emphasized the important role, position, and influence of writer Yeh Tze-tao on the development of Taiwanese culture and literature in general, and Tainan culture and literature in particular. He also expressed his deep gratitude to Professor Tran Ich-nguyen, a leading expert in Vietnamese studies in Taiwan, who for many years has been an important bridge for the exchange and mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Taiwanese cultures. Professor Tran Ich-nguyen is the head of the project to translate Yeh Tze-tao's works into Vietnamese. Mr. Yeh Tze-shan also expressed his thanks to the leaders of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the leaders of the Faculty of Literature, and the team of translators from the Faculty for their help in bringing the name and representative works of writer Yeh Tze-tao closer to Vietnamese readers and Vietnamese culture.

Speaking at the book launch ceremony, Associate Professor Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized: "The Vietnamese translation of Diep Thach Dao's collection of short stories is the first step in the overall professional cooperation project between the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities and research and management agencies in Taiwan such as National Cheng Kung University, Tainan Cultural Affairs Office, etc.," and expressed his hope to further strengthen professional cooperation with Taiwanese partners in the future.

At the ceremony, the school's leaders, the Faculty of Literature, and the group of translators chatted, signed books, and took commemorative photos with families of Vietnamese brides and Vietnamese students studying in Taiwan within the Vietnamese community in Taiwan.

Besides the short story collection "Spring Dream in Hulu Alley," two volumes of captivating comic books about Vietnamese culture, translated into Chinese by the translation team, are expected to be published soon for readers in Taiwan. In addition to literary works, the team will also translate in-depth scholarly works on Taiwanese literature and history to introduce to researchers in Vietnam for reference.

During the trip, the university's staff also visited and held discussions with the leaders of the National Taiwan History Museum to explore possibilities for collaborative research, organizing scientific conferences, and joint publications in the coming years. Currently, the museum is very interested in researching and displaying materials on Vietnamese history and culture.