An Exhibition Of Chinese Translations Of Bulgarian Poetry, Fiction And Scientific Literature And An Introduction Of the Chinese Translation Of the Physics Of Sorrow By the Bulgarian International Booker Prize Winner Author Georgi Gospodinov Has Been Organ

On 19th December 2024, the Confucius Institute in Sofia have held an event comprising of two separate parts – the introduction of the Chinese translation and the Chinese edition of the novel Physics Of Sorrow - the iconic work of author Georgi Gospodinov, an International Booker Prize winner, to the Bulgarian public, and an exhibition of the Bulgarian fiction, poetry and scientific books which have been translated in Chinese and have been published in China through the years. The event has been jointly organised by the Confucius Institute in Sofia, the China-CEE Publishing Union, and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing House. Moreover, the double event has also been part of the series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria. It has been organised with the strong support of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria. The guests of honour attending the event have included Mrs Silva Nalbantyan-Hacheryan – the Director of the Department Of International Cooperation, European Programmes And Regional Activities at the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, Prof. Georgi Valchev - the Rector of the University of Sofia, Mrs Snezhana Todorova - the President of the Association Of the Bulgarian Journalists, H.E. Dai Qingli - the Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr Yang Tian - Head of the Educational Department at the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, Mr Cai Chun - Head of the Economic Daily's Correspondent Office in Sofia, Mr Chen Jianjun - the Chairman of the Bulgarian-Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, Mr Wang Pujian - Chairman of the Bulgarian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Mr Iliyan Stefanov - the Director of the Bulgarian Centre of the Teaching And Research Of Foreign Languages Publishing House, Mr Stefan Roussinov – a Sinology lecturer at the University of Sofia, Mrs Aksiniya Koleva – the Bulgarian director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Prof. Chen Ying – the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, deans and vice-deans of the universities where some of the CIS’s Confucius Classrooms are located, as well as headmasters and vice-principals of the primary and the secondary schools under the CIS. The event has been attended by representatives of two Bulgarian publishing houses which are part of the China – CEEC Publishing Association in Bulgaria, namely the Slantse Publishing House and the East-West Publishing House. Representatives of the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia, the University of Sofia, the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, the University of National And World etc., have been invited to attend the double event. Eventually, the audience have amounted up to 70 people including representatives from other educational institutions concerned with the Chinese culture, as well as numerous teachers and students.
In her speech, the Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. Dai Qingli has said that the books on display at the exhibition do reflect Bulgaria's unique charm and profound heritage in literature, culture, art and many other fields, and that they also set a new milestone for the literary convergence and cultural exchange between the two countries. The rector of the University of Sofia Prof. Georgi Valchev has emphasized on the importance of literature as a medium of culture and has affirmed the important role played by the Confucius Institute in Sofia in the humanistic exchanges between China and Bulgaria. Mr Peng Donglin – the deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing House, has conveyed a video message to congratulate CIS on the successful holding of the event and to express his gratitude to all the translators and publishers who have worked hard for the Chinese-Bulgarian publishing and cultural exchanges.
A total of 220 Bulgaria-related Chinese books have been on display at this event, spanning over more than 80 years of publication, and covering a wide range of fields such as Bulgarian literature, culture, art, folklore, history, economy, education, etc., which have shown the fruitful achievements made by China in the field of Bulgaria-related Chinese book publishing. Nearly half of the books are Chinese translations of Bulgarian literary masterpieces, including Physics of Sorrow - a masterpiece by the famous Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov, winner of the International Booker Prize in 2023.
The author Mr Georgi Gospodinov has praised the brilliant translation of the context in the Chinese version of The Physics of Sorrow, calling it one of the most beautiful translations among the many foreign language translations of his novel. The Chinese translator Prof. Chen Ying has announced the positive reception of the novel by the Chinese readers. She has shared her experience in literary translation and some insights on translating literature to both languages - Chinese and Bulgarian. She has answered to numerous questions from the audience. A reporter from the news department of the Nova Television (Bulgaria) has interviewed the author and two Bulgarian language students from the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
The event has been covered by Xinhua News, CCTV International Online, Economic Daily News, 24 Chasa and other media. The Confucius Institute in Sofia will continue with their efforts to bring out the advantages of the linguistic wealth and to actively participate in the translation and the publication of books between China and Bulgaria.

Confucius Institute in Sofia
Text: Chen Chen
Photos: Biliana Isaeva
Editors: Prof.Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva
English translation: Maya Kostadinova

Picture 1. A group photo of some of the guests of the event.

Picture 2. H.E. Dai Qingli - the Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria, delivering her speech.

Picture 3. Prof. Georgi Valchev – Rector of the University Of Sofia, delivering his speech.

Picture 4. A speech by Mr Peng Donglin - deputy Editor-in-Chief at the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing House.

Picture 5. The book exhibition.

Picture 6. The Chinese translation of Physics of Sorrow - book release.

Picture 7. The author Mr Georgi Gospodinov interviewed by the local media.

Picture 8. Questions from the audience.