Journal presents Chinese scholarship abroad

Li Pingsheng worked as an editor for the Journal of Literature, History and Philosophy for 18 years since 1986 and said the publication not only broadened his horizons but also shaped his working style.

Li, 53, now the director of the publicity department of Shandong University, clearly recalls his time at the journal.

"Every word, every annotation and each piece of sentence grammar had to be accurate. The editing helped me develop a habit of being strict in the details of my work," he said.

"In addition, articles from famous Chinese scholars enriched my knowledge, broadened my horizons on the world and enhanced my writing skills," Li said.

Li once edited a 90,000 word-article written by Ji Xianlin, a Chinese linguist and historian, cutting it to 30,000 words according to the requirements of the journal. The edited article was highly praised by Ji.

First published in 1951, the journal is a respected publication from Shandong University that has presented many influential discussions on Chinese culture and history, such as discussions on A Dream of Red Mansions, one of China's four great classic novels.

"The Journal of Literature, History and Philosophy has been one of the pillars of academic discussions in China since its first issue. Its broad range of humanities topics and dedication to creative research value have kept it at the vanguard of intellectual trends for more than half a century," said Wang Xuedian, editor-in-chief of the journal.

Wang said the journal has always been a platform for academic discussions and debates and it rejects low-level copies of other scholars' opinions.

"The quality and the tenet of our journal has been maintained since its beginning.

"In each journal, we publish an article written by a junior scholar, which is one of the journal's traditional features," Wang said.

Eight of the journal's 10 editors hold doctorate degrees to ensure the publication's high quality.

The Chinese journal not only has subscribers in China but has been available elsewhere in the world since the 1950s. By the end of 2008, it had 545 overseas subscribers in more than 30 countries and regions, according to China National Publications Import and Export. Most are libraries of universities and academic institutes.

The journal has around 6,000 subscribers in China, Wang said.

The publication is one of four Chinese academic journals recognized by Harvard University. The other three are Study of History, Archaeology and Cultural Relics.

The Journal of Literature, History and Philosophy published its first English version in June 2014.

"Drawing upon the resources and high standards of the Chinese version, we would like to carry forward this tradition to the world outside China," Wang said.

Wang said the English version selects and translates for Western readers articles from top Chinese scholars in their fields. Each issue has a specific theme pertaining to literature, history, or philosophy and also includes a limited number of contributions from Western authors to ensure multiple viewpoints and inspiring discussions.

There are challenges in compiling the English version, Wang said. "We have difficulties in translating Chinese history and culture accurately into other languages as some Chinese cultural and historical terms can't find an equivalent in other languages."

To ensure the quality of the English version, the editorial board has 17 foreign experts, including Yu Ying-shih, an emeritus professor of East Asian Studies and History at Princeton University, and Professor Roger T Ames, an expert in Chinese philosophy at the University of Hawaii.

zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/29/2015 page12)