Turning a page on Greek civilization

In 1857, British Sinologist Alexander Wylie founded the first Chinese news monthly in Shanghai called Liuhe Congkan (Shanghai Serial), which introduced Western learning to the East and Chinese culture to the West.

Columnist Joseph Edkins, who worked for the monthly publication, wrote essays about classic Western literature, including epics by Greek poet Homer and the ancient Greek theaters. In his piece, A Brief Discussion on Greek Poets, he mentioned the tragic and comic poets Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes, as well as their works.

"The introduction of these cultures and ideas from the West has played a crucial role in the construction of modern Chinese thought, value standards and aesthetic systems," said Luo Tong, a scholar specializing in Greek theater at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, at a recent launch event for the Chinese translation of the book, How to Fit All of Ancient Greece in an Elevator. The book will be released next month.

At the start of the 20th century, Western culture was widely introduced to China along with the New Culture Movement.

"Mr Democracy" and "Mr Science" from the democratic times of ancient Greece, featured in a contemporary way with updated meanings by Chinese intellectuals, greatly influenced Chinese society, which was going through a profound transformation. Old-generation scholars at that time began translating and studying ancient Greek literature and history more systematically, Luo says.