Andersen’s influence on China remains profound

First lady Peng Liyuan reads a story by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waits for her turn during their visit to the Chinese Museum of Women and Children in Beijing on Friday. Photo by Wu Zhiyi/China Daily

On the occasion of Danish Queen Margrethe II’s official visit to China, the Chinese have been talking about Danish cookies, Legos, and Hans Christian Andersen, which are all iconic aspects of Danish culture.

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Among them, writer Andersen (1805-1875), known for his fairytales, has had the most profound influence on the Chinese, ever since his stories were first introduced and translated a century ago in 1913. Because of him, many Chinese know Denmark as the “Kingdom of Fairytales.”

The Danish Queen, who loves reading, read some of Andersen’s stories to Chinese children on Thursday in Beijing. As an accomplished painter and designer, she illustrated the Danish edition of The Lord of the Rings, and has designed stage costumes for children’s plays adapted from Andersen’s stories.

Andersen’s works are like the matches lighted in the famed story You, Little Match Girl. His tales have enlightened generations of Chinese children, as well as writers, setting a perfect example as inspiring material for early education and food for thought for adult readers.

“With his beautiful stories and vivid characters, Andersen tells the Chinese about the essence of love, and how to love,” veteran children’s book editor Gao Xiuhua told China Daily. Gao is editor of the Chinese versions of Andersen’s works with China Children's Press and Publication Group.

“I feel his influence on Chinese readers is beyond words. Many have grown up reading or listening to his stories over the course of many generations,” Gao said.

Andersen’s books, which are said to have been translated into over 200 Chinese titles, have enjoyed a long popularity within the Chinese book market.

“As a genuine classic writer, his books have the longevity as bestsellers,” Gao added.

His books have even been included into Chinese elementary school textbooks and in middle schools as compulsory reading.