””””HONG KONG, Oct. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A top-ten book on Chinese civilization will
find a wider audience in two years, as it has been planned to be translated into
the English language within twoyears' time.
””””Chinese Civilization: A Source Book was recently ranked by Radio Television
Hong Kong, Hong Kong's government radio station, as one of the best books for
the year 2002. Its CD-ROM edition is named Chinese Civilization Digitized.
””””Ma Ka Fai, assistant director of the Chinese Civilization Center of the
City University of Hong Kong revealed to Xinhua Tuesday that the tertiary
institute, about which he prefers to keep reticent as yet, has taken on the job
of translating the 34-chapter book and will have it ready for publication within
two years.
””””The 792-page work, divided into two volume, is no ordinary academic work,
as it is a product resulting from international academic cooperation initiated
by vice-chancellor H. K. Chang fiveyears ago, when he decided to make Chinese
Civilization a compulsory subject for all students on campus, regardless of
theirdiscipline.
””””Patrick Kwong, director of City University of Hong Kong Press told Xinhua
that it is the determination of his press to make the book a definitive work.
””””"However difficult the translation work might take, it is our determination
to make it a hallmark academic work within the purview of Chinese civilization,
as we have an increasing number of friends abroad that have an interest in
Chinese culture," Kwongsaid.
””””He added that within a two-year period, the work will have beentranslated
for editing and proof-reading, stressing that his pressalso have plans at hands
to have the work translated into other foreign languages as well, such as
French.
””””The online of the text was drafted by various scholars from Beijing, Taiwan
and the United States, while the actual text was penned by Chinese scholars
mostly from Beijing, Kwong said.
””””The book covers the Chinese civilization from the Paleolithic period to the
Qing Dynasty, addressing aspects including politics,economics, sociology,
ancient Chinese thoughts, religion, literature, arts and craft, technology,
architecture and transportation.
””””H. K. Chang earlier told the local media here that Chinese Civilization is
the very underlying creative source that transforms and industrializes
technological research in such a waythat promotes the prosperity of the society.
””””"It promotes logical thinking, creativity and patriotism, and can aid in
edifying our country," Chang said. Enditem
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