Ink & Quill

Emperor Wu, or better known in Chinese as Wu Zetian (武则天) or Wu Zhao (武瞾), is undeniably one of the most riveting and prominent women in the entire history of China. Reining over a vast empire from 690 to 705AD, she was the only female in some two thousand years of China's imperial history who had ever sat on the throne as a ruler in her own right. Some 1,300 years after her death, Wu's unique persona has continued to inspire a great number of plays, films, games, anime, and TV shows, including a 96-episode soap opera that unabashedly applauds her beauty, brain, and strong-mindedness. Yet history has not always been kind to Wu Zetian. For centuries, she has been portrayed as an abominable anomaly: either a sophisticated, succubus-alike seductress, or a lethal, ruthless she-wolf who would murder her own children for power. But who was the real Wu Zetian? How did she rise to power? And why did she, out of all the other powerful women in Chinese history, become the de facto monarch? To investigate the true story of Emperor Wu, in this episode, our reporter Shiyu talks with Professor N. Harry Rothschild from the University of North Florida. He is the author of two books: "Wu Zhao: China's Only Woman Emperor" and "Emperor Wu Zhao and her Pantheon of Devis, Divinities, and Dynastic Mothers."

Jin Yong might sound like an unassuming name to

foreign audiences; yet according to The New Yorker, in China, he has created

"a cultural currency roughly equal to that of 'Harry Potter' and 'Star

Wars' combined."

Considered one of China's most beloved and best-selling

authors still alive, this martial arts fiction guru is now 94 years old and

lives in seclusion. Meanwhile, his books continue to inspire numerous TV shows,

movies, comic books, anime and video games.

However, due to the complexity and ingeniousness

of his writings, Jin Yong's novels have long been deemed as impossible to

translate.

This year, "A Hero Born," the first

installment of his legendary series "Legends of the Condor Heroes," was

released in English for the first time. This landmark publication also marks

the first trade edition of any of Jin Yong's works in English.

So in this episode, Shiyu talks with Anna

Holmwood, a Chinese and Swedish into English literary translator to discuss

Chinese martial arts fiction, as well as the universal appeal of Jin Yong's

works in this genre. And as the translator of the Condor Heroes series, what

drew her to this Chinese masterpiece?

June 18th marks this year's Dragon Boat Festival, a holiday paying homage to Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet who lived from the 4th to the 3rd century BC. Our reporter Shiyu talks with Professor Professor Gopal Sukhu from Queens College, City University of New York to find out why the appetite for celebrating Qu Yuan is still around after some two thousand years.

According to a survey on national reading habits, released in April by the

Chinese Academy of Press and Publishing, almost forty per cent of Chinese adults were not satisfied

with the amount of books they consume. Many admit that their time for reading

has been shrinking due to other attention-grabbing addictions, like social

media, video game apps or online shopping sites. Though the survey may

not indicate a viable tendency and the statistics could fluctuate next year,

these findings still send an alarming signal to the publishing industry that a

falloff in reading is imminent.So in today's program, we will examine

some of the innovative technologies and ideas that publishers are applying to

hold the attention of readers for longer. And later we will look at a novel written in Shanghai dialect.

The first Asia-Pacific Science Fiction Convention

took place in Beijing over the last weekend where a stellar line-up of sci-fi

heavyweights had gathered during the two-day celebration. What are the

highlights and the biggest excitment?

French writer Alphonse de Lamartine once said: "Music is the literature of the

heart; it commences where speech ends." Yes, versatile and soul-touching,

music helps us navigate in a world rife with contradictions and dissonances.

Just like our essential need for food and sleep, the urge to sing, to dance, and

to listen to music is deeply ingrained in our human nature. But how can we

better enjoy and appreciate various music genres? To seek out the answers,

in this episode, we will go to some readings that might appeal to music lovers.

Once excluded by the virulent immigration law implemented by the US government

from the late 19th century until World War Two, the Chinese community is now not

only one of the largest but also one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the

United States. The racial stereotype often labels Chinese Americans as

the "model minority," as they seem to seamlessly weave themselves into the

patchwork of the American society. But, is this really the

case?To find out the answer, this episode helps us delve into the story

of a Chinese immigrant, whose writing navigates the vicissitude of Chinatown;

and whose own life experiences, is a story worth telling.

When people talk about the greatest playwright of

all time, the name William Shakespeare no doubt pops up on the radar. As one of

the brightest stars of English-language literature, Shakespeare penned his perceptions

of life, society and humanity with unparalleled theatrical beauty and

creativity, which still conform to the world of today.

Even some 400 years after the death of the Bard,

people around the globe still chant his timeless sonnets, proses and soliloquies.

However, even though Shakespeare has been hailed

as the national symbol for English poetry, it is Italy that had a special hold

on his heart. Among the 38 plays he produced, 13 of them are based wholly or

partially on the Italian Peninsula.

But in an age where travelling from Britain to

continental Europe could have been risky and costly, we can't help but wonder,

did the Bard really travel or not? And where did his fascination with the

Mediterranean region come from?

To find out the answers, in today's program, let's

go to a book, The Shakespeare Guide to Italy: Retracing the Bard's Unknown

Travels. Then we will take a glimpse into the temperaments and daily lives of

ancient Chinese people. Well, if you still crave more books about history,

don't go away! In today’s program, we will take you back to the 15th century-

the era of the Tudors, when a frothy mix of assassination, betrayal, and lust

permeated in the royal court of England.

April 23rd marks the World Book and Copyright Day, a date that pays tribute to

books and authors while encouraging everyone to discover the pleasure of

reading. So to celebrate this special occasion, in today's episode, we

have put together a list of favourite reads from our colleagues, to find out

what sort of stories have moved, inspired, and enlightened them in the past few

months.

Ever since he published his first story at the age of sixteen, Chen Qiufan(陈楸帆), a.k.a. Stanley Chan, has been widely hailed as one of the leading figures of today's generation of China's young science fiction writers. From "Record of the Cave of Ningchuan", a whimsical tale about a multidimensional universe written in classical Chinese, to his multi-award winning debut novel, "The Waste Tide", Chen has a knack for combining metaphysical ideas, self-alienation, and high tech in many of his works, while at the same time, without losing touch with real life issues and problems. Currently the President of the World Chinese Science Fiction Association, Chen Qiufan has been actively voicing his opinion on technology, speculative fiction, as well as the future of human race. Therefore in today's episode, our reporter Shiyu sits down with this rising sci-fi star to discuss his works and inspirations, how science fiction has fast become the greatest realism today, and also why Chinese science fiction is yet to enter its golden era. Let's take a listen.