Lecture by Dr. Apiradee Charoensenee & Dr. Liang Jing in the 34th talk of the “Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series”
The 34th session of the "Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series," organized by the Institute of International Education, New Era University College(IIE, NEUC) and the Tan Lark Sye Institute, was held on 25th September. The guest speakers for this event were Dr. Apiradee Charoensenee and Dr. Liang Jing from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Their lecture, titled "Research on Thai Royal Court Members and Chinese Translations," explored the contributions of the Thai royal family to the translation of Chinese works. Since Chaophraya Phraklung, a member of King Rama I’s court, translated Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the royal family has played an essential role in translating Chinese classics. This role became particularly prominent after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China in 1975, which led to significant advancements in translation efforts between the two countries.
Dr. Apiradee Charoensenee, one of the speakers, is an alumna of the National University of Singapore’s Department of Chinese Studies and currently serves as the head of the Department of Oriental Languages at Chulalongkorn University. Her research focuses on Sinology, the Chinese community in Thailand, and Chinese culture and society. Dr. Liang Jing holds a PhD in Ancient Chinese Literature from Fudan University and is a Chinese government-sponsored lecturer. She is currently a visiting professor in the Chinese Department at Chulalongkorn University. Her research interests include comparative literature and the translation of Chinese classics. Additionally, she is a contracted writer with the Luoyang Writers’ Association and has authored a poetry collection titled North of Nanshan, which centers on modern poetry.
In their lecture, Dr. Charoensenee and Dr. Liang outlined four distinct stages in the history of Thai-Chinese translation, highlighting the significance and characteristics of each phase. They emphasized that translation not only offers insights into Thailand’s perspective on China but also reflects China’s view of Thailand, creating a two-way cultural exchange. Among the Thai royal family members, Princess Sirindhorn has been the most influential figure in this cultural exchange. Since the establishment of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations, she has published 14 translated collections of poetry and novels, significantly contributing to the cultural dialogue between the two nations.
Following the lecture, during a Q&A session, the audience and the moderator exchanged views with the speakers on the subject of Thai-Chinese translation. The event was moderated by Assistant Professor Dr. Lew Siew Boon from NEUC.
