Title: Translation and Reception: The International Dissemination of Traditional Chinese Opera during the “Seventeen Years” Period

Abstract: Traditional Chinese opera during the “Seventeen Years” period (1949–1966) shoulders the dual mission of international cultural exchange and dissemination of mainstream value. Focusing on the translation and international dissemination of traditional Chinese Opera during this period, this paper examines the dynamic interplay between political discourse and aesthetic expression. Political discourse is deeply embedded throughout the translation process of traditional Chinese Opera, extending from repertoire selection and institutional frameworks to translation strategies. Meanwhile, undergoes both loss and adaptation. Regarding overseas reception, differences in audiences’ ideological perspectives and cultural background lead to the emergence of two distinct reception pathways: “conceptual empathy” and “aesthetic spectacle.” The government provides institutional guarantees and channel support for the dissemination of traditional Chinese Opera, while serving as the artistic foundation for cross-cultural reception. This study offers historical insights for the contemporary international dissemination of traditional Chinese Opera.

Keywords: international dissemination of traditional Chinese opera, political discourse, aesthetic expression, translation, overseas reception, the “Seventeen Years” period

Author: Minna Jin, Associate Professor, School of Foreign Studies, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2026.03.002