Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t18.34

v2.c10.s2.t18.34

In the late 1950s, nearly 40 years after the death of Su Manshu, Chinese began to translate Kalidasa’s original Sanskrit works. In 1956, the People’s Literature Publishing House published *Shakuntala* translated by Ji Xianlin and *Meghaduta* translated by Jin Kemu. Then, to commemorate Kalidasa’s 1500ᵗʰ anniversary, the People’s Literature Publishing House published a special collection of a plays translated by Ji Xianlin and a poem translated by Jin Kemu, organised by the World Peace Council. Ji Xianlin’s translation of *Shakuntala* was reprinted in 1959, and his translation of *Vikramorvasiya* was published in 1962. In 1980, he revised his translation of *Shakuntala*, which was included into a collection of foreign literary masterpieces and reprinted. Ji Xianlin and Jin Kemu’s translations, so far, are the most widespread and influential Chinese versions.