The International Reception of Shaanxi Rural Literature and Its Challenges of Cultural Adaptation

Abstract

Within the broader strategy of internationalizing Chinese culture, rural literature from Shaanxi represents a corpus of significant narrative and symbolic value. However, its global circulation remains limited, both in terms of the number of translations and the depth of its reception. This study analyzes the translational trajectory and international reception of key works such as White Deer Plain, The Shaanxi Opera, and The ordinary world across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts, particularly in English, French, and Japanese. Adopting a translational and communicative perspective, the study examines the strategies applied in translation, the challenges of cultural adaptation, and target readers' responses through comparative textual analysis, online reviews, and translator interviews. The findings reveal a lack of cultural contextualization, difficulties in rendering dialectal elements, and a mismatch with the expectations of foreign audiences. Finally, the paper proposes recommendations to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and intercultural relevance of this body of literature on the international stage.