As another academic year comes to a close, I’d like to share with you some of my most memorable moments over the past year.
The recent publication and distribution of ‘The Book of Light and Darkness,’ a 30,000-character novel written by Year 8 students David Xi and Horace Ding, truly inspired me. ‘Light and Darkness’ earned high praise from renowned Chinese educator Ms Yu Yi: ‘Students who have studied Alphonse Daudet’s “The Last Lesson” would have some knowledge of the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870’s. However, due to a lack of in-depth teaching on the subject, students' impression of the event is often abstract, vague and conceptual at best. “Light and Darkness” is truly commendable, a thrilling exposé of the tumultuousness of warfare with distinct and vivid character portrayal. Such enthusiasm for literature for two authors so young, such potential and style. A gratifying read.’
When I heard David and Horace’s speeches at the launch event for ‘Light and Darkness’ and at the recent board meeting on June 16, many thoughts came to mind.
In order to accurately reflect the events of the Franco-Prussian War more than 200 years ago, David and Horace read a large number of historical documents, especially those studied in their humanities class, giving them a detailed understanding of the event and its aftermath. David and Horace told the stories of French and German soldiers in the form of a journal. The numerous battle scenes and psychological burdens portrayed in ‘Light and Darkness’ was the ultimate test of our young authors’ literary skills, challenging their ability to accurately represent the state of mind of their characters.
During the writing process, David and Horace discussed and even fiercely debated as they continued to develop their protagonists. They gradually realised that although France represented the forces of good, it was not completely free from evil. By the same token, light could still be found in Germany’s darkness. As they soon discovered, the writing of ‘Light and Darkness’ was also a lesson in analytical thinking. As Ms Yu put it: ‘Characters must be vivid, realistic, and alluring. Make them come to life.’
David and Horace continue to impress me with their current plans to produce an English translation of ‘Light and Darkness.’ To prepare for such a massive undertaking, they have already read numerous foreign classics and their Chinese translations in an effort to hone their translation skills. The Russians once said about famous literary translator Cao Ying: It’s difficult to imagine all of the hard work he’s done, his talent for culture and deep understanding of the Russian psyche…’ Now, our two authors are preparing to pursue the world of literary translation, and art form in itself that requires, at minimum, proficiency in both source and target languages. Above all else, they must ensure the same high standard of artistry from the original and accurately represent its ideas, feelings and spirit. East China Normal University Professor and winner of the Lu Xun Literary Prize Mr Yang Yang also praised the novel, saying: ‘The writing is not only exquisite and accurate but also poetic. At 40,000 characters, it’s an effortless read from start to finish…very imaginative. It successfully captures the language narrative tone frequently seen in translated texts from China’s artists in the 1930’s.’ I look forward to hearing of David and Horace’s accomplishments as they continue their pursuit of even greater achievements in language and analytical thought.
Chinese is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, while English is a global language. I believe ‘Light and Darkness’ not only a testament to the success of Pao School’s bilingual education – it also demonstrates the school’s ability to cultivate future leaders, and brings new inspiration to the school in fostering innovative talent for a rapidly-changing world.
Wu Zijian
Headmaster
