A New Chapter in Sino-Armenian Relations: Introducing Armenian Classical Poetry to China

The Beijing Writers Publishing House released the Anthology of Armenian Poetry, a selection of Armenian classical poetry translated into Chinese, at the end of last year. The anthology was compiled and translated by the young Chinese Armenologist Yan Xin. The collection begins with the Songs of Goghtn, followed by works from medieval poets such as Grigor Narekatsi, Nerses Shnorhali, Frik, and Sayat-Nova, as well as examples of antunis and hayrens (traditional Armenian poetic forms).
Nineteenth-century Armenian poetry is richly represented in the volume, featuring works by Ghevond Alishan, Mkrtich Beshiktashlian, Nahapet Rusinian, Bedros Duryan, Mikayel Nalbandian, Raphael Patkanian, Raffi, Garegin Srvandztiants, Ghazaros Aghayan, Smbat Shahaziz, Yeghia Temirchipashian, Jivani, Zabel Asatur, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, and Aleksandr Tsaturyan. The collection also includes authors from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Hakob Hakobyan, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Levon Shant, Arshak Chobanian, Ruben Vorberian, Avetik Isahakyan, Indra, Shushanik Kurghinian, Siamanto, Vahan Tekeyan, Daniel Varuzhan, Vahan Teryan, Kostan Zarian, Ruben Sevak, Misak Metsarents, Matteos Zarifian, and Yeghishe Charents. This is, indeed, the first time Armenian poetry has been presented in Chinese on such a large scale.
The compiler and translator of the anthology, Yan Xin, studied Middle Persian language and culture at Peking University. As early as 2006, he attended Armenian language courses at Peking University, organized by Vahagn Vardanyan, an Armenian businessman residing in China at the time. Between 2009 and 2016, he pursued Armenian studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where in 2016, he defended his dissertation on Sayat-Nova within the Public Ashugh Tradition and Posthumously. Yan Xin has also contributed scholarly articles to academic journals, focusing on references to Armenia from Chinese sources and Armenian ashugh (troubadour) art.
As the Armenian Azg weekly reports, this anthology marks a significant milestone in presenting Armenian poetry to Chinese audiences. It reflects the growing interest in Armenian literary heritage within China.