A young man from the US has Chinese online literature to battle his drug addiction, according to a Southern Weekend report, and has recently become an online sensation on the Chinese social media platform, Sina Weibo and other Chinese news outlets.
Kevin Cazade started reading a Chinese novel titled, “Coiling Dragon” after breaking up with his girlfriend and a developing an addiction to cocaine. He was completely fascinated by the storyline, and has finished nearly six columns (out of a total of 21 columns) in one day.
Photo of a young man reading online Chinese novels through translation website. /Photo by infzm.com
Half a year later, he successfully kicked his drug habit.
This isn't the first time the popularity of Chinese online novels in the western world has made the headlines. According to Lin Tingfeng, vice president of China Reading Ltd., the translations of Chinese online novels have been gaining steam since 2015. China Reading Ltd. is a company that runs most of China’s online reading platforms.
With an increasing number of foreign readers becoming more absorbed with Chinese online literature, especially fantasy novels featuring martial arts and magical powers, several translation websites have also appeared, such as wuxiaworld.com, gravitytales.com, and volarenovels.com.
Screenshot of translation website wuxiaworld.com.
According to a report by Xinhua news agency, by the end of 2016, wuxiaworld.com has been ranked 1,536th in the world website ranking list, with daily page views of 3.62 million.
It has also sealed a cooperation deal with several Chinese online literature websites such as qidian.com, and has garnered the authorization of at least 20 Chinese online novels. The cooperation will also help to crack down on copyright problems such as piracy.
Speaking of the popularity of Chinese online literature in the western world, Lai Jingping, founder of wuxiaworld and translator of “Coiling Dragon”, said that the freshness of Chinese culture, especially those into fantasy novels, are attractive and exciting for foreign readers.
Many foreign readers now regret not learning Mandarin sooner.
Photo of a charactor from a Chinese TV drama adapted from online novel. /Photo by douban.com
It is good news for the insiders of the Chinese literature industry. “Spontaneous translation, online reading and the establishment of a fan community signifies that the export of Chinese cultural ecology has begun,” said Li Zejing, a Chinese literature critic.
Li added that readers’ frenzy reading, comments and interactive communication with the original works have formed a complete cultural system of online literature.
“It is an unprecedented exporting of Chinese culture,” said Lin Tingfeng, echoing Li’s comments. He added that the online activities will be part of an industrial chain which will also include the adaptations and derivative products of the original works.
