Organizations across China are celebrating the bicentennial of
the birth of Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairy
tales were first introduced to China in 1913.
To mark the anniversary, the China Puppet Theater performed
Andersen's "Daughter of Sea." In its first show on Saturday, 622
tickets were all sold out, Zhang Jianping, the sales manager of the
theater said.
"I feel very sad about the death of the little mermaid, I wish
there is a magician in the story to save her," Song Jia, a
six-year-old girl said after watching the performance.
The Shanghai Subway Corporation distributed 15,000 cards in
honor of Andersen, depicting the poor little girl lighting a match
and then turning into an angel.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture, Denmark Embassy and Hans
Andersen Club plan to organize more than 30 memorial activities in
China this year.
Hans Christian Andersen, born in Denmark in 1805, was a poor
shoemaker's son. His fame today rests on his fairy tales, written
between 1835 and 1872. Since his stories were introduced to China
in 1913, his "Ugly Duckling," the "Emperor's New Clothes" and the
"Match Girl" have become popular among Chinese. Several of his
stories have even been selected into compulsory textbooks in
Chinese primary and middle schools.
"Andersen is probably the most sold foreign writer in China," Tian
Hong, a clerk of a Beijing-based bookstore said, explaining that
she has sold many different translations of Andersen's works in
different versions.
"I can always perceive new things from his stories," said Zhou
Siyuan, a professor with the Beijing Language
and Culture University, "His works glitter with the sense of
sympathy and humanity."
In the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong
Hans Andersen Club held a string of celebrating activities
Saturday.
At the grand hall of Run Run Shaw College of the Chinese
university of Hong Kong, over 300 people including members of Hans
Andersen Club and those of Hong Kong Federation Handicapped Youth
gathered together to enjoy the performances such as theater and
storytelling with the theme related to Hans Andersen's fairy
tales.
The activity aimed to encourage young people in Hong Kong to
form a good reading habit which would help enhance their knowledge
and wisdom in dealing with life challenges.
Besides, a series of activities were held here in memory of Hans
Andersen. Hong Kong Post held a Letter Writing Competition with the
theme "A Letter to My Favorite Fairytale Character" with an
objective to promote students' interest in letter writing as a
means of expressing love and care for others.
Special stamps "Children Stamps - Andersen's Fairy Tales" were
also issued on March 22 as one of the memorial activities. The
featured four famous fairy tales including the Ugly Duckling, the
Little Mermaid, the Little Match Girl and the Emperor's New
Clothes.
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(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2005)
