Wen Jieruo


Wen Jieruo is a Chinese translator, author and editor. She translated literature from English and Japanese to Chinese. Wen is a member of China Writers Association and Chinese Translation Association. She is fluent in both English and Japanese.
For her contributions to the introduction of Japanese literature to foreign readers, she was honored with the Japanese Foreign Minister Recognition Award in 2000 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 2002.

Biography

Wen was born Wen Tongxin in July 1927 in Beijing, with her ancestral home in Guiyang, Guizhou, the daughter of Wan Peilan and Wen Zongshu, a Chinese diplomat, he held the post of consul general for the Republic of China at Yokohama. She has six brothers and sisters. Her grandfather Wen Mingqin was a magistrate in Guangxi during the late Qing dynasty.
At the age of 7, she attended Kongde School, the predecessor of Beijing No.27 High school. One year later, Wen moved to Tokyo, living with her father. In February 1936, her father was removed from office, Wen returned to Beijing, studying at Furen School. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Wen was accepted to Tsinghua University, where she majored in English.
During her university career, Wen started her translation practice, she translated Guo Moruo's Goddess into English. After graduation, Wen worked in SDX Joint Publishing Company and People's Literature Publishing House in different positions, including editor, senior editor and translator of Japanese literature.
During the Cultural Revolution, her husband Xiao Qian was labeled as a "rightist" by the Communist government, they were sent to the May Seventh Cadre Schools to work. After the Cultural Revolution, in 1979, she joined the China Writers Association.
From 1985 to 1986, Wen visited Japan.
Wen retired in July 1990. From 1990 to 1994, Wen and her husband Xiao Qian spent four years translating James Joyce's notable novel Ulysses into Chinese.

Personal life

Wen married a Chinese translator and author Xiao Qian, the couple has two sons and a daughter. Their daughter Xiao Lizi was born on 30 January 1955. Their son, Xiao Tong, was born on November 10, 1956. All of her children are living in the United States.

Translations

Kojiki The Pillow Book The Tale of the Heike The Decay of the Angel Man'yōshū Rashōmon The Holy Man of Mount Kōya Les Misérables Ulysses
  • ''Stories from the Bible''

Works

Memories of Old Friends in the Wind and Rain A Lifetime of Love Letters to Family

Awards