Translation Projects

Being a Kid in Mao's Country (CHN210)



The following is a sampling of Mao era children's literature translated for the first time in English by Centre College's Intermediate Chinese students.  These stories, songs, slogans, and articles give a glimpse of what it would have been like to be a child at a time when ideology was mandated over learning, and labor over play.

 

Title:  Sunflowers Children's Periodical or The Children of Mao 

Translators: Brian Klosterboer and John Burke 

Back cover, top:

“Study Lei Feng and gain pleasure from helping others” Artist: Li Boan

Back cover, bottom left: 

“Listen to Uncle Lei Feng’s story" Artist: Li Guoqing

Page 1, Top Line:

Yu3 lu4 zi1 run4 he2 miao2 zhuang4

If you irrigate and seed the crops they will grow strong

 
 

Title: Resourcefully Annihilate the American Special Detachment (Rangers)

Translators: Austin Anderson and Katie Roland

Back Cover: 

Wenzhou City Research Workers’ Creative Group 

Wenzhou City Revolutionary Art Committee Manuscript Office 

 
 

Title: Revolutionary Children Songs: All Sing!

Translators: Stewart Lowery and Jim Ransdell 

作者zuòzhě (author)

红hóng 小xiǎo兵bīng 报社Bàoshè 编biān

Created by the Little Red Army Newspaper Office

出版社Chūbǎnshè会huì (Publisher)

上海shàng hǎi 市shì 出版chūbǎn革命gémìng 组zǔ

City of Shanghai Revolutionary Publishing Group

  

BACK COVER:

书号shūhào: 2-20

Book Number: 2 – 20

定价dìngjià：0。10元yuán

Set Price : 0.10 yuan

Inner flap:

Quotation froms Chairman Mao

“Our literature and art is all for the people.  First and foremost, it is for the workers, farmers, and soldiers: it is created for the workers, farmers, and soldiers, and it is for the use of the workers, farmers, and soldiers.”

 
 

Title: Beijing Children Periodical

Translators: Lucas Wetton and Karly Vockery

Publication Date: 1978

Name captions on Cover Image (left to right, top to bottom):

·         Little fragrance

·         Little year

·         Little bell

·         Little success

·         Little soldier

·         Little winter

·         Little place

·         Little orchid

·         Little concentration

Back Cover:
BE A GOOD CHILD!

Welcome spring flower, one group of flowers after another,

Cloud front uncle (old, friend, pass away?) both books.

When you read it first, remember it.When you read it second time, reflect then act.Why do these types of things come to good children?Undermine your uncle and bring his accusations to me!

Title:

Beijing Child Periodical

Translators: Eric Gilligan and James Leary

Back cover, comic strip:

"Little White Rabbit Applies Fertilizer" 

 Author: Jing Qizhu

 Illustrator: Xa Zhongyi

Frame 1)     Little White Rabbit planted lots of white rice. He was very happy to go watch the rice slowly grow everyday.

Frame 2)     One day, it to see (to show)to leave people