Road to the East. Journal of Chinese-Portuguese Studies

Editorial

Leonardo Marcotulio — 2025-05-20

Editorial da Revista Rotas a Oriente 4 (2024).

A China como tema na imprensa alemã do século XVII

Marília dos Santos Lopes — 2025-05-21

A China é um dos países que mais interesse despertou na Europa dos séculos XVII e XVIII. Os primeiros viajantes entoam surpresa e admiração face a uma sociedade de grande abastança, riqueza e polícia. A imagem traçada acerca da sociedade e cultura asiáticas será um tema bem presente nas redes de conhecimento europeias, mormente na imprensa editorial alemã que sempre revelou grande interesse na apropriação e divulgação de notícias e conhecimentos sobre “novos mundos”. O presente artigo pretende aferir qual o lugar reservado à China. Quem são os autores editados na Alemanha dos séculos XVII? Qual o papel do editor na construção e divulgação dos relatos de viagem? Quais as redes e grupos de agentes culturais interessados em divulgar notícias e imagens sobre a China? Que a atividade tipográfica na Europa tinha um grande poder na representação da China não é uma novidade. Importa, todavia, averiguar quais as formas e suportes iconográficos criados nos centros livreiros alemães. Os relatos de viagens como os de portugueses, entre outros, serão editados, em língua alemã, em edições de grande mérito artístico e cultural, pelo que intentar-se-á perceber o papel desta mediação.

The Philosophy in Stories for Children about Chinese

Ana Cristina Alves — 2025-05-21

Neste artigo que terá como ponto de partida obrigatório a obra referencial de Eça de Queirós, o Mandarim, pretende-se abordar a filosofia ou filosofias subjacentes aos contos infantis contemporâneos portugueses com temáticas chinesas nas obras de escritores como José Cardoso Pires, Alice Vieira, António Torrado e Afonso Cruz, quais os preconceitos que geram, mas também os olhares mais compreensivos e positivos que acolhem no âmbito da atual literatura infantil portuguesa. Vai-se procurar construir a imagem ou imagens filosóficas que nos transmitem dos chineses, das suas mentes e dos seus comportamentos, bem como da matriz cultural e das ideias modelares e arquetípicas, à maneira junguiana, que os escritores portugueses oferecem instintiva ou inconscientemente através de certas personagens para entender como são perspetivados, de um modo positivo e negativo, os chineses.

Tradução Português-Chinês de Literatura Infantil na Perspetiva da Teoria da Receção: o Caso da Obra A Fada Oriana

Song Lin — 2025-05-21

The translation of children's literature from Portuguese to Chinese should prioritize the needs and understanding of young Chinese readers, as this directly influences the reception of the original Portuguese work in China. In this paper, we will first present the translation of children's literature in light of Reception Theory, summarizing the four main horizons of expectation attributed to chinese child reader. Then, we will discuss the translation of the bilingual work «奥丽安娜仙女 – A Fada Oriana», chosen as a case study for linguistic, rhetorical and cultural analysis, through specific excerpts. In the final part, we will summarize useful strategies and suggestions, aiming to provide guidance for those who intend to pursue or are already engaged in the specialty of Portuguese-Chinese translation, with a particular focus on children's books, thereby promoting the development of Translation Studies in this field.

Lu Xun translated in Portugal: an overview from 1944

Charles Chon Neng Cheung — 2025-05-27

This paper aims to study the Portuguese translation history of Lu Xun: who translated what, when and why? Most of the studies read indicate few translations exist and they were all published after 1976. However, these same studies do not go into sufficient detail about the translation phenomena relating to this author. In order to build up an overview, this study compiles a catalogue of Lu Xun translated in Portugal by reading previous studies and consulting existing catalogues; it then analyses the paratexts of the translations. The compiled catalogue (in Appendices I and II) shows 11 volumes of Lu Xun’s short stories, essays and poems, published between 1944 and 2014. The results indicate that the timeless reason for translating Lu Xun is literary value; however, between 1958 and 1976, ideology stimulated the translations. In addition, several directions are suggested for future research into Lu Xun in Portugal.

Translation of Xi Jinping’s The Governance of China: a case study of selected sentences in the light of German functionalism

Mengyao Zhang — 2025-05-27

In recent years, the study of the multilingual translation of works by China’s national leaders has become a new field of academic research, because, in the current international context, this type of translation has gone beyond the action of translation itself, playing a crucial role in shaping China’s image abroad. This article will use the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Vol. I) as a corpus, assuming the theoretical framework of the most representative theories of German functionalism. We will focus on the study of the translation into Portuguese of a selection of classic sentences quoted by Xi Jinping, discussing different translation strategies, especially those related to the symmetrical structure of the Chinese language, the musicality of Chinese characters, and the culture-specific items of Chinese culture. At the same time, we will seek to analyze the motivations that led translators to make certain choices, allowing us to reflect on the quality of the final translation.

Governance Models with Chinese Characteristics

Anabela Rodrigues Santiago — 2025-05-27

The aim of this study is to carry out a literature review of the concept of governance in the context of the People's Republic of China. While existing studies on Chinese governance often focus on governance from a business perspective, this analysis excludes that realm. Instead, it delves into the field of governance in the sphere of contemporary politics in China, both at the level of foreign and domestic policy, covering the period from 1978 to 2023. The lack of academic consensus on this issue of Chinese positioning in political governance is evident in both China studies and political science, with two predominant perspectives: one that defends China's peaceful rise as a statu quo power and another that presents the 'Chinese threat' as a tangible reality. This article analyses the factors that underpin both trends, highlighting the inherent and strategic ambiguity that characterizes China's positioning in this and other matters, and the role of its governance model in the new global order.

China in the South Atlantic: a matter of security

Paulo Afonso Brardo Duarte — 2025-05-27

Although a relatively late actor in the South Atlantic, China has become increasingly involved in the dynamics of the region due to its economic commitments, logistical needs and perceived threats to the security of its investments and diaspora. This article therefore argues that in a context where geo-economics is inseparable from geopolitics, the South Atlantic, although remote for China, has become increasingly important in the operations that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been conducting in the region since 2014. As we aim to demonstrate, the role that the South Atlantic plays in China's maritime strategy is not qualitatively different from that played by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. On the contrary, the difference lies mainly in its intensity, since by virtue of its geography the South Atlantic is a distant sea, which makes it less urgent than the Pacific where Chinese assertiveness is high. However, although distant, the South Atlantic tends to allow the PLAN, in the medium and/or long term, to alleviate the pressure exerted by the US on China's coastal waters.

Portugal's current cultural diplomacy in China

Nuno Canas Mendes — 2025-05-27

With the new configurations in international politics, the role of culture in international relations has become increasingly important. The combination of diplomacy and culture brings a new dynamic to interactions between countries. Cultural diplomacy aims to improve the image of countries and establish affinities not only with elites, but also with the public mass of the target country, using cultural resources. Portugal, like other European powers, has leveraged its culture for political and economic purposes since the beginning of the 20th century. By quantitatively analyzing information gathered from the social networks of Portuguese institutions in China (WeChat accounts of the Portuguese Embassy in Beijing, the Consulate General of Portugal in Shanghai, the Consulate General of Portugal in Guangzhou and Turismo de Portugal), this paper aims to provide a general context for Portugal's current cultural diplomacy in the People's Republic of China, analyzing the agents and resources involved and summarizing its characteristics.

Geopolitics and Global Health

Luís Sobral Domingues — 2025-05-27

Armed conflicts and outbreaks of infectious diseases coexist in the 21st century in various regions of the globe. Geopolitics emphasises the power and geography of states, but the ability to wage war is contradicted by the United Nations Charter. Armed conflicts lead to movements of refugees and internally displaced people, which increase infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The aim was to establish a correlation between armed conflicts and outbreaks of infectious diseases in order to better understand the relationship between geopolitics and global health. The emergence of these diseases with a transnational impact is influenced by war, which amplifies the effects, and by demographic, climatic and economic factors. It was concluded that, in certain circumstances and contexts, conflicts influence the emergence of outbreaks of infectious diseases, establishing a causal relationship between them. The reorganisation of global health systems should emcompass the contribution of geopolitics and international relations.

From China’s Global Health Diplomacy

Diogo Miguel Ribeiro Cardoso — 2025-05-27

This article examines the transformative role of Global Health Diplomacy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing specifically on Health Silk Road. It investigates the strategic manoeuvres of the People's Republic of China, which used various diplomatic approaches, such as Mask Diplomacy and Vaccine Diplomacy, to establish itself as a prominent actor in Global Health Governance. The article explores the multifaceted dimensions of the Health Silk Road and its impact on regional health cooperation, pandemic response and health governance. Through literature review and analysis of policy documents, the article provides insight into the contributions and challenges associated with China's Global Health Diplomacy efforts, critically examining the effectiveness of these approaches in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 and strengthening health systems along the Health Silk Road. In addition, the article discusses the concept of "COVID-0" as a potential new paradigm for pandemic response, exploring China's efforts to achieve zero cases through stringent containment measures. Ultimately, this article sheds light on the paradigm shift in Global Health Diplomacy and the role played by China in transforming the Health Silk Road in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, gauging that Mask Diplomacy performed better than the Vaccine Diplomacy.

From Earth to Space

Marta Filipa Simões — 2025-05-27

As humanity ventures further into the cosmos, the field of astromycology, which studies the effects of space conditions on fungi, is gaining increasing importance. Fungi, with their remarkable adaptability and ability to thrive in extreme environments, hold immense potential for space exploration. In Macau, a special administrative region of China, the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets) has emerged as a pioneer in astromycology research. The lab's astrobiology research group is dedicated to understanding the effects of space conditions on fungi and developing new technologies for utilizing fungi in space exploration. Their work includes sampling from terrestrial analogues, conducting exposure experiments with simulated outer space parameters, and screening fungal processes and strains for potential applications in space. Macau's contributions to astromycology are paving the way for ground-breaking discoveries and technological advancements that will shape the future of space exploration.

Main Features of the Theoretical Paradigm of Traditional Chinese Medicine

José Faro — 2025-05-27

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has shown great potential for improving people's health and well-being and TCM is an important part of the healthcare system worldwide. However, understanding its importance and clinical effectiveness requires a thorough understanding of its theoretical framework. The aim of this article is to briefly present the main characteristics of the TCM paradigm and theoretical system. Firstly, the theoretical system of TCM is characterized in general terms and then the main characteristics of its theoretical paradigm are explained in simple terms. In this context, its systemic (holistic), phenomenological, dialectical and person- and clinic-centered nature is presented. Finally, the importance of TCM in the WHO's One Health System concept and its inclusion in the new efforts to develop a One Health System Workforce are emphasized.

The Historical and Recent Scientific Development of Imperial Court Medicine from Qing Dynasty

Ziwen Yang — 2025-05-27

Imperial court medicine is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has provided medical and health care services for the royal family since ancient China. It has accumulated a wealth of well-documented theories, and clinical practice experiences, including medications, acupuncture, massage and other treatments, which reflect the characteristics and needs of the imperial culture and environment. This review explores the development and highlights the major features of imperial court medicine in the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD-1911 AD), and discusses how imperial court medicine has been inherited and further advanced in modern times. It summarizes the practice and research of Imperial court medicine by focusing on two key aspects: medicated diets for health preservation and anti-aging strategies, with the aim to contribute understanding, and the promotion of imperial court medicine as a valuable cultural heritage and important source of health and wellness strategies for modern society.

Representation of Chinese 5G in Portugal

Si Chen — 2025-05-27

The Chinese company Huawei has generated controversy as the importance of 5G technology has become evident in recent years. In May 2023, Portugal decided to exclude the company from the country's 5G infrastructure, due to its considered “high risk” to the security of national networks. From an intertextual perspective, this article examines how the journalists include and articulate various sources and how they position themselves in relation to external voices in the representation of Chinese 5G in Portugal, through the collection and analysis of related texts in the newspaper Público from 2019 to 2023. The results reveal Portugal's dilemma on this matter, accompanied by thematic evolution from opportunity, concern to risk/refusal in the context of geopolitical competition. Explanatory texts stand out among different forms of reporting, in which journalists distance themselves from external voices through well-attributed quotes.

Shift of deontic modality in simultaneous interpreting

Liu Gaole — 2025-05-27

This paper aims to perform a semantic analysis of the Portuguese deontic modal verbs “ter de” and “ter que”, used in a simultaneous interpretation in the Legislative Assembly of Macau. To this end, we resort to the modal logic theories of Kripke (2003), Kratzer (1977) and Portner (2009), understanding the issues of necessity and possibility through the semantics of possible worlds. Therefore, was selected a Cantonese-Portuguese simultaneous interpretation of a plenary meeting, during which social issues were discussed by Legislative Assembly members and the chief executive. After the construction of the corpus, the occurrences of semantic shift of modal verbs in the interpretation are verified, then, we observe the reasoning of such application, and the respective sociopolitical influences. The results show that most of the mentioned verbs come from shift, indicating an increase in modal force. Consequently, the semantic shifts are reflected in the news published by the local Portuguese media.

Chinese Students and Authentic Materials

Pedro Caeiro — 2025-05-27

Foreign Language teaching materials are frequently published textbooks, even if those materials can’t be suited to every teaching context, meaning that it’s preferable to create authentic teaching materials, that replicate the target language use outside of the classroom. However, teaching in China is still mainly based on the traditional method, where all activities are based on a textbook. Therefore, the students of the Bachelor of Portuguese Programme at the City University of Macau were asked to answer a questionnaire, where they had to evaluate all the activities and tasks that they completed/performed througout the course (from both published materials and materials designed by the course teacher), regarding their authenticity, the motivation that they caused and how effective they were. On the following article, this questionnaire’s findings will be analysed and discussed.

Digital competencies of Portuguese language teachers in China

Yilan Shen — 2025-05-27

This paper tries to examine part of the current situation of digital competencies of Portuguese language teachers in China, by analyzing the case of Hubei University, based on a qualitative and exploratory methodology, which involves a semi-structured interview with five Portuguese teachers from Hubei University. The results show that Portuguese language teachers have the digital competencies to meet the most basic needs of digital teaching, but they are still faced with certain challenges. In this context, we propose some implications for the creation of a favorable environment for the promotion of digital competencies of Portuguese language teachers in China.

Language Transfer in Portuguese Learners of Chinese as Second Language

Qunying Li — 2025-05-27

This study aims to investigate linguistic transfer phenomena in Portuguese learners of Chinese as a second language (L2), specifically regarding the use of the conjunction 和^hé (e) in linking constituents. Analyzing 124 compositions, it was observed that Portuguese L2 learners perform better in linking nominal items, due to the similarity between linking forms in the two languages, facilitating positive transfer. However, they face difficulties in linking verbal and adjectival items, which are manifested as inappropriate use of the conjunction 和^hé (e) and ignorance of the characteristics of coordinated elements. The greatest difficulty was found in linking clauses, in which the structure differs from Portuguese, leading to errors due to negative transfer. Moreover, the attempt to directly equate the conjunction 和^hé (e) with “e” (“and” in Portuguese) results in erroneous hypotheses and overgeneralizations.

Cultural Convergence between the Diffusion of Western Music in the East and the Migration of Chinese Music to the South

Dingcheng Dai — 2025-05-27

Macau was the first gateway for the diffusion of Western music in the East and, simultaneously, the meeting point for the migration of Chinese continental music to the South, being considered a place of convergence of Western and Eastern cultures. Over the 400 years since the opening of the Port of Macau, we have found, yet to be explored, many traces and records of music, both Chinese and Western, religious and secular, classical and folk. Compared to some Chinese regions with relatively recent contact with Western culture or places where there are cultural gaps due to various factors, Macau can be considered as a unique case for musical historical research, due to aspects of collision, coexistence, integration and transmission in its tradition and customs.

論區師達神父在中葡音樂交流中的貢獻

Zhang Mengrui — 2025-05-27

區師達神父通過建立聖庇護十世音樂學院、鼓勵和幫助師生赴葡深造、組織社會音樂活動和樂團以及創作中葡融合的音樂作品，在跨國音樂交流中發揮了重要的推動作用，促進了中葡間的音樂文化交流，讓中葡音樂文化更加緊密地連結在一起。同時，他的努力也在澳門音樂教育和音樂發展方面做出了重要貢獻，為澳門的音樂界栽下了種子，培育出一片豐饒的音樂文化園地。

Contemporary architecture in Beijing

Maria José de Freitas — 2025-05-28

To address the issue of architecture in China and its spatial configuration, I will discuss architecture in general on the greater Chinese continent, since analysis must currently be carried out on a multidimensional scale, such is the breadth of communication, continuity and interface that runs through it. This essay argues that as a result of the exchange of information and the synergies created, new architectural objects are visible throughout the country, where diverse experiences follow one another, multiply, intersect and enhance one another. Recent years of architectural production in China, particularly in Beijing, have been permeable to Western influences in the era of globalization. However, recently, there has been a change that finds its main motivation in authenticity.

Via do Meio: a proximidade do distante

Carlos Morais José — 2025-05-27

[Recensão a] Via do Meio: a proximidade do distante

Morais, C. & Cuicui, Ch. (Eds.) (2023). Imagens do Oriente na literatura portuguesa. Aveiro: Instituto Confúcio-UA Editora.

Paulo Alexandre Pereira — 2025-05-27

[Recensão a] Morais, C. & Cuicui, Ch. (Eds.) (2023). Imagens do Oriente na literatura portuguesa. Aveiro: Instituto Confúcio-UA Editora.

Mai, R., Morais, C., & Pereira, U. (2022). Gramática de Língua Chinesa para Falantes de Português (2.ª ed.). Aveiro: UA Editora/Instituto Confúcio da Universidade de Aveiro.

João Veloso — 2025-05-27

[Recensão a] Mai, R., Morais, C., & Pereira, U. (2022). Gramática de Língua Chinesa para Falantes de Português (2.ª ed.). Aveiro: UA Editora/Instituto Confúcio da Universidade de Aveiro.