Road to Cultural Understanding

When Russian scholar Olga Dubkova arrived in China in 1997, despite it being her first visit, she was no stranger to Chinese culture.

Having taught Chinese students Russian for five years before her arrival, she had already developed a deep appreciation for Chinese traditions and values. "I didn't experience culture shock," she says. "What surprised me more was the landscape, especially the mountains."

Coming from the flat terrain of Western Siberia, she says she still gets excited when she sees mountains. "It reminds me of the story of the 'Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains,'" she says, referring to a Chinese fable about a man achieving the seemingly impossible with sheer dedication and perseverance. "Only a people as hardworking as the Chinese could build such beautiful roads across such varied terrain."

Now a respected scholar and professor at Xi'an International Studies University, Dubkova has spent over two decades contributing to Chinese studies, translation, and education. Her work extends beyond the assignment, going deep into the ideas that shape China's development and its evolving role in the world.

Bridging cultures through research

A prolific author, Dubkova's influential book The Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: From Idea to Practice has drawn wide attention in Russian academic circles. She explains what drew her to the study of China's political and social development: "China is a country with 5,000 years of history. Its civilization has not only shaped itself, but also influenced the world beyond Eurasia."

She also highlights the strategic partnership between China and Russia, noting that both countries are working together to build a new global order based on principles like the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence proposed over 50 years ago. These principles are mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

Dubkova emphasizes that understanding China's future requires understanding its past. "Only by understanding the past can we see the future," she says. She keeps up with current events and reads extensively, considering it her duty to share the knowledge she has gained through decades of collaboration with Chinese colleagues and students.

Carrying meaning across languages

With over 80 co-authored works and translations to her name, including The Values of the Chinese People and Selected Tang Poems, Dubkova sees translation as a key tool for cultural exchange. She explains that translating political texts and translating classical poetry pose very different challenges. "Machine translation of political documents is possible," she says, "but the results still need careful editing. The process is similar to what happened in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when teams of scholars worked together to translate Buddhist texts."

Poetry, however, remains a uniquely difficult art. "The problem of preserving poetic meaning in translation has not been solved," she admits. She often relies on a two-step method: a literal translation followed by creative adaptation by a poet. She draws inspiration from early 20th-century Russian poets, such as Anna Akhmatova and Nikolai Gumilev, who created beautiful Russian versions of Chinese poetry based on literal translations. "My dream is that 100 years from now, Russians will still be reading my translations," she says.

In her work, The Values of the Chinese People, she employed scientific methods, including statistical analysis, to explore how the Chinese perceive concepts such as "homeland." The results showed that "homeland" is deeply connected to the family, nation, and the Communist Party of China, and not a single respondent gave a negative response. "This shows objectively that the concept of homeland is central to Chinese life," she says.

Beyond translation, Dubkova has also contributed to education through her co-authorship of more than 20 Russian language teaching materials, many of which are now widely used in Chinese universities. She stresses the importance of keeping educational content up to date. "Languages change," she points out. "So should our teaching methods." She encourages fellow educators to stay active in curriculum development, emphasizing that outdated materials hinder students' ability to engage with the real world.

Belonging to a city and a culture

Xi'an has become Dubkova's second home. She first visited the city in 2001 during the Spring Festival and was captivated by its ancient beauty. "It was snowing," she recalls. "The rooftops were covered in white, and the lanterns on the city walls made everything feel bright and joyful." That moment left a lasting impression, and when she later had the opportunity to work at Xi'an International Studies University, she didn't hesitate.

She speaks warmly of the city's unique character. "Xi'an is an important center in northwest China," she says. "Its history has had ups and downs, but it has always maintained the pride and dignity of an ancient capital." She has traveled widely across Shaanxi province, from big cities to villages, and says the feeling of peace and harmony she finds there grows stronger with each visit.

Her dedication to her work was recognized in 2024 when she received the Chinese Government Friendship Award， a moment she says was deeply emotional. "I can describe the details of the award ceremony," she says, "but I still can't fully grasp the meaning of the whole experience. This award belongs not only to me, but to my university, my colleagues, my students, and everyone who has supported me."

Today, Dubkova continues to teach, translate, and research to deepen mutual understanding between China and the world. "To understand another culture," she says, "you must first understand your own. And once you open your heart, the world opens its doors to you."

Source: Science and Technology Daily