The Internet Reception of Hesse in China

In the field of the Chinese reception of Hermann Hesse’s works, there is a noteworthy phenomenon: the growing popularity and acceptance of classic texts which have been given modern translations by a younger generation of readers. A prime example of this is Siddhartha. The version translated by the young female scholar Jiang Yi (姜乙, “悉达多,” 天津人民出版社 [Tianjin: Tianjin People’s Publishing House, 2016]) stands out for its poetic and fluid style, earning high praise from readers and ranking 11th among the best-selling novels on the Chinese e-­commerce website Dangdang (当当).1Dangdang was founded in 1999. This translation also garnered positive feedback on Douban (豆瓣).2Douban was founded in 2005; the website provides information about and a forum for discussion of books, movies, music, and other works. Similarly, Yugong Yang’s translation of Siddhartha (杨玉功, “悉达多,” 上海人民出版社 [Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Publishing House, 2009]) has been well-received on Douban. The trend continues with other Hesse novels, such as Demian, Der Steppenwolf, Unterm Rad, and so on. These fresh efforts by emerging translators have created a significant wave, building upon and surpassing earlier esteemed translations, thereby playing a vital role in broadening the reach and impact of Hesse’s literary works in China.

As for Hesse groups on social media, the Hesse Group on Douban3https://www.douban.com/group/topic/78176475/?_i=6146633Qzk-ePk. was founded in 2006 and has since garnered more than fourteen thousand members. The “Hesse Discussion Forum” (黑塞吧)4https://tieba.baidu.com/f?kw=%E9%BB%91%E5%A1%9E&ie=utf-8. on the Baidu online community (百度贴吧)5Baidu online community is a top Chinese bulletin board system established in 2007. has over five thousand posts dedicated to Hesse. Discussions about “How to evaluate Hesse and his works”6https://www.zhihu.com/question/20912937/answer/2618372642. can also be found on question-and-answer forum websites such as Zhihu (知乎).7Zhihu was founded in 2011. This essay mainly synthesizes the information from these representative reading platforms to understand some new developments regarding Hermann Hesse’s reception among ordinary readers in China.

First, regarding the age of readers who appreciate Hesse’s works, most respondents are aged between twenty and thirty, followed by those aged between sixteen and twenty. Second, how readers have come to know about Hesse can be roughly divided into the following ways. 1) From middle-school textbooks like Ways to Get Educated that include excerpts from Hesse’s Eine Bibliothek der Weltliteratur (A Library of World Literature), which is used in Jiangsu Province, and Flötentraum (Flute Dream), which is used as a textbook in Shanghai. 2) From the writings of contemporary cultural scholars. 3) From foreign literature, film, television, music, etc., such as reading Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, Tezuka’s (手冢治虫) cartoon Siddhartha, the Korean TV series My Name is Kim Sanshun, Producer, and Voice, the Korean Band BTS, and the German film Our Fathers. 4) From friends, such as WeChat friend circles and roommates. 5) From pop stars and actors.8For example, a reader on Baidu’s “Hesse Discussion Forum,” said that her first contact with Hesse’s works was Siddhartha, recommended by an actress. This list shows how contemporary communication about Hesse’s works has evolved from the one-way paper media of the past to the interaction characteristic of social media platforms.

Thirdly, what does Hesse mean to readers? What kind of people like Hesse? Most of the main characters in Hesse’s works are marginal individuals who seek spiritual liberation, making Hesse’s works particularly attractive to young people. Some young readers might believe that in today’s world, where there is an excessive focus on material wealth, people are facing a broader crisis, and it is crucial to establish a spiritual home. Many readers have found a reflection of themselves in the characters of Demian, Siddhartha, and Steppenwolf. They have shared that “every time I read a book by Hesse, I become more convinced of my value and pay more attention to my existence” and “reading his books is like a journey that leads to your own deep, winding path, but quenches your thirst in stages.”9“What kind of people will be fond of Hermann Hesse?,” Zhihu, https://www.zhihu.com/tardis/bd/ans/1750514514. One reader mentioned that in her twenties, she went through nearly a year of painful wandering, during which Siddhartha was her only book, and Hermann Hesse later became a source of spiritual inspiration for her.10Shiyi Qi (祁十一), “Wandering for a Year on the Road: What Hermann Hesse Taught Me,” April 11, 2018, https://www.douban.com/note/665227934.

Hesse’s works also draw readers’ attention to faith and spirituality. Some readers became interested in Buddhism after reading Siddhartha. Some monastics have even stated that it was only after becoming a monk or nun that they truly understood the themes and messages of Siddhartha.11The nun Yong Yun (永芸) writes: “when I was a student, I read Hermann Hesse’s The Song of the Wanderer (Siddhartha) and didn’t grasp the real meaning at that time. Only after I became a nun, went deep into the Buddhist classics, and read it again could I understand it. Because I have also experienced the growth of ‘bitterness, concentration, extinction and Tao’ in the process of seeking Tao.” Yong Yun, 云水禅心， 宗教文化出版社 [Zen Heart of Cloud and Water] (Beijing: Religious Culture Press, 2018), 5.

Young people have expressed their admiration and love for Hesse in various forms. For example, one tattooed his name on their arm, while others have drawn cartoons inspired by Hesse’s works to depict their inner world, such as the scene of “birds drilling out of eggshells” from Demian. Teachers and students from a middle school in Beijing also performed “The Complete Story of Demian in a dramatic form for Tencent Video.”12“Tencent Video,” The Literary Theater of Beijing Dingshi Middle School, 136 minutes, issued in February 2022, https://v.qq.com/x/cover/mzc0 0200y3otkjp/y0041svfiiv.html (but now access may be prohibited). Additionally, a college architecture student known as “Oriental Traveler” created a series of exquisite videos on Hermann Hesse on Bilibili13As YouTube and Google are prohibited in China, the majority of the short videos related to Hesse are currently available on Bilibili, a cultural community and video website popular among young people. This website was founded in 2009 and has become a hub for Hesse-related content. Additionally, some other websites, such as “good-looking video,” also feature videos related to Hesse. out of his love for Hesse’s works, providing a vivid explanation of Hesse’s life, historical background, and his themes at various stages of his career.14Since 2021, eight episodes have been released in the series, amounting to a total of 120 minutes, and they have been played twenty-seven thousand times, with more episodes to come. In addition to commentary, the video features many quotes from Hesse’s poems and novels. The producer’s creativity is showcased through the use of scenes from other films to help narrate Hesse’s story. There are also many videos recommending, discussing, or sharing Hesse’s works, which, while they were mainly created by young readers, appeal to Hesse fans of all ages. This has contributed to the dissemination of Hesse’s works.