Zhang Jing [People.cn]

Zhang Jing, born in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, is to publish her translated version of Volume II of the most famous Wuxia novelist Jin Yong's Legends of the Condor Heroes next year, together with her partner Anna Holmwood.
Zhang grew up in Hong Kong and graduated from the Art History Department, University of London.
Zhang said that she learned about Louis Cha's (better known as Jin Yong) novels from television dramas that adapted from the works, such as the 1983 version of Legends of the Condor Heroes and the 1994 version of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Jin Yong is the most famous writer in Hong Kong, who wuxia novels have a widespread following in Chinese communities worldwide.
"I grew up in Hong Kong, but I was very fond of Chinese classical literature. I'm also very interested in dramas and have been observing dramas for six years during my study in the UK," Zhang added.
Thanks to her profound literary knowledge and outstanding translation skills, Anna Holmwood, who initiated the translation of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, approached her for cooperation.
"I have known Anna for more than ten years. She is also very interested in Chinese literature and experienced in translating Chinese novels. We are both glad that we can do this together," said Zhang.
Referring to the translation, Zhang revealed that highlighting the spirit of the Chinese swordsmen to foreign readers is one of the most important aspects. She believes that translating literature and stories is not a simple process of transforming each word or sentence into another language. In many cases, translation is more of an empathy to the culture, feelings, and stories behind the specific language.
In order to authentically portray the martial arts scenes in the novels, Zhang even signed up for a Tai Chi class a year ago, in the hope of fully immersing herself into the scene and thus benefiting her in creating a more desirable translation.
Zhang also said that, in fact, Chinese literary works and even Asian literature were rarely translated overseas, and more often than not, foreign editors can barely read Chinese, thus she wanted to spread outstanding Chinese works by her own translations and allow more Chinese literary works to be become better known in the world.
A Hero Born, the first volume of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, is a cultural monument of its genre translated into English for the first time. Since its release in February this year, it has been printed for seven times within a short span of two months, favorably reviewed by The Times, The Economist and The Guardian and other renown media.

The cover of Legends of the Condor Heroes I: A Hero Born [People.cn]