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spoem.bsky.social
Sabina Knight 桑稟華
@spoem.bsky.social
3.2K followers 1.6K following 560 posts
* #Chinese #Literature: A Very Short Introduction * (Oxford)
& *The Heart of Time* (Harvard)

Translator & Interpreter: En/Fr/繁中/简中/Ru
雙語 @SabinaKnight.bsky.social

Care ethicist @FairbankCenter
#PIPfellow @NCUSCR.bsky.social
Prof Emerita WLT @SmithCollege
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spoem.bsky.social
Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · 29d
@chinabooksreview.com just published my review of Yu Hua's 余华 *City of Fiction*《文城》(2021, tr. 2025).

"Along with other contemporary Chinese works with such graphic violence, Yu’s novel does political work by purging the traumas of China’s bloody 20th century."
chinabooksreview.com/2025/10/30/f...
Yu Hua: Fictional Cities | China Books Review
The bestselling Chinese novelist foregrounds individual suffering in the chaos of modern Chinese history. In his latest novel in translation, gratuitous violence shows the limits of fiction.
chinabooksreview.com
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
jwassers.bsky.social
👇 Wide ranging and insightful piece by @spoem.bsky.social that places Yu Hua's latest work into the context of his previous works of fiction and writings by other important figures of his generation, via @chinabooksreview.com
spoem.bsky.social Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · 29d
@chinabooksreview.com just published my review of Yu Hua's 余华 *City of Fiction*《文城》(2021, tr. 2025).

"Along with other contemporary Chinese works with such graphic violence, Yu’s novel does political work by purging the traumas of China’s bloody 20th century."
chinabooksreview.com/2025/10/30/f...
Yu Hua: Fictional Cities | China Books Review
The bestselling Chinese novelist foregrounds individual suffering in the chaos of modern Chinese history. In his latest novel in translation, gratuitous violence shows the limits of fiction.
chinabooksreview.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
@chinabooksreview.com just published my review of Yu Hua's 余华 *City of Fiction*《文城》(2021, tr. 2025).

"Along with other contemporary Chinese works with such graphic violence, Yu’s novel does political work by purging the traumas of China’s bloody 20th century."
chinabooksreview.com/2025/10/30/f...
Yu Hua: Fictional Cities | China Books Review
The bestselling Chinese novelist foregrounds individual suffering in the chaos of modern Chinese history. In his latest novel in translation, gratuitous violence shows the limits of fiction.
chinabooksreview.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
* #Chinese #Literature: A Very Short Introduction* 🀄📚

* The most accessible guide to Chinese literature available––compact but textured & far-reaching.

* Serves as a window on Chinese culture from a philosophical, comparative approach.

"a marvel of economy, substance, and style."
ALT for VSI: Screenshot of an overview of Sabina Knight's book *Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction* from Oxford University Press. The book cover appears on the left, with pink at the top, red in the middle, and green at the bottom. On the right, under the title and phrase "Very Short Introductions", four bullet points suggest four of the book's virtues: * The most accessible guide to Chinese literature available--compact but textured and far-reaching * Serves as a window on Chinese culture from a philosophical, comparative approach * Introduces Chinese literary theories * Argues for the rise of literary modernity from as early as the eleventh century
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
"Short #Stories from #Taiwan" 🀄📚

My @fivebooks.com recommendations for #Chinese -language fiction in English translation.

Link: fivebooks.com/best-books/s...
"Short Stories from Taiwan." recommended by Sabina Knight (Screenshot of the brightly coloured webpage from Knight's "Five Books" listicle.) "With careful literary crafting, Taiwan's writers have told the complex story of their country since World War II. Sabina Knight, a professor at Smith College and author of *Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction*, recommends five of her favourite short story collections." Interview by Sophie Roell, Editor. The covers of Sabina's five recommended books appear at the bottom of the screenshot. In the top right of the screenshot is the cover of Sabina's *Chinese Literature VSI*. The full title and author's name appear in larger black font below the image of the cover.
April 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
elenaexisting.bsky.social
Thanks for writing this! I especially appreciated the tour of Yu's other novels in the second half. I've only read The Seventh Day, so I found this overview to be very helpful!
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
spoem.bsky.social
@chinabooksreview.com just published my review of Yu Hua's 余华 *City of Fiction*《文城》(2021, tr. 2025).

"Along with other contemporary Chinese works with such graphic violence, Yu’s novel does political work by purging the traumas of China’s bloody 20th century."
chinabooksreview.com/2025/10/30/f...
Yu Hua: Fictional Cities | China Books Review
The bestselling Chinese novelist foregrounds individual suffering in the chaos of modern Chinese history. In his latest novel in translation, gratuitous violence shows the limits of fiction.
chinabooksreview.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
chinabooksreview.com
The bestselling Chinese novelist Yu Hua foregrounds individual suffering in the chaos of modern Chinese history. In his latest novel in translation, gratuitous violence shows the limits of fiction.

Read Sabina Knight's review of "City of Fiction": chinabooksreview.com/2025/10/30/f...
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
richardmarshall.nl
फाउंड दिस वर्क अबाउट चाइनीज लिटरचर अ कम्प्लीट गाइड एण्ड रिएलि एनजोएड आईटी। ई फाउंड आईटी एवर सो प्लीज़िंग तो रीड एण्ड आईटी वास सच अ वन्डर्फल वेल्थ ऑफ नालिज पककेड ईंटों सच अ समाल बुक! इटस अ Pocket Book डॉन्ट यू नो। ऊसएरफुल फॉर लॉंग ट्रेन जौरनेस सो इफ यू प्लान ऑन थे ट्रांस-छिन नेपाली एक्स्प्रेस देन टेक दिस विद यू!

***** five stars*****
spoem.bsky.social Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · Nov 19
* #Chinese #Literature: A Very Short Introduction* 🀄📚

* The most accessible guide to Chinese literature available––compact but textured & far-reaching.

* Serves as a window on Chinese culture from a philosophical, comparative approach.

"a marvel of economy, substance, and style."
ALT for VSI: Screenshot of an overview of Sabina Knight's book *Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction* from Oxford University Press. The book cover appears on the left, with pink at the top, red in the middle, and green at the bottom. On the right, under the title and phrase "Very Short Introductions", four bullet points suggest four of the book's virtues: * The most accessible guide to Chinese literature available--compact but textured and far-reaching * Serves as a window on Chinese culture from a philosophical, comparative approach * Introduces Chinese literary theories * Argues for the rise of literary modernity from as early as the eleventh century
October 23, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
jwassers.bsky.social
Engaging & appreciative review at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social of two works of literature from the Ming era lareviewofbooks.org/article/in-t... cc @chowleen.bsky.social @bairuiwen.bsky.social @spoem.bsky.social
In the Late Ming, Literature Is Survival | Los Angeles Review of Books
Mahika Dhar reviews two classics of Chinese literature: Kong Shangren’s “The Peach Blossom Fan” and Zhang Yingyu’s “More Swindles from the Late Ming.”
lareviewofbooks.org
August 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
aleschreiber.me
I'm trying to build a feed that highlights the diverse voices in the literary world, particularly those involved in literary translation (all language combinations).
So, #literarytranslators out there, help me complete this #starterpack and let me know if you'd like to be added.

go.bsky.app/SurjbAj
November 17, 2024 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
sabinaknight.bsky.social
#台灣 #短篇小說 集 ── 我推薦的五部傑作。🀄📚
spoem.bsky.social Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · Apr 15
"Short #Stories from #Taiwan" 🀄📚

My @fivebooks.com recommendations for #Chinese -language fiction in English translation.

Link: fivebooks.com/best-books/s...
"Short Stories from Taiwan." recommended by Sabina Knight (Screenshot of the brightly coloured webpage from Knight's "Five Books" listicle.) "With careful literary crafting, Taiwan's writers have told the complex story of their country since World War II. Sabina Knight, a professor at Smith College and author of *Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction*, recommends five of her favourite short story collections." Interview by Sophie Roell, Editor. The covers of Sabina's five recommended books appear at the bottom of the screenshot. In the top right of the screenshot is the cover of Sabina's *Chinese Literature VSI*. The full title and author's name appear in larger black font below the image of the cover.
April 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
"The rightwing movement against #empathy seeks to dismantle & discredit one of the essential tools for any society – our capacity to recognize & respond to #suffering. We should see the campaign against empathy . . . for what it is: a flashing red light warning of #fascist intent."
@theguardian.com
Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy
Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague
www.theguardian.com
April 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
ajaanmark.bsky.social
There used to be a social democratic faction in the CCP. Time to rehabilitate that tendency, introduce welfare to put a floor under wages, discourage excessive saving and increase consumption.
April 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
" #Journalists are first, but everyone else is next."

With "lawsuits against 'the enemy camp,'" #publishers, #writers & academics are first. "Doctors, teachers, accountants will be next."

" #Authoritarianism is as predictable as a Swiss train."
@carolecadwalla.bsky.social @theguardian.com
How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world | Carole Cadwalladr
In the wake of Trump’s unnerving appointees, the investigative journalist and veteran of the libel court offers pointers on coping in an age of surveillance
www.theguardian.com
April 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
jamestwotree.bsky.social
Created a Taiwan Studies Starter Pack for folks coming from Twitter. Let me know if you ought to be on here! go.bsky.app/TG2GBbz
November 16, 2024 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
One of my current projects explores #non-Han #fiction & #poetry.

On the former, I wrote an article for *World #Literature Today*.

I've given talks on the broader project. I'm open to giving more.
🀄📚 www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2022/january...
China’s Minority Fiction, by Sabina Knight
Multiethnic fiction speaks volumes about Chinese attitudes toward minorities, as well as these peoples’ historical understandings, their search for roots, and longings for cultural survival.
www.worldliteraturetoday.org
November 17, 2024 at 11:08 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
hushuo.bsky.social
I need to pick a couple of these up!

Five Books: Short Stories from Taiwan, recommended by Sabina Knight

fivebooks.com/best-books/s...
January 18, 2024 at 1:24 AM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
In #China, gov legitimacy depends on economic stability.

Econ uncertainty threatened CCP legitimacy until Trump's #tariffs & trade war.

Now the Party can blame econ troubles on U.S. "efforts to contain China -- rather than bad governance," as @chinalawtranslate.bsky.social writes on @nytimes.com:
Trump Showed His Pain Point in His Standoff With China
www.nytimes.com
April 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
"600 million #Chinese take home less than $140 a month and have minimum social benefits, a major reason they save so much and consume less than the #economy needs."

–– Li Yuan @nytimes.com
In U.S.- China Tariffs Standoff, Trump Showed Xi He Has Limits
Xi Jinping, who rules with absolute authority, has shown he is willing to let the Chinese people endure hardship. President Trump revealed he has limits.
www.nytimes.com
April 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
Update: I've submitted multiple appeals.

No answer.

Can anyone help me reverse X's #censorship?

( #Chinese #dissidents and others still use X. )
spoem.bsky.social Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · Dec 14
X blocked my #Chinese account.

A friend suggested that #China may have objected to my posts, especially my posts about #Uyghurs and #Tibetans, as well my article (and talks?) on their and other ethnic " #minorities'" longings for cultural survival.

I did not violate X's rules, I'm pretty sure.
Screenshot of X's "Account suspended" notification to Sabina Knight's X account. The Profile photos and bio are all gone. There's only a black background with a dark grey circle where the profile photo would be and a medium-shade grey band at the top. The Chinese characters for Sabina Knight's Chinese name appear in white font before her name in English. Below is her handle: @SangBina , also in white though somewhat small font. Below her name and handle are the words "Account suspended" in large white font. Below in smaller white font is the sentence "X suspends account which violate the X Rules." The "X Rules" is in bright blue font and look as if there's likely a clickable link to the rules.
March 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
tommazanec.bsky.social
Never met Prof. Gregory in person, but I’ve learned so much through his books, especially _Tsung-mi and the Sinification of Buddhism_ and _Sudden and Gradual _. All students of Chinese Buddhism in the anglophone world live in his shadow. The end of an era.
spoem.bsky.social Sabina Knight 桑稟華 @spoem.bsky.social · Mar 23
#BuddhistStudies

We are saddened to learn that Professor Peter Gregory (1945-2025) passed on March 19th, after a heart attack.

Peter made the world of a better place. May his memory be a blessing.
____
Madhyamaka & Methodology Symposium @smithcollege.bsky.social
youtu.be/AGNYS7-TRRY?...
Madhyamaka & Methodology Symposium: Panel 6 (Peter Gregory, Smith College) (video 26 of 29)
YouTube video by Smith College Buddhist Studies
youtu.be
March 24, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
Q: Why do I want my "suspended" X account back?

A: Expressions of concern matter.

My @SangBina #X account is my only way to reach many vulnerable #Chinese, #Uyghur, & #Tibetan individuals & orgs.

I want to ask them how they are doing.
I want to ask them what I can do to help.
Screenshot of X's "Account suspended" notification to Sabina Knight's X account. The Profile photos and bio are all gone. There's only a black background with a dark grey circle where the profile photo would be and a medium-shade grey band at the top. The Chinese characters for Sabina Knight's Chinese name appear in white font before her name in English. Below is her handle: @SangBina , also in white (though somewhat small) font. Below her name and handle are the words "Account suspended" in large white font. Below in smaller white font is the sentence "X suspends account which violate the X Rules." The "X Rules" is in bright blue font and is likely a clickable link to the rules.
March 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
carolecadwalla.bsky.social
NEW: The great Trump-Musk crackdown is coming. And it will hit hard & fast. Journalists will be first. But everyone else is next.

I urge you to read my 20 lessons in How to Survive the Broligarchy, inspired by & featuring the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social
1/
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world | Carole Cadwalladr
In the wake of Trump’s unnerving appointees, the investigative journalist and veteran of the libel court offers pointers on coping in an age of surveillance
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2024 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Sabina Knight 桑稟華
spoem.bsky.social
#History of the #Holocaust

A project connecting "the microhistory of the Holocaust and the transnational history of #migrations."

Bridging these two #historiographies, the project mitigates the "tendency 'to sequester the Shoah'."

@lubartworld.bsky.social: lubartworld.cnrs.fr/en/what-is-l...
"Combining two historiographies" On the left is a graphic with four yellow circles against a black background. In each circle is the name of one type of history: - History of migrations - History of the Holocaust - Transnational history - Micro-history On the right is a paragraph of text: "This project is at the intersection of two fields currently undergoing major renewal: the microhistory of the Holocaust and the transnational history of migrations. It will help to bridge the divide between these two historiographies, and to combat what some have labeled a tendency 'to sequester the Shoah' [1]."
April 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM