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Ever wondered how a 1,000-page Chinese literary masterpiece like Dream of the Red Chamber landed on German bookshelves? Meet Professor Woesler, a scholar whose teenage fascination with Tang Dynasty poetry snowballed into a lifelong mission to bridge East-West cultures through translation.
Inspired by China’s lyrical traditions, Woesler spent decades unraveling the Qing Dynasty novel’s rich symbolism and intricate family sagas. His German version – now celebrated as a labor of love – lets readers savor the story’s blend of romance, politics, and philosophy without getting lost in translation.
This linguistic feat is part of the East Encounters West series spotlighting scholars who turn cultural gaps into connections. Want more? Dive into stories of U.S. professors decoding Taoist wisdom and other cross-border brainwaves!
Meet Professor Woesler, a scholar whose teenage fascination with Tang Dynasty poetry snowballed into a lifelong mission to bridge East-West cultures through translation. 
What Makes a Book a Classic? Sinologists Weigh In 
