On the afternoon of October 18th, a book launch event for "Exploration and Irony: in Studies of Siam over Forty Years" , translated by Du Jie and originally authored by Benedict R. O’G Anderson, was held in Chengdu. Du Jie, the Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Chengdu University and the translator of the book, and theexperts and scholars from both home and abroad in the fields of Southeast Asian studies and translation studies, were invited to the event.The book's main editor, Professor Sun Laichen from California State University, Fullerton,and the book's proofreader, Associate Professor Jin Yong from Peking University, participated online, sharing insights and engaging in in-depth discussions.

  The book "Exploration and Irony: in Studies of Siam over Forty Years" was originally written by the renowned American political scientist and Southeast Asian studies expert Benedict Anderson, who was born in Kunming, China, and had been dedicated to the study of nationalism and international relations. His most famous work, "Imagined Communities," is now a must-read classic in the field of nationalism studies.

  Translator Du Jie explained that this bookcontainsBenedict Anderson's over 40 years of research on Thailand from the 1970s to 2014. The book delves deeply into various aspects of Thai politics, culture, and society from a multidimensional perspective, targeting experts and scholars as well as general readers. Its content is pioneering and critical.

  Du Jie likenedthe translation process to a pilgrimage on the academic journey. She expressed her gratitude for the guidance and assistance she received from many senior colleagues and peers along the way, and she acknowledged that the project's significance went beyond the translated book itself.

  The decision to translate this book, she explained, was the result of a series of serendipitous events. she stumbled upon this bookin the United States in 2016 and decided to translate it into Chinese. She also joined the "Overseas Southeast Asian Studies Translation Series" project led by Professor Sun Laichen from California State University, Fullerton.

  Sun Laichenhighly praised the quality of the book's translation, emphasizing Du Jie's use of literary language, which is both beautiful and rich in traditional Chinese literary characteristics.

  Song Zhihui, Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations at Sichuan University and Executive Director of the South Asia Research Institute at Sichuan University, described the translation of the book as "vivid." He stated that the translation accurately adhered to the principle of "faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance" and was highly readable, especially in its skillful use of the "Li Sao" style. Additionally, he stressed the book's significant role in cultural exchange and expressed his hope for more Chinese cultural works to be translated and disseminated internationally, enhancing the world's understanding of Chinese culture and facilitating cultural exchange in both directions.

  Chaphiporn Kiatkachatharn, Director of the Thailand Education and Cultural Exchange Center at Chengdu University and a foreign expert from Thailand, commented, "This book will undoubtedly become a must-read for future scholars studying Thai history and politics."

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