Abstract

This study investigates the translation and recognition of Han Kang’s literary works in the Chinese context. It traces the chronological development of Chinese translations of her writings since 2007. Combining close textual reading, media analysis, and reader-based data mining, the research further explores how Han Kang’s image as a “feminist writer” has been constructed, reinforced, and contested across literary, academic, and popular discourses in China. While gender-based interpretations dominate, this study argues that this framing risks oversimplifying the philosophical and ethical complexity of Han Kang’s work, particularly her engagement with themes such as trauma, historical violence, and the human condition. Through an in-depth analysis of her later novels, especially We Do Not Part, this study reveals the multidimensionality of Han Kang’s literary vision, showing how her use of bodily imagery, natural symbols, and doubled narrative voices bridges personal memory and collective trauma. Finally, the study reflects on the mechanisms of global literary dissemination, drawing attention to the central role of translation institutions, translator agency, and reception dynamics in shaping crosscultural literary recognition.