Sidney Shapiro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sidney Shapiro
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| Born | December 23, 1915 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | October 18, 2014 (aged 98) Beijing, China
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| Other names | Chinese: 沙博理 |
| Occupation | Actor, lawyer, translator, writer |
| Known for | Translation of Chinese novels of notable Chinese authors such as Ba Jin and Mao Dun into English. Became citizen of People's Republic of China. |
| Spouse(s) | Fengzi |
Sidney Shapiro (Chinese: 沙博理; pinyin: Shā Bólǐ) was an American who became a Chinese citizen. He was born on December 23, 1915, and passed away on October 18, 2014. Sidney was many things: an actor, a lawyer, a translator, and a writer. He moved to China in 1947 and lived there for the rest of his life, spending over 50 years in Beijing. He was one of the very few people from other countries who became a full citizen of the People's Republic of China.
Contents
Early Life in America
Sidney Shapiro was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 23, 1915. His family had Jewish roots. He went to St. John's University in New York.
Becoming a Chinese Citizen
Sidney Shapiro officially became a citizen of the People's Republic of China in 1963 and remained one until he died. In 1983, he was chosen to be a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Council (CPPCC). This group is like a special meeting place where different non-Communist groups can share their ideas and thoughts with the government.
A Career in China
From Lawyer to Translator
Sidney first trained to be a lawyer. He felt upset by the unfairness he saw during the Great Depression in the United States, a time when many people in America struggled financially. In 1941, he joined the U.S. Army. He wanted to study French, but instead, he was sent to a Chinese language school in San Francisco. This sparked his interest in China.
In 1947, Sidney traveled to Shanghai, China. There, he met Fengzi, an actress who supported the Chinese Communist Party. Through her, Sidney also became a supporter. He decided to stay in China even after the Communists took power in 1949.
Translating Chinese Stories
For almost 50 years, Sidney worked for the Foreign Languages Press (FLP), which is run by the Chinese government. His job was to translate important Chinese books into English. He is most famous for his English version of Outlaws of the Marsh. This is one of the most important classic stories in Chinese literature.
In 1958, he also translated The Family by Ba Jin, a very popular Chinese writer. Sidney later published a complete translation of this book.
Acting in Chinese Movies
Besides translating, Sidney Shapiro also acted in many Chinese movies. He often played the role of an American villain in these films.
Writing His Own Story
Sidney wrote a book about his life called I Chose China: The Metamorphosis of a Country and a Man. However, he waited until 1997 to publish it because he was worried it might upset the Chinese government.
His Family and Later Life
Sidney married Fengzi in 1948, and they had a daughter together. Fengzi passed away in 1996. Sidney Shapiro died in Beijing on October 18, 2014, when he was 98 years old.
Sidney Shapiro's Legacy
After his death, on December 26, 2014, the China International Publishing Group announced they were creating the Sidney Shapiro Research Center. This center was made to study and set rules for how to best translate between Chinese and English.
Sidney Shapiro's Works
Books He Translated
- Ba Jin, The Family, Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 1958
- Shi Nai'an, Outlaws of the Marsh, Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1980
- Ba Jin, Selected Works, Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 1988
- Mao Dun, The Shop of the Lin Family and Spring Silkworms, Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2004.
- Deng Rong, Deng Xiaoping and the Cultural Revolution: A Daughter Recalls the Critical Years, New York: C. Bertelsmann, 2005
Books He Edited
- Jews in Old China: Studies by Chinese Scholars, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1984
His Own Memoirs
- An American in China: Thirty Years in the People's Republic. New American Library 1979.
- I Chose China: The Metamorphosis of a Country and a Man, Hippocrene Books 1997.
See Also
- History of the Jews in China
- Israel Epstein
- Kaifeng Jews
- Rewi Alley
- Sidney Rittenberg
