Bulletin No. 1, 2024

Yaodong, a renowned historian and food critic, passed down his own beef noodles recipe. “Meal gatherings at Yun Chi Hsien were very happy.” Yun Chi Hsien became a place where professors from Taiwan would gather. “There were a lot of us, such as Professors Ambrose King Yeo-chi, Liu Shu-hsien, Chiao Chien and Lao Sze-kwang. Our small round table near the entrance could fit more than 10 of us!” Professor Jin’s boundless oeuvre can be divided into three broad categories: translated works, treatises on translation studies, and creative writings. Over the years, she has translated poetry, letters, short stories, novellas, novels and plays. She finds it hard to say which works she has enjoyed translating most but three Chinese translations that stand out in her mind are: the British adaptation of Chinese tale The Orphan of Zhao ; Fu Lei’s Family Letters (in English and French), a bestseller published in 1981, and The Ballad of the Sad Café , a book published in 1951 by the American author Carson McCullers. “I strained bilingual course list for the production of a College booklet. I was responsible for the Department of Religion and Philosophy’s submission. The College Secretary later told me that my submission was impressive as it did not require any sub-editing work. I also translated a speech for the Pro-Vice- Chancellor and the quality of my work was also recognised. That was how I blazed the translation trail before the Department was established.” CUHK’s Department of Translation was eventually established in 1972 and housed at New Asia College. That same year, Professor Jin moved across from Chung Chi College to join the new Translation Department. She remained at New Asia College until her retirement. Professor Jin and other Taiwanese scholars teaching at New Asia College initiated the establishment of Yun Chi Hsien, a restaurant famous for its beef noodles. “I was involved in the selection of carpets and dishes,” says Professor Jin. “I also gave suggestions for the restaurant’s interior decorations.” She recalls that Professor Lu 1 Early days at the Department of Translation (courtesy of interviewee) 36   Chinese University Bulletin | Serena Jin Sheng-hwa