Shakespeare in Cina: una relazione culturale riscoperta nel XXI secolo tra libri di scuola e per ragazzi

The relationship between William Shakespeare and China constitutes a very interesting aspect in the panorama of international studies and offers space for investigation and study. To be able to talk about a relationship between Shakespeare and China, it is essential to wait for the 20th century, when, in the wake of the Lamb brothers' ‘Tales’, the Bard enters that country and begins to arouse interest in his works. It is in response to the study of English as a language that Shakespeare's texts play an increasingly important role and constitute a substantial slice of the Chinese publishing market. Not only do today's Chinese read Shakespeare to learn about his world and culture, but above all they find it an excellent study tool for learning English. The school editions of his plays constitute, in fact, a valid study tool for the English language and, in addition to this, offer an equally valid approach to English culture, not only as a Shakespearean, but above all as a Western one. The comparison with similar texts circulating in Italy then highlighted how China opts for teaching strategies that are very different from ours.