Shanghai celebrated Bloomsday, possibly the most important day in modern English literature, with local universities and students joining the city's Irish expat community to honor Irish author James Joyce and his 1922 masterpiece, Ulysses, which is set within one single day.

Like the book's protagonist, Leopold Bloom, who spends one day, June 16, 1904, wandering aimlessly around Dublin, the Bloomsday celebration is also about being constantly on the move. Ulysses readings and musical performances kicked off the event at a Pudong mall, followed by a cruise trip to Puxi and then a Joycean-style vintage walk along the Bund.

Additional readings took place during a themed lunch at restaurant M on the Bund as well as performances at the Consulate General of Ireland. For their last stop, Bloomsday participants enjoyed drinks at popular Irish bar Blarney Stone.

Deep connection

Therese Healy, Consul General of Ireland in Shanghai (pictured right), called attention to the fact that 10 copies of Ulysses made their way to Shanghai in 1922 right after the book was first published, showing an early and enduring connection between China and Ireland.

"When the first translation of Ulysses was published in Shanghai in 1994, thousands of people queued up for the translators, Xiao Qian and Wen Jieruo, to sign their copies. The price of a book at that time was a week's salary for a teacher in Shanghai then," Healy said.

She felt privileged that Shanghai has been celebrating Bloomsday for more than 16 years, saying that this was the first time for her as the new consul general to spend a Bloomsday here.

"Shanghai had very active first Consul General of Ireland, and ever since then, along with Irish friends, universities and students, we've kept up the momentum of celebrating this day," Healy told the Global Times.

She believes it also says something about the caliber of Chinese academics, Chinese students and general public in China that James Joyce and his works continue to resonate with local readers.

During the event, Healy displayed photos taken by Irish photographer JJ Clarke to offer a visual context of Dublin around the time Ulysses was written. The largely Chinese audience, many whom have never stepped foot in Dublin, found the session fun and informative.

Challenge accepted

Healy is well aware that people across the world still find Ulysses such a daunting read. She recalled reading it for the very first time as a teenager and admitted that it was difficult for her, even as a native English speaker familiar with Dublin and Irish customs. However, she took great pleasure in the book, and every time she opens it today, something new strikes her.

"I encourage everybody to be brave, pick up the book, in Chinese or in English, really try to understand what Joyce is saying. Yes, it is confusing and complicated, but it has a great sense of fun. Take up that challenge," she said.

She believed it would be interesting if Joyce, who died in 1941, came back today to see how Bloomsday is celebrated in Dublin and all over the world, and what he would make of local people's reactions.

"I think he would be gratified and pleased that the secrets of Ulysses are still not all unlocked. People continue to discover hidden meanings behind the text. He would like that air of giving professors a very hard task," Healy said.

Layers and depths

Pu Durong, an English professor at Shanghai Normal University, one of five Shanghai universities taking part in Bloomsday readings this year, told the Global Times he spent his first Bloomsday in Dublin 10 years ago as a student.

"Knowing that it was coming, I read the whole book for the first time almost nonstop in seven days and nights," he chuckled, describing his first Bloomsday experience as "beautiful." Since then he has celebrated every Bloomsday in Shanghai, likening it to an "annual holiday" for the city's literati.

Healy believes Bloomsday in Shanghai can become even bigger, as every year more Chinese and foreign residents as well as local merchants are expressing an interest in participating in the event or hosting readings at their venues.

"We will perhaps have a Bloomsday conference next year, during which Chinese and Irish academics can discuss the layers and depths of Ulysses," Healy said.

Therese Healy, Consul General of Ireland in Shanghai (right)

 

 

 

Shanghai celebrates Bloomsday on June 18 to honor Irish author James Joyce and his masterpiece Ulysses. Photos: Liao Fangzhou/GT

 
Newspaper headline: Bloomsday in Shanghai