Dissemination of Chinese Poetry by KO Kunhua, the First Chinese Teacher Officially Dispatched to the United States

KO Kunhua was the first Chinese teacher employed by Harvard University in 1879. When he was in the United States of America (U.S.A), he made great efforts to disseminate Chinese poetry. His main methods included translating Chinese poetry in Hua zhi ying wen, composing and presenting poems to his American friends, and reciting Chinese poetry for the American public. From a historical and cultural perspective, KO's practice of disseminating Chinese poetry has great significance. The practice brought classical Chinese poetry to the U.S.A., updated the image of Chinese people, promoted cultural exchanges between China and the West, and speeded up the development of Sinology in the U.S.A. Meanwhile, this also has its own inspiration that the basic attitude for People's Republic of China's current policy of the globalization of Chinese culture should be identification to and confidence in Chinese culture. The priority of dissemination of the best traditional Chinese culture is given to content. Moreover, the competence in cross-cultural communication should be emphasized, and good relationships with Sinologists as external support can be forged as well.