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Sidney Shapiro [File photo]
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The renowned US-born translator Sidney Shapiro, who dedicated his life to the cause of spreading Chinese literature to the world, passed away at the age of 98 at his home in Beijing on Oct 18.
Better known in China by his Chinese name, Sha Boli, he was one of the few Westerners who was able to gain Chinese citizenship and became a member of the nation's top advisory body.
Born in New York in 1915, Shapiro studied law at St. John's University and then served in the US army during the Second World War.
Discharged from military service, he entered Columbia University to study Chinese and came to China in 1947.
In Shanghai, he met a Chinese actress Feng Zi, the woman he later married and who changed the course of his life forever.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Shapiro became a translator and an editor as a foreign expert. He co-established the English version of Chinese Literature magazine with other famous translators like Ye Junjian, Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang, with an aim to introduce Chinese culture to the world.
Shapiro became a Chinese citizen in 1963 for his great contributions that he made to the development of China; few foreigners were awarded that honor.
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