Raccontare “bene” le storie della Cina. Un’analisi preliminare del contributo teorico di Chen Xianhong

In recent years, Chinese scholars have advanced various theoretical proposals that serve as epistemological foundations for the production and dissemination of strategic narratives crafted by the Chinese government. The present paper uses the works of Chen Xianhong, one of the most appreciated narrative theorists in China, as a case study to examine this phenomenon. It highlights how these theories support the telling of Chinese ‘good’ stories in line with the official discourse promoted by the Party-State. To this end, Chen Xianhong manipulated the so-called ‘transportation theory’ and employed narrative ‘engineering’ to craft ‘tales’ capable of engaging foreign audiences, thereby enhancing the country’s discursive power.