20230630 final exam 01

202270081683 陈彦希 Chen Yanxi 英语口译(English interpreting)

The C-E Translation Methods and Strategies of Chinese Classics: A Case Study on Chuang Tzu

Chen Yanxi, 202270081683

Abstract

China is a country with a long history and elegant civilization. In the long history of 5,000 years, many precious traditional cultures have been bred. Chinese classics are the important media to record traditional Chinese culture. Therefore, the translation of Chinese classics is an important way to spread the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, which can strengthen the dissemination of excellent traditional Chinese culture, enhance the international community's understanding of China and create a good international environment. At present, the research on the translation of Chinese classics is relatively lagging behind, and there are few targeted theoretical studies in the field of translation. We are faced with translation difficulties such as culture-loaded words, which lead to problems in the dissemination of traditional classics. As an important representative work of Chinese classical literature and philosophy, Chuang Tzu contains many terms and idioms with traditional Chinese characteristics, which can fully express the essence of traditional Taoist ideology and culture, which are also the main difficulties in its English translation. This paper discusses the translation methods and strategies of Chinese classics through the three parts of the translation difficulty, terminology translation and idiom translation of Chuang Tzu, so as to provide reference for the translation of Chinese classics and the dissemination of Chinese traditional culture.

Keywords

Chuang Tzu; Translation of Chinese Classics; Translation of Terms; Translation of Idioms; Dissemination of culture

Introduction

As one of the seven sons of the pre-Qin Dynasty, Chuang Tzu (Zhuang Zi), whose original name was Zhuang Zhou, was a famous philosopher and writer in the Warring States Period. He effectively founded the school of philosophy — Chuang Tzu theory, one of the important representatives of the traditional Taoist school. He and Lao Zi, the founder of Taoist thought, were called "Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi". Chuang Tzu is a cultural canon produced in the "axis period" of Chinese history and culture. It is regarded as the Nan Hua's Scriptures by Taoism. There are 33 existing chapters in the world, divided into 3 parts: inner chapter, outer chapter and miscellaneous chapter. It was written by Chuang Tzu, his disciples and descendants. It contains rich philosophical thought, culture and literary language, which has influenced many subsequent researchers of ideological literature. Chuang Tzu and his book Chuang Tzu provide not only a lasting spiritual food, but also an inexhaustible artistic treasure. With its philosophical and literary value and its unique charm, Chuang Tzu has attracted influential sinologists and translators from all over the world and has been widely translated into various languages. So far, the number of English versions of Chuang Tzu has reached more than 20. In Britain and the United States, the more influential versions are: Frederic Henry Balfour's version in 1881, Herbert Allen Giles' version in 1889, James Legge's version in 1891, Morton's version in 1965, Burton Watson's version in 1968, Angus Charles Graham's version in 1981, Victor H.Mair's version in 1994. In the domestic English translation, Feng Youlan's version in 1993 and Wang Rongpei's version in 1997 can be regarded as classics.

Chuang Tzu contains a large number of philosophical thoughts, as well as a large number of philosophical terms and idioms. Whether these contents can be translated accurately or not is related to the smooth inheritance and dissemination of Zhuangzi's thoughts. In the translation of Chuang Tzu, the translator must fully grasp the true meaning of the words in classical culture from the perspective of different culture and historical background stories, so as to ensure that he or she can fully and accurately express the philosophical and cultural thoughts of Chuang Tzu.