Abstract

Translation has been instrumental in opening the door between China and the rest of the world from ancient times to the present day, and has helped facilitate cultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge. This book makes and important contribution to the study of translation into and from Chinese. A wide range of topics are covered, such as Chinese canonization of Buddhism, Chinese cultural identity and authenticity in translation, Chinese poetry, opera, politics and ideology in translation, and the individual contributions made by translators to modernity and globalisation. The analyses and arguments offered by the authors make this book a must read for anyone interested in translation from a Chinese perspective.

This book provides a wealth of information on how modern Chinese translation evolves from a unique tradition of its own, through mediation with both source texts and target texts and through literary and religious works over the centuries. It not only analyzes a number of questions regarding translation in China from multiple perspectives, but also helps the reader better understand the relationship between cultural translation and the phenomenon of Chinese modernity.

For readers who are interested in China, the book promises interesting and thought-provoking reading. The subject matter discussed in the book ranges from philosophy to translation, including matters of historical, religious, social and ideological interests. Contributors are well-known scholars from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Their understanding of matters related to China will provide valuable insight for any one who wishes to "interpret China."

Luo Xuanmin is Professor at the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, and Director of the Center for Translation and Interdisciplinary Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing. His publications include books, translations and articles in various presses and journals at home and abroad. He is the founding editor of the journal Foreign Languages and Translation, chief editor of Abstracts of Chinese Translation Studies, and is on the advisory/ editorial board for several journals. He was twice Visiting Fellow at Yaleâ??s Comparative Literature Department (1995-1995, 2001) and Fulbright Research Scholar at UCLA (2006-2007). He is now Vice President of the Chinese Association of Comparative Studies in English and Chinese (CACSSEC), and Deputy Secretary-General of the Translation Association of China (TAC).

He Yuanjian is Professor at the Department of Translation, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is author and co-author of three books on Chinese generative grammar (1996, 2001, 2002) and author and co-author of more than 40 research papers published on translation studies, language typology, and Chinese linguistics

The book analyze the most relevant questions on translation in China, by using a wise mix of Western and Chinese approaches; the result is a clear picture of how China in various ages and in many fields has encountered the world.

Applying concepts current in Western translation studies, these erudite essays by leading Chinese scholars provide important insights into the history and present-day practice of translation in China.