A History of Western Appreciation of English-translated Tang Poetry (China Academic Library)

Annotation This book examines the development of English-translated Tang poetry and its propagation to the Western world. It consists of two parts, the first of which addresses the initial stage of English-translated Tang poetry's propagation, and the second exploring its further development. By analyzing the historical background and characteristics of these two stages, the book traces the trend back to its roots, discusses some well-known early sinologists and their contributions, and familiarizes readers with the general course of Tang poetry's development. In addition, it presents the translated versions of many Tang poems. The dissemination of Tang poetry to the Western world is a significant event in the history of cross-cultural communication. From the simple imitation of poetic techniques to the acceptance and identification of key poetic concepts, the Tang poetry translators gradually constructed a classic "Chinese style" in modern American poetry. Hence, the traditional Chinese culture represented by Tang poetry spread more widely in the English-speaking world, producing a more lasting impact on societies and cultures outside China - and demonstrating the poetry's ability to transcend the boundaries of time, region, nationality and culture. Due to different cultural backgrounds, the Tang poets or poems admired most by Western readers may not necessarily receive high acclaim in China. Sometimes language barriers and cultural differences make it impossible to represent certain allusions or cultural and ethnic concepts correctly during the translation process. However, in recent decades, the translation of Tang poetry has evolved considerably in both quantity and quality. As culture is manifested in language, and language is part of culture, the translation of Tang poetry has allowed Western scholars to gain an unprecedented understanding of China and Chinese culture Foreword 7 Acknowledgements 11 Contents 12 The Initial Stage 15 1 An Overview of the Historical Background 16 1.1 The Emergence of European Sinology 16 1.2 The Beginning of English Translation of Tang Poetry 19 1.3 The Rise of American Sinology 21 1.4 Characteristics of the Introduction of Tang Poetry to the West 25 References 32 Chinese References 32 English References 33 2 Research on the Early Significant Texts 34 2.1 The Misplaced English Version of Tang Poetry 34 2.2 Pilot English-Translated Works of Tang Poems 38 2.3 The English Anthologies of Tang Poetry 44 References 48 Chinese References 48 English References 48 3 British Sinologist Herbert A. Giles and His Contributions 49 3.1 Tang Poems in Chinese Poetry in English Verse 50 3.2 Tang Poetry in A History of Chinese Literature 54 3.3 Tang Poetry in Gems of Chinese Literature 58 References 62 Chinese Reference 62 English References 62 4 Other Early Sinologists and Their Outstanding Contributions 63 4.1 British Sinologist Edward H. Parker and Tang Poetry 64 4.2 British Sinologist Joseph Edkins and Tang Poetry 68 4.3 American Sinologist William A. P. Martin and Tang Poetry 73 4.4 Review of Their Academic Contributions 78 References 80 Chinese References 80 English References 80 5 British Poet Launcelot A. Cranmer-Byng and Tang Poetry 81 5.1 Tang Poetry in The Never Ending Wrong 83 5.2 Tang Poetry in A Lute of Jade 90 5.3 Tang Poetry in A Feast of Lanterns 96 5.4 Review of Academic Contributions of Cranmer-Byng’s Re-Rendering 99 References 101 Chinese Reference 101 English References 101 6 The British Sinologist and Poet Arthur Waley 102 6.1 Tang Poetry in Chinese Poems 103 6.2 Tang Poetry in 170 Chinese Poems 106 6.3 Tang Poetry in More Translation from Chinese 113 6.4 The Poet Li Po 115 6.5 Review of Waley’s Academic Contributions 121 References 121 English References 121 7 British Diplomat William J. B. Fletcher 122 7.1 Gems of Chinese Verse and More Gems of Chinese Poetry 122 7.2 Characteristics of Fletcher’s Translation 124 7.3 Limitations of Fletcher’s Translation 127 7.4 Review of Fletcher’s Academic Contribution 131 References 134 Chinese References 134 The Developing Stage 135 8 The Propagation of Tang Poetry in the West: Historical Background and Characteristics of Its Developing Stage 136 8.1 Historical Review of American Cultural Concern and Absorption of Chinese Culture 137 8.2 “The New Poetry Movement” and the First Wave of Tang Poetry Translation in the United States 141 8.3 Characteristics of the Developing Stage of the Propagation 142 References 147 Chinese References 147 English References 147 9 American Adaptation of Tang Poetry Translations from Europe 148 9.1 French Poet Judith Gautier and Le Livre de Jade 149 9.2 Irish Poet Helen Waddell and Lyrics from the Chinese 155 References 158 Chinese References 158 English References 158 10 Tang Poetry in Classical Chinese Poetry Anthologies 159 10.1 Mathers and His Two Theme-Oriented Anthologies 159 10.2 Joseph French and Lotus and Chrysanthemum 163 References 168 Chinese Reference 168 English References 168 11 Ezra Pound’s Cathay and the Transmission of Tang Poetry to the West 169 References 179 Chinese Reference 179 English References 179 12 The Beginning of Studies on Chinese Poetic Theories 180 12.1 Fenollosa and the Chinese Written Character as a Medium for Poetry 181 12.2 Victor Purcell and The Spirit of Chinese Poetry 187 References 195 13 Fir-Flower Tablets and Its Authors 196 13.1 Contents of Fir-Flower Tablets and Ayscough’s Preface 198 13.2 The “Literariness” Manifested Translation in Fir-Flower Tablets 205 13.3 The Statues of Fir-Flower Tablets on the Propagation of English-Translated Tang Poetry 210 References 212 Chinese References 212 English References 212 14 Contributions by Chinese–American Scholars 213 14.1 The Jade Mountain and Its Translation 214 14.2 Tsai Ting Kan and Chinese Poems in English Rhyme 221 References 225 Chinese Reference 225 English References 225 15 Development After the 1950s 226 Abstract 226 15.1 The “Beat Generation” and Tang Poetry Translation 226 15.2 Translation and Research on Tang Poetry Resumes in Academia 235 15.3 Characteristics of Contemporary Tang Poetry Studies 237 15.4 Outstanding Contributions of Native Chinese Scholars 248 15.5 Conclusion 250 References 256 Chinese References 256 English References 256 Conclusion 257 Afterword 263 Bibliography 265 Chinese Bibliography 265 English Bibliography 267 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 An Overview of the Historical Background (Lan Jiang)....Pages 3-20 Research on the Early Significant Texts (Lan Jiang)....Pages 21-35 British Sinologist Herbert A. Giles and His Contributions (Lan Jiang)....Pages 37-50 Other Early Sinologists and Their Outstanding Contributions (Lan Jiang)....Pages 51-68 British Poet Launcelot A. Cranmer-Byng and Tang Poetry (Lan Jiang)....Pages 69-89 The British Sinologist and Poet Arthur Waley (Lan Jiang)....Pages 91-110 British Diplomat William J. B. Fletcher (Lan Jiang)....Pages 111-123 Front Matter ....Pages 125-125 The Propagation of Tang Poetry in the West: Historical Background and Characteristics of Its Developing Stage (Lan Jiang)....Pages 127-138 American Adaptation of Tang Poetry Translations from Europe (Lan Jiang)....Pages 139-149 Tang Poetry in Classical Chinese Poetry Anthologies (Lan Jiang)....Pages 151-160 Ezra Pound’s Cathay and the Transmission of Tang Poetry to the West (Lan Jiang)....Pages 161-171 The Beginning of Studies on Chinese Poetic Theories (Lan Jiang)....Pages 173-188 Fir-Flower Tablets and Its Authors (Lan Jiang)....Pages 189-205 Contributions by Chinese–American Scholars (Lan Jiang)....Pages 207-219 Development After the 1950s (Lan Jiang)....Pages 221-251 Back Matter ....Pages 253-265