Encountering China’s Past: Translation and Dissemination of Classical Chinese Literature (New Frontiers in Translation Studies)

This book features articles contributed by leading scholars and scholar-translators in Translation Studies and Chinese Studies from around the world. Written in English, the articles examine the translation of classical Chinese literature, from classics to poetry, from drama to fiction, into a range of Asian and European languages including Japanese, English, French, Czech, and Danish. The collection therefore provides a platform for readers to make comparative and critical readings of scholarship across languages, cultures, disciplines, and genres. With its integration of textual and paratextual materials, this collection of essays is of potential interest to not only academics in the area of Translation Studies, Chinese Studies, Literary Studies and Intercultural Communications, but it may also appeal to communities outside the academia who simply enjoy reading about literature. Contents Editors and Contributors Literary Translation as Cultural Encounter: Classical Chinese Literature in the World References The Reading of Translations: Dissemination and Reception Studies How Purpose and Function Has Affected Translation and Subtitling of the Jingju Play Silang tanmu References A Translational History of The Dream of the Red Chamber in Japan 1 Introduction 2 Red Chamber in Japan: Early days of Circulation Without Translation 3 The Abridged Translations: A Germination 4 Precursor to the Complete Translation: The Kundoku Technique 5 Multiple Complete Translations: A Full Bloom 6 A Flourish of Abridged Translations: With Special Attention to a Translation Relayed from English 7 Murder in the Red Chamber: A Contemporary Japanese Adaptation of Red Chamber 8 Conclusion References How and Why Does David Hawkes Use Rhymes in Translating Poems in Hong Lou Meng 1 Introduction 2 Seeking Rhymes According to Original Meaning 3 Creating New Meaning for the Sake of Rhyme 4 Adjusting the Plot of the Novel to Create New Rhymes 5 Conclusion References The Motif of Cannibalism as Reconstructed in the English Translations of a Chinese Classical Novel 1 The Intersection Between Narratology and Translation Studies 2 Cannibalism as a Motif 3 The Motif of Cannibalism in the Source Text 4 A Clause-Based Desciptive Model 5 A Comparative Survey 6 Discussion 7 A Contextualization of the Three Transaltions 8 Conclusion References Monkey’s Journey to the West: How Manifold Versions of One Translation Helped to Disseminate a Classic Chinese Original 1 Introduction 2 Journey: The Chinese Original 3 Monkey: A Unique English Translation of Journey 4 Monkey’s Journey to the West 4.1 Monkey in the UK 4.2 Monkey in the US 4.3 Monkey in Europe 4.4 Monkey in India 5 Conclusion References French Translations of the Chinese Vernacular Erotic Novel of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Brief Overview 1 Descent into Chinese Literary Hell 2 The Slow Discovery of Jin Ping Mei 2.1 Fleur en Fiole d’Or 3 Behind the Curtain 4 The Adversities Faced by a Masterpiece of Chinese Erotic Fiction 4.1 La chair comme tapis de prière (Flesh as a prayer mat) 4.2 De la Chair à l'extase (From Flesh to Ecstasy) 5 The Chinese Erotic Novel Trend in France 6 Huang San’s Version 7 The Pavilion of Curious Bodies and Dependencies 7.1 Three by One 7.2 Le Poisson de jade et l'épingle au phénix (The Jade Fish and the Phoenix Pin) 8 The Master of the Pavilion 9 A Preliminary Overview References Japanese Translations of Jin Ping Mei: Chinese Sexuality in the Sociocultural Context of Japan 1 Introduction 2 JPM Travels to Japan: Kyokutei Bakin’s JPM in the Edo Period 3 From Meiji Period to Pre-War Japan: JPM’s Encounter with Censorship 4 The Post-War Translations of JPM 5 Integration into Popular Culture: Transmedial Adaptations of JPM 6 Concluding Remarks References Typological Figuration of Mystical Elements in Jesuit Figurists’ Re-interpretation of Chinese Classics 1 Introduction 2 Hermeticism and Mythology 3 Juxtaposition in the Figurists’ Latin Translations 4 Translation of Chinese Mythology 5 Manuscripts for the Other Side of the Story 6 Translation of Biblical Stories 7 A New Shared Space 8 Concluding Remarks References Striving for the “Original” Meaning: A Historical Survey of Yijing’s English Translations 1 Introduction 2 The Yijing Traditional Commentaries: Hidden Clues in Understanding and Translating the Yijing 3 Chinese Yijing Scholars’ Help and Interpretation: Main Factors in Promoting Yijing’s Translations 4 Mutual Corroboration of the “Received Texts” of the Yijing and the Unearthed Documents: An Important Perspective 5 Yili and Xiangshu: Two Intermingled Approaches 6 Striving for the “original” Meaning of the Yijing: The Ultimate Aim of Translating the Yijing into English References The Making of Translations: Voice of Translators The Translation into Danish of Jin Ping Mei cihua—Jin Ping Mei i vers og prosa: personal recollections and reflections 1 How Was the Project of Translating Jin Ping Mei into Danish Initiated? 2 Yangzhou Storytelling and the ‘Storyteller’s Manner’ of the Ming Novels 3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright 4 The Purpose of Translation and the Purpose of Publishing 5 Linguistic Background and Models for Translation 6 Critical Reflection on My Translation Process 7 A Novel in a Hundred Chapters 8 Challenges of Translation and Creative Solutions 9 Proper Names and Terms of Address: List of Names 10 Linguistic Explanations and Cultural Background: List of Words 11 Place Names, Set Phrases, and Storyteller’s Stock Phrases 12 Verse and Prose 13 Sexual Life and Erotic Descriptions 14 Conclusion References On Translating Jin Ping Mei into Czech 1 Part One 1.1 A General Outline of Translations of Traditional Chinese Literature and Novels into Czech 1.2 A Brief Survey of Translating Jin Ping Mei into Czech 2 Part Two 2.1 Description of the Shared Translation Process 2.2 Our Translation Approach and Priorities 2.3 Examples of Issues Encountered When Translating JPM to Czech 3 Conclusion References Lessons from Compiling and Translating Homoeroticism in Imperial China 1 A Book 2 A Translation Team and Approach 3 Lesson One: Writing What Isn’t Written 4 Lesson Two: Replacing the Past 5 Summary Lessons: Tracing Assumptions References Translating Song Yu’s Jiu Bian: Phases of Appreciative Perception 1 Autumn Meditation 2 Longing for the Sovereign 3 Grieving for the Seasons 4 Finding the Way 5 Order Inverted 6 Abiding in Poverty 7 Days Depart 8 Hoping for an Audience 9 Reflecting on Antiquity 10 Envoi References Into the River of History: An Account of My Translation Work with the Grand Scribe’s Records (Shiji) 1 Early Studies 2 First Years of Teaching and the Beginning of the Project 3 The Project Itself 4 Working with a German Shiji Group 5 A Note on Procedures 6 The Final Push References