A Study On The CUV As The Chinese Authorized Version Of Bible

Bible, as the classic of Christianity, is the most important book in western society. Since it was created, it has been translated into more than 2000 diverse languages, and has made a profound influence upon the history of human civilization. The translation history of Bible is the process in which it was interpreted and absorbed by various languages. Moreover, it also witnesses the collision and fusion of Christian culture and cultures in different nations.The history of Bible translation in the world can be traced back to over two thousand years ago. Chinese Bible translation, with dozens of versions already published, serves as an indispensable part of Bible translation. The Bible has not been translated into Chinese until it was first brought to China by Nestorians in the Tang Dynasty. Since then, the Chinese Bible translation began its long and tough development. Later, after the development in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Chinese Bible translation reached its pinnacle, which was marked by the publication of the Chinese Union Version (CUV). Since it was published in 1919, CUV has been the most popular and influential version. Now, nearly a century has passed, although many new versions have sprouted up after CUV, the authorized position of the CUV has never been threatened. For most Chinese readers, Bible in Chinese equals the CUV. Then, we would ask questions like:How does CUV become the authorized version and remain so for nearly 100 years? What specific features does it have? What favorable conditions have contributed to its final success? This thesis aims to find reasons for all those questions through a systematic research.At the beginning of this thesis, the history of Bible translation in the world and especially in China is briefly reviewed. Then the author employs different translation theories to explore the internal and external factors that have contributed to the authorized position of the CUV. First, Peter Newmark's translation criticism theory provides theoretical framework for research on the following factors:important versions before CUV, source text, translators, translating intention and principles of the CUV. The success of the CUV owes much to its accurate, elegant and colloquial language style. In this thesis, plenty of translation examples are presented, which are chosen from the CUV and other versions. Through a comparative analysis of those translation examples, we can see the unique charm of the CUV. Besides, the formation of an authorized version needs its own advantages as well as favorable external conditions. As for analysing the socio-cultural factors that affect the CUV, Lefevere's manipulation/rewriting theory, as well as the readers' reception theory is employed as effective theoretical framework for the study. Such a comprehensive analysis aims to reinforce our understanding of the CUV, and to make some contribution for the Chinese Bible translation in the future.However, the CUV, as the authorized Chinese Bible version is not perfect in every respect. Because of the development of Mandarin Chinese and new archaeological discoveries, it is unavoidable that this version also has some blemishes. Therefore, revising the CUV or retranslating the Bible, so as to publish new versions, has become the constant pursuit of some Chinese theologians and Bible scholars. Although they can not easily surpass the authorized position of the CUV for lacking favorable internal and external advantages, the Chinese Bible translation is becoming more diversified. An authoritative version can not meet the various needs of different readers. Today facing the authorized version which will not be surpassed for a long time, what is the future of Chinese Bible translation? In the end of the thesis, the author tries to give some suggestions on the Chinese Bible translation in the future. It is certain that there will be more and more good Chinese Bible versions published in the future with the continuous improvement of translation theories and Bible translating practices, which will accelerate the Sino-foreign cultural exchanges.