Oriental Classics Prevailing In The West, Tao And Te Translated

Tao Te Ching is the first philosophical work with complete system in Chinese history. Because of its long history and rich connotation, it has exerted great influences on Chinese traditional ideology and culture for thousands of years. Since the beginning of cultural exchange between China and western countries in Ming Dynasty, Tao Te Ching has begun its overseas trip and has become the most frequently translated and most widely circulated Chinese classics. There are over one hundred different English versions. In the process of translating Tao Te Ching into English, there must inevitably be fusion and confrontation, which would directly affect the accuracy of the translation. This thesis has selected three typical versions, version of Legge James, the British missionary, version of Waley Arthur, the British Sinologist and the version of D. C Lau, a Sinologist from Hong Kong. This thesis will make comparative studies between these three versions, analyze the similarities and differences and focus on studying the comprehension and translation of core concepts in Tao Te Ching by the three versions. Through the comparison, we can find differences and find out their cognitive level for Tao Te Ching and Chinese culture. Methods and principles in translating Chinese classics will be summarized in order to promote the circulation of Chinese traditional culture represented by Tao Te Ching.