The Inpluences Of Aesop's Fables Translation Upon The Development Of The Chinese Fables

The Chinese fables, playing an important role in Chinese literature, have a very long history. And they have gone through quite a long process from shoot to appearance and from development to maturity, which was promoted by the driving forces from both home and abroad. The ancient Chinese fable literature underwent three phases of prosperity. The earlier two stages were fostered by "The Contention of Various Schools of Thought" movement in Pre-Qin period and the "Ancient Prose" movement in Tang and Song dynasties. However, the third phase was the fruit of "The Gradual Spread of the Western Thoughts to China", the most influential trends of thought in Qing dynasty. Under its influence, many great works of western literature were translated into Chinese, Aesop's Fables included. It was the translation of Aesop's Fables that bred or cradled the third phase of prosperity of ancient Chinese fable literature.This thesis attempts to study the influences of fables of Aesop's translation upon the development of the Chinese fables. In light of the analysis of the three inherent elements of fables, their sub-elements and their development process in different stages, it endeavors to explore the reasons or driving forces behind their development. First of all, this study classifies the composition of fable into three elements and every element has their own sub-elements. Meanwhile, the thesis illustrates how these elements and sub-elements are embodied in fables of different stages. Next, in terms of elements and sub-elements, this study analyzes which elements are inherited from the traditional Chinese fables and which ones are in kinship with the Aesop's Fables during the translation process. Thirdly, the reasons are further explored. Finally, this thesis maintains during the third development climax of the Chinese fables, they not only inherited the elements from traditional fables, but also absorbed the elements from foreign fables. Thus, the Chinese fable literature acquired a great development and progressed toward an integration of the elements of both Chinese and western fables.