Continuation Or Rupture In Traditional Translation Theories?

Qian Zhongshu honored as an oriental erudite scholar is a consummate literarycraftsman. He completes abundant works and translations, which initiate the tide of"Studying on Qian" lasting for a long time. The emphasis of "Studying on Qian"concentrates on the literary field, including works study, autobiography study andpoetic mind study. The study covers a complete range. Its research methodology isbeing updated all the time, beginning from interpreting some single version, to carryingout a thorough research by combining literature, philosophy, linguistics, criticalinterpretation of ancient texts and comparative literature, later on to asking for a newinterpretation for the poetic and humanistic mind by means of getting through theobstruction on the basis of comparing academic theories from China with that from thewest, and utilizing the modern scientific principles. As the progress of "Studying onQian" develops more deeply and broadly, Qian’s theoretical view in translation,scattered in his works, gradually draws scholars’ attention. This tide of "Studying onQian" results to sweep the translation field. Luo Xinzhang says,"According to somearticles, it is a pity for the countrymen not to understand Qian Zhongshu; as the samecase, it is also regarded as a misfortune for translators’ circle not to make out Qian’stheoretical view in translation"(Luo,1990, p.10). He points out the evolution path oftraditional Chinese translation theories:"following the source"—"aiming atfaithfulness"—"likeness in spirit"—"sublimation". These studies certainly fortify thespecial position of "sublimation" in Chinese translation theories.The thesis elaborates the scattered Qian’s translation views, analyses the historicalbackground and the current academic atmosphere at home and abroad, and studies"sublimation" from the perspective of philosophy and aesthetics. In view of the fact thatthe expression of "sublimation" is poetic, implicit and dubious, different scholars havetheir personal understandings of the meaning of the "sublimation". On the basis of thediscussion on the essence and the connotation of "sublimation", this thesis mainlymakes an intensive study on the questions as following:1. The relation between thesource of "sublimation" and the traditional translation theories;2. The relation between"sublimation" and modern western humanist mind;3. The evaluation of "sublimation". 4. Whether "sublimation" belongs to the substantial criterion or the metaphysicalontology of literature translation. Based on Qian’s theoretical view in translation,through interpreting the theories of "sublimation" in the macro background of society,history and culture, by means of multi-hierarchies and multi-angles to probe into the hotissues around "sublimation", such as "sublimation" vs."faithfulness, expressiveness,elegance","sublimation" vs."likeness in spirit", whether "sublimation" is an ideal or acriterion, and "sublimation" vs. western translation theories, the thesis attempts to putforward the final viewpoint that "sublimation" is the continuation of the traditionaltranslation theories, and as well as the transcendence of the traditional translating spirits.Rooted in the fertile soil of the traditional translation theories,"sublimation" inherits thetraditional quintessence; bathed in the thinking tide of the western theories,"sublimation" takes on the western theoretical flavor.The thesis is divided into six chapters. Chapter One is the introduction of theresearch objective, the research significance, the research methodology and the researchstructure; Chapter Two is a description of the current state of the studies on"sublimation" at home and around the world; Chapter Three is the theoreticalintroduction of "sublimation": it gives a thorough probe of the definition, connotationand essence of "sublimation"; Chapter Four is the application of "sublimation" inliterary translation: it gives a theoretical study of "sublimation" in the translatingpractices and aims to justify that "sublimation" on the part of translators is an ideal tokeep in pursuit and on the part of readers is a criterion in use to criticize the translatedworks; Chapter Five is a conclusion that "sublimation" is the continuation of thetraditional translation theories, and as well as the breakthrough of the traditionaltranslating spirits: by means of the series of comparative studies from the perspective ofmulti-angles and multi-hierarchies, it unveils "sublimation"’s traditional descent and itswestern humanist spirits; Chapter Six is a summary of the accomplishments of the study,listing the weakness of the research and reflecting on the further studies.