A Comparative Study Of Xu Yuanzhong’s And Ezra Pound’s Translation Of Chinese Classic Poetry

Chinese classic poetry is the most important part in Chinese culture. It has madegreat contribution to the world literature. In the past century, some scholars at home andabroad have made great efforts to translate Chinese classic poetry. Literature translationis an art but different from music, painting and drama. Literature translation is thehighest form in the field of art.This thesis tries to apply the famous translation standard of Yan Fu, that is,faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance poetry translation. The thesis is mainly tostudy the differences between Xu Yuanzhong’s and Ezra Pound’s translation purpose,translation thoughts, translation practice.Firstly, their translation purpose is different because translators and readers of “TheRiver-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter”,“The Fair Lady Li”,“Farewell to a Friend”translated by Xu Yuanzhong and Ezra Pound are different. The motivation of thetranslation of “The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter”,“The Fair Lady Li”,“Farewell toa Friend” by the two translators of Xu Yuanzhong and Ezra Pound who are from twodifferent countries, different times and have received different education. Moreover, intwo different countries, different readers have different expectations towards thedifferent translators.Secondly, from the perspective of translation thoughts, Ezra Pound hold that poetryliteral translation should not be over-emphasized, but should focus on the meaning ofthe text. Readers should pay attention to the feelings of the text contained inreproduction. If we mere concern literal meaning, it will impede the conveying of themeaning of poems and will have a detriment of the whole mood of the poem and beauty.And Xu Yuanzhong thinks poetry is not only to convey the meaning of the text itself,but also as far as phonology, form and emotional consistent to the poem, this idea isquite similar to Mr. Yan Fu’s faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance theory. Thirdly, in translation practice, they have their own characteristics. Ezra Poundfocuses on free translation. Xu Yuanzhong stresses on the loyalty to the original.Although they have some differences in translation, in some aspects, they still havesomething in common. Both of them are pursuing the aesthetics in Chinese classicpoetry translation.Since the translation of Chinese classical poems is a continual work, this researchon Chinese classical poems are valuable. With the development of translation theories,other theories can also be used to analyze the theories of translating Chinese classicalpoems to put forward useful suggestions in translating Chinese classical poems.All in all, both Xu Yuanzhong and Ezra Pound have nade great contribution to thecommunication with the world. Ezra Pound, even though his translation is not faithful tothe original sometimes, he has introduced Chinese classic poetry to the Western world.Thus, we can see, the merits are prior to the demerits. We should be tolerant to theworld culture.