Analysis On Ezra Pound’s Cultural Misreading And Creative Translation Of Chinese Poetry In Cathay

Ezra Pound, initiator of Imagist Movement, published his translation work Cathay in1925, lifting the influence of the reception of Chinese classical poems on the west culture into a high level. During the communication between eastern and western countries, cultural misreading of different cultures is unavoidable, but Pound is attracted by Chinese clear and unique literary forms to fight against those in Victorian period featured with inflexible and unnatural styles, instilling vigor, energy and contributing creative effect to American poetry.This thesis aimed to explore Pound’s translation thoughts reflected on Cathay and studies the source of his thoughts. Cathay, famous for special translating techniques as well as for special mediated text, exerts far-reaching influence on the world, well testifying the fact that translators’ understanding and interpretation of original material are not simple processes of reproducing the meaning of the text but being creative. This thesis will take the poems selected from Cathay for example and will make a deep analysis on Pound’s misreading and creative translation from the perspective of language, grammar, dictation and rhythm etc. Besides, reasons for misreading will also be probed in order to understand Pound’s translation thoughts thoroughly.When translating Chinese classical poems, creative translation adopted by Pound triggers controversy, both at home and abroad, but we should view its influence from a dialectic perspective. Misreading is not beneficial to the intercultural communication, even causing distortion to the source language countries’ culture and ideology and bringing negative impact upon correct reception of different culture. However, it is true that Cathay translated by Pound pushes the development of American New Poetry Movement and significantly improves the understanding of Chinese literature of western readers. Overall, disadvantages and advantages are interwoven with each other, but the latter outweighs the former.