Translating Cultural Factors In Fushengliuji From The Perspective Of Polysystem Theory-a Diachronic Analysis

Fushengliuji, a classic literature of Shen Fu in the Qing Dynasty, has fourEnglish versions so far, which were respectively published in1936,1960,1983and2011. All of them are translated by skilled translators at home and board, enjoyingmuch popularity among western readers.For the four English versions are produced in different periods, I make adiachronic study of translations of cultural factors in Fushengliuji and find theirtranslations in some ways evolve from domestication to foreignization and finally tohybridity with the elapse of time. Therefore, I attempt to find out the underlyingreason why it has experienced such a dynamic evolution. Afterwards, I have access toEven-Zohar’s polysystem, which makes a remarkable contribution to the cultural turnand provides me a profound understanding of factors which influence the translationstrategies. It insists that translation strategies are determined by the position oftranslated literature in the polysystem of the target culture. When translated literaturetakes the central position, translators tend to adopt “foreignization”, while located inthe peripheral place;“domestication” is the choice. Thus based on the perspective ofPolysystem theory, this paper aims to analyze the impact on translation strategiesowing to the varying position of translated literature in the polysystem with thecomparative, inductive and deductive methods.Finally, this paper concludes that the English versions of Fushengliuji areproductions in specific period, which cannot separate from its social and historicalconditions at that time. With the help of the interpretation of polysystem, we betterunderstand the reasons why the translation strategies of Fushengliuji change fromdomestication at first and then to foreignization and to hybridity at last. In view ofpolysystem, translators attach great importance to the distinction between languageand culture gradually, domestication and foreignization becomes more flexible andinclines to hybridity，which can better introduce Chinese culture to the world.