A Study On Jeong Rae-Dong’s Introduction And Translation Of Modern Chinese Literature

The main research object of this paper is Jeong Rae-Dong’s introductions and translations on modern Chinese literature.Since 1928,Jeong Rae-Dong published 84 critical articles and translation works of Chinese modern literature in South Korea.During his study abroad in Beijing(1924-1932),he wrote many essays and diaries about his experiences of introduction and translation while studying abroad.Through a detailed investigation of these documents,this paper applies the theory of modernity as a methodology to clarify the contradiction between tradition and modernity that arise in the translation works and critical articles of Jeong Rae-Dong.This paper mainly discusses three aspects: first,by examining Jeong Rae-Dong’s essays and diaries during his study in Beijing,it explains his motivation behind translating Chinese literature as well as his shifting emphasis between tradition and modernity.Jeong Rae-Dong realized that the modernization of Korean literature must be realized not only by studying western literature,but also by studying the historical development of Korean literature itself.This in turn requires understanding Chinese literature – which predated,and remained closely related to Korean literature – by means of sensible and nuanced translation and introduction.However,JeongRae-Dong lived in a period of modern transformation,such that many contradictions between tradition and modernity were reflected in his writings.While Jeong Rae-Dong accepted Chinese literature as he grew up and came to the ancient and traditional capital of Beijing,he soon encountered the growing infiltration of "modern time and space”.Therefore,he shows a strong sense of anxiety,and constantly reconfirms his identity through a longing nostalgia for tradition.Second,by analyzing Jeong Rae-Dong’s critical articles,this paper explains his academic ideas and the textual features in the introduction of modern Chinese literature.As a modern intellectual,Jeong Rae-Dong deeply felt the responsibility of enlightening the Korean people,so his comments generally talked about the roots of modern Chinese literature in order to clarify the internal power of the development of national literature.At the same time,he was also deeply influenced by modern scientific thought,and so tended to introduce Chinese literature according to the classification of novels,dramas and poems.In terms of text features,most of Jeong Rae-Dong’s critical articles are the integration and translation of Chinese critical articles.On the other hand,Jeong Rae-Dong’s eight years’ experience of studying abroad in Beijing makes his articles have a unique “live feeling”,and also reflect a certain degree of anarchism.Third,by examining Jeong Rae-Dong’s translation works,it’s apparent that he chose to translate novels and dramas that could enlighten people and break outdated customs,while he preferred to translate expressive poems as a means to uphold worthwhile traditions.This shows the duality of Jeong Rae-Dong’s identity as a modern intellectual and an oriental literati in the "modern time and space".The main significance of this paper is to clarify that,when Jeong Rae-Dong was in a period of rapid modern transformation and facing the unfamiliar “modern time and space,” he showed great fluidity in his identity;that is,on the one hand,he actively introduced modern Chinese literature as a modern intellectual,while on the other hand revealing his yearning for tradition.At the same time,this paper reveals that the fundamental reason why Jeong Rae-Dong chose to engage in the translation and introduction of Chinese literature lies in the fact that Chinese and Koreanliterature are of the same fundamental origin,historically and culturally.Finally,this paper also seeks to contribute to the empirical investigation of the Chinese articles that Jeong Rae-Dong examines in his personal writings.