A Study On Ku Hung-ming's English Translation Of Zhongyong From The Perspective Of Reception Theory

Ku Hung-ming was a well-known literary figure and translator in the late Qing dynasty and early days of Republic of China. An academic master of Chinese and western scholarship, Ku Hung-ming spared no effort in spreading Chinese culture to western countries by writing and translating books that advocated Confucianism. Ku Hung-ming's English version of Confucian classics Lunyu and Zhongyong, enables western readers to understand the essence of Chinese culture and exerts much influence in the west. Thus he has a prominent position in the history of cultural exchange between China and the west, and is noted for his achievement in the spread of Chinese learning in the west.By analyzing the features of Ku Hung-ming's English version of Zhongyong, this thesis studies Ku's reader awareness in translation from the perspective of reception theory. Using the three concepts "horizon of expectations" "fusion of horizons" and "aesthetic distance" to examine Ku's version, the thesis seeks to show that his reader awareness is embodied in his selection of source texts and of translation strategies.On the basis of his understanding of western civilization and its malfunctions and his favor of Chinese civilization, Ku Hung-ming took up the work of translating Confucian classics into English for western readers to publicize Confucian learning and eliminate their prejudice against Chinese civilization. Ku's selection of Confucian classics conforms to the "horizon of expectations" of western readers of his time. Considering the "aesthetic distance" between the horizons of the text and the reader, Ku Hung-ming tended to adopt the domestication strategy and make his translated version in agreement with the linguistic form of the target language. In addition, his quotations from western writers and scholars help common readers in their understanding of Chinese culture. In terms of the positive impact of his translations, Ku satisfied the needs of readers at a given time and realized his intended purposes, which justifies his orientation in translation. The reception of Ku's translated versions is evidence for the success of his translation practice and the importance of reader awareness in translation. The reader, an indispensable and yet often neglected dimension of translation, directly affects the fulfillment of translation purposes, and reader awareness is of great importance to translation practice and translation studies.