An Analysis Of English Translation Of The Key Conceptual Word 礼(“Li”) In Lun Yu From The Perspective Of Fusion Of Horizons

With the development of C hinese culture, the translation of Chinese traditional culture has been promoted into great position, especially Lun Yu. The key conceptual words in Lun Yu have attracted many translators‘ attention for embodying rich national culture, which have reflected C hinese cultural values, history, religion, customs, thinking patterns, and the government of the whole country etc. The key conceptual word 礼(“Li”) is one of those which contain rich cultural meanings. From the 16 th century, Confucian classics have been translated to the western world. Up to now, there have already been more than forty English translations, leading to the dissemination of Chinese culture.This thesis is intended to analyze the English translations of key conceptual word 礼(“Li”) to study the differences of English translations from the perspectives of Fusion of Horizons which is one of the three essential principles of Gadamer‘s philosophical hermeneutics from Germany. The author has selected three English translation versions as study objects, which are respectively translated by Ku Hungming, Lin Yutang and Xu Yuanchong.Fusion of Horizons shows the essence of translation. It is the process of the fusion and collision of different horizons, in which new understanding arises. In the process of translation, there are two phases of Fusion of Horizons. At first, it comes to the horizon of the translation after the fusion between the horizon of the translator and the horizon of the original text. Then, the new horizon excels the original horizon and new understanding develops, after the fusion between the horizon of the translation and the horizon of the target language and culture. When translating, translators generate new understanding and ideas to the original text based on the collision and fusion of the horizons of translators and source texts. In view of this process, the new texts which have contained the elements of target culture finally emerge to the readers. What‘s more, since there are differences between translators and readers in time, culture and social environment, the process of Fusion of Horizons calls for the translators endlessly to receive education and consciously adapt to the society with the purpose of possessing the common horizon that are accorded with the present public. The translation is translated and understood after the fusion of translators‘ horizons, the horizon of the original text and the horizon of the target culture. All these enable the readers to enjoy the English translation version.This thesis is aimed at comparing and analyzing the life and education background, time background as well as translation thoughts of K u, Lin and Xu to discuss the different horizons of their translations and translators‘ translation strategies. By making use of literature method, example analysis and comparative study, it will divide and analyze key conceptual word 礼(“Li”) into five types according to cultural annotations so as to master the features of translations, which are a philosophy of social order and moral discipline; Yue in Li and education; a historical tradition of rites and ceremonies; substance and ornament of Li; observance of forms and civilization. Horizontally, the author has classified the 75 examples of key conceptual word 礼(“Li”) into five types and the corresponding translations. Vertically, their translations have been summed up.The author has redefined the key concept 礼(“Li”) according to the five types of cultural connotations and has analyzed comparatively three English translation versions from the perspective of Fusion of Horizons. This thesis suggests that before translating Lun Yu, translators should understand systematically the key concept and add the classification analysis to the appendix part; when translating the key concept, it is better to translate it into C hinese pinyin noted by the specific meaning and expla nation in special situations. Meanwhile, the specific meanings and classifications can be tagged in footnotes in order to demonstrate its rich cultural connotations with the purpose of being loyal to the original text and spreading its culture.