A Comparative Study Of Conceptual Metaphor Translation Of Tao Te Ching From The Perspective Of Image Schema Theory

Image Schema is the schematic pattern abstracted from imagery cognitive domain, and in many cases, the projection of metaphor is based on image schema. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu is one of the most influential philosophical classics in ancient China, and has been translated in English for 182 versions, which mainly explains the origin, nature and features of Tao. In order to make this abstract concept clear, many conceptual metaphors are used here. Before scholars at home studied Tao Te Ching mainly from the perspectives of domestication and foreignization, while few can study from cognitive linguistics; though scholars abroad also study Tao Te Ching, the lack of linguistic theory of SL and the shortage of cultural background make them have difficulty in deeply comprehending and analyzing. Therefore, this dissertation, based on the image schema theory, makes a comparative study of the conceptual metaphor translation in two English versions of Tao Te Ching translated by Arthur Waley and Gu Zhengkun. First the conceptual metaphors in Tao Te Ching are classified according to Lakoff, then descriptive translation studies is also used for these two versions, and the translation strategies are provided for metaphor translating. The main questions of this thesis focus on what the conceptual metaphors in Tao Te Ching is, the similarities and differences between these two versions, and the practical help of these translation strategies.By answering these questions, the findings of the research can be obtained: image schemas can help people understand conceptual metaphors in Tao Te Ching; translators with different cognitive thinking and different cultural backgrounds have different understandings to one metaphor, and they may take different translation strategies; most translators tend to translate conceptual metaphors literally. However, sometimes this strategy fails to convey the metaphor in the original text, and free translation or other strategies also can be used. This thesis tries to provide a new perspective to study Tao Te Ching, and the translation strategies may offer an approach for translators to make contributions to creative translation.