China’s Foreign Cultural Exchange In The Context Of The Mainstream Ideology

Literary discourse is shown as a kind of knowledge and a kind of right as well. According to Michel Foucault’s theory of discourse and power, those who master the literary discourse will lead the public opinion. Since the late Qing dynasty, the literature has been regarded as the most effective tools for enlightenment and social reform. And for the needs of building the modern nation, Chinese literature has often been highly ideologized.In the early1950s, newly founded People’s Republic of China decided to set up a special agency to spread Chinese culture to the western world in the way of literature, hoping to change China’s image in westerner’s mind. Founded in1951and continuously published to2000, the English version of Chinese Literature opened the prelude of China’s foreign cultural exchange with the control of mainstream ideology. This thesis is from the perspective of mainstream ideology, to focus on the study of the English version of Chinese literature, to explore the path of China’s foreign cultural exchange.As China’s early and only official publication, the English version of Chinese Literature introduces Chinese literature and culture to western world and plays a significant role in China’s foreign cultural exchanges. This thesis makes a research on the English version of Chinese Literature from1951to2000, studies the impact of mainstream ideology on Chinese Literature translation selection and shaping of China’s cultural image, clarifies the method used and reveals the phenomenon of literary exchange based on Chinese Literature, investigates the effect of mainstream ideology on literature, cultural exchange, and methods of cultural dissemination and exchange after founding of People’s Republic of China.The thesis adopts the method of historical document and comparative literature, communication and newspapers research method, and the history of literature and foreign exchange, makes a comprehensive analysis of cultural translation on the English version of Chinese Literature. Firstly, the thesis makes a general introduction of Chinese Literature on its founding, development, content and main translators. Secondly, the thesis explores the impact of mainstream ideology on the selection of its content in local cultural context and historical context, and clarifies the selection features in different period of time. Thirdly, the thesis analyzes classic translation and classic image in Chinese Literature, explores the shaping of own culture image and its promotion on cross-cultural exchange. Finally, the thesis studies Chinese Literature’s dissemination of culture in the west, including the reason for final issue, the experience of spreading Chinese culture, expounds the factor and policy of culture exchange in a new period of time.The English version of Chinese Literature focuses on the spread of Chinese literature and culture to the west, and a large number of Chinese literatures deepen the interpretation of Chinese literature and culture. It makes contribution on the foreign exchange, dissemination of Chinese culture, showing real China and cultural exchange. However, Chinese Literature has not achieved a great success in promoting China’s image and culture due to the influence of mainstream ideology and culture difference. Therefore, the thesis studies Chinese Literature, draws a lesson from it to seek an effective method and have a better understanding on culture exchange strategy.