In Search Of Spiritual Force In Reshaping Modern China

Edgar Snow spent five years translating and editing Living China,an anthology of modern Chinese short stories and claimed it meant so much to him that he would regard it as the prelude to Red Star Over China,which won Snow a world fame as an expert in Communist Party of China and Chinese Red Army.Moreover,the anthology is not only one of the most successful initial efforts to transmit modern Chinese literature abroad but also an attempt made by Snow to adjust stereotypes of China ingrained in most westerners'minds.However,despite all its significance,Living China failed to receive due academic attention it deserves and came into oblivion for a long time.With the cultural and sociological turns in translation studies,a few studies of Living China were conducted concerning the translation strategies employed in the anthology in the second decade of the 21^st century,which heralded the real translation studies of Living China.In order to further the study of Living China,this research,with the focus on Snow's social trajectory and thoughts,addresses the selections of source texts and translation strategies,the specific national images of modern China constructed in the anthology as well as the relationship between Living China and Red Star Over China.Methodologically,this research attaches importance to both translation theories and historical records,and combines description with explanation.The research questions include:(1)How was the selection of source texts conducted?What translation strategies were adopted?(2)What national images of modern China were constructed in the anthology?(3)What is the relationship between Living China and Red Star Over China?Historical records suggest that the selection of source texts underwent the adjustment of original translation project,and then two rounds of elimination and addition of candidate writers and their works,during which several non-leftwing writers were eliminated.In the selection process,Snow was gradually turning“Left”and convinced that left-wing thought was the spiritual force at work in reshaping modern China.A dynamic study of his selection process indicates that Snow was inclined to choose writers whose political stances epitomized Chinese intellectuals when encountered with the new revolution situation and who exerted greater influence upon the young readership.In terms of selection of translation strategies,Snow employed three major strategies to rewrite the translation,and thereby transplanted his personal narrative into the translation.Through temporal and spatial framing,Snow aimed to direct criticism in the source texts towards reality.Through selective appropriation of text materials,the images of the suppressed mass and intellectuals were reshaped.By means of labelling,Snow endeavored to highlight the appeals for rebellion and the criticism against Chinese feudal ideological system.Based on selections of source texts and translation strategies,Snow established three specific national images of modern China in the culturally transitional period:China in desperate plight,China in awakening and protest and China under the influence of Communist Revolution.Oppressed by different forces both internal and external,part of the oppressed mass was awakened but they did not move on to take any revolutionary action.The appeals for rebellion and revolution were voiced only by the radical elements among the intellectuals.The Communist Revolution won over support from the mass,but there were still misunderstandings among the innocent mass.The images of modern China established in the anthology also reflect Snow's understanding of the roles that the U.S.was supposed to play in handling China's affairs.The U.S should not intervene in China's affairs,but act as the world peace keeper and defender of the principle of national self-determination.Living China is the prelude to Red Star Over China.In translating and editing Living China,Snow gained a deeper insight into the harsh living conditions of the oppressed,into the revolutionary appeals from different social classes as well as into the destiny of China.Meanwhile,he also pondered over the social problems posed in the source texts of Living China.With all these reflections in mind,he tried to find the new evidence and possible solutions during his journey to Chinese Soviet area in Shanxi province and shared his findings in Red Star Over China.This case study is an enlightening effort to explore the journalist translators'behaviors.It provides new perspectives and supplementary materials for the study of Edgar Snow.Moreover,it sheds some light on the translator model,the strategies of national image construction and the evaluation of translation practice in the“Going Out”project to promote Chinese literature abroad.