Balancing And "Chung-ho" In A Web Of Powers

More and more contemporary translation theorists see translation as a culture-transmitting activity and broaden translation study into the field of social and cultural research, which has contributed to the "cultural turn" or "power turn" in western translation study in 1970s. "Cultural turn" has aroused people's attention on the translator, who has long been in the marginal status and whose creativity and emotion have long been repressed. Ever since then, translator's subjectivity has become a new subject in translation study.The power discourse theory brought forward by French philosopher Michel Foucault at that time has stirred up a far-reaching revolution in the thought of translation theorists, and provided a brand-new perspective and method for their study. Foucault's microcosmic power circles all the things influencing each other into a net of power and he proposed that during the subject's exercise of power the influence and constraints from other power discourses had never ceased. On the part of a translation activity, the author, translator, reader and others are always involved. More importantly, it is about two kinds of society and culture. Therefore, the analyses of translator and translated works should take such factors as history, politics, culture and ideology into account.In addition, Foucault (1999) considered that while some certain power oppresses or restricts the realization of one's subjectivity, the subject's resistance will be stimulated. This point means much to the exploration of translator's subjectivity. Based on the power discourse theory, together with the introduction of humanistic philosophy and the examples of two different versions of Hongloumeng and Luotuo Xiangzi, this paper demonstrates that in a translation process, the translator inescapably will be restrained by various eternal powers, meanwhile, the internal motivation of self-realizing and self-expressing will result in the conflicts between them two. Then, how to explain the solution made by the translator in terms of translation strategies in the contradiction?The traditional Chinese "Chung-ho" concept emphasizes the interaction and influence between Yin and Yang. Only if the interaction is moderate and within the "measurement" can it ensure that the result is controlled within an appropriate extent and avoid the destruction caused by ineffective and excessive force (Zhang Wenbiao, qtf. Xiu Jianjun, 2006:6). "Chung" means being in proportion. Being within the "measurement" and keeping the dynamic balance can achieve the state of "ho". Just as Zhang Dainian (2006, 185) stated that the duality of Yin and Yang has been reflected in the relationship between human and nature and social, political, ethnic relations, certainly it holds true in personal relationships. With regard to translation activities, the translator, author, reader and source culture and target culture are all in condition of mutual restrictions. Among them the translator is the key for when he faces with the external constraints, he also should consider the satisfaction of his own needs. Generally speaking, the treatment of the original text and the translation strategy he finally chooses is the solution of "Chung-ho" after careful consideration and balance between external and internal power conflicts.