A Study On The English Translations Of Zhouyi

Zhouyi is one of the most important sources of Chinese culture. It greatly influences the development of Chinese philosophy, historiography, literature, folkloristics, religion, and natural sciences including astronomy, calendar, mathematics, medical science and so on. Its various values are still worth of researching, now. Zhouyi is not only a precious treasure of China, but also a classic of the world. Ever since the 17th Century till now, Zhouyi has been translated into many languages and it has more than ten English versions. However, because of its remote historical background, special compilation process, amazing images of the hexagrams, and its abstruse words, Zhouyi has been explained and interpreted differently by scholars of different times and nations. The various translations of Zhouyi just represent different translators' dissimilar understandings and interpretations of this classic.This thesis compares four typical versions of Zhouyi English translations. In doing so, it strives to go beyond the linguistic level to reach deep causes for the different understandings and translations from various aspects, such as historical background, cultural differences, and translators' personal experience, etc. Moreover, this thesis reviews the change from the classical interpretation to the modern interpretation of Zhouyi through the comparisons of the four English translations. Therefore, it is hoped that the study on the English translations of Zhouyi would help provide a new perspective to the studies of Chinese classics and help us have a better understanding of the ancient book of wisdom, which have certain positive significances for the modernization and internationalization of Zhouyi Studies.This thesis consists of four chapters in addition to Introduction and Conclusion.Introduction gives the theme of this thesis and the main idea of each chapter.Chapter One is a brief introduction to Zhouyi the book, authors, compilation process and completion time, literary characteristics, basic concepts, famous commentaries and translations, and its influences at home and abroad throughout the long history.Chapter Two introduces James Legge's version of Zhouyi English translation, describes the characteristics of it. And by using the theories of hermeneutics, this chapter discusses Legge' s interpretation and translation of this classic from the aspects of historical background, translator's personal experience and religious belief, his attitude towards the original and his target readers.Chapter Three introduces Wilhelm/Baynes' version of Zhouyi English translation. By comparing it with Legge's version, this chapter discusses the deep causes for the differences between them.Chapter Four introduces two English translations of Zhouyi given by Chinese translators. In regard of the historical background and cultural differences, this chapter compares the different understandings and interpretations of the Chinese translators' and the Western translators'. By doing this, this chapter points out that the retranslations of Zhouyi, the ancient Chinese classic with multi-layered connotations, is quite necessary. The varieties of translations can satisfy different readers' needs and help them have a better understanding of this canonical work.Conclusion generalizes the theme of this thesis by emphasizing on the objective and subjective influences on the translators and the fact that the various translations will provide us with new perspectives and researching methods for the study of Chinese classics, which will have positive significances for the better understanding of the classics and the communication between Chinese and Western cultures.