Hermeneutic Multiplicity And Cross-Cultural Constsuction Of Chinese Canons

Lun Yu,a collection of the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples,is one of the most important classical works in China.It covers wide scope of subjects from ethics,politics,and philosophy to education,which has exerted great influence on the Chinese culture.The canon has also attracted many scholars and translators home and abroad to interpret,but in different ways.Under the framework of philosophical Hermeneutics,this thesis aims to investigate the multiple translation and cross-cultural construction of Lun Yu so as to explore the nature and significance of translation of Chinese canons.As a theory and methodology about understanding and interpretation of text meaning,Hermeneutics is closely linked to translation in that interpreting the source text is one of translator's primary tasks.Several major concepts in this theory have exerted effect on translation.Hermeneutic theory insists on the historicity and temporality of interpretation.Based on such notions,the text is open to all interpreters and so multiple interpretation of any text should be allowed.This accounts for the significance of retranslation of literary works.A translator and the source text he chooses have distinct horizons,and it is understanding that fuses the differences to reach "the fusion of horizons",from which the translator endeavors to approach the authentic world of the writer's.In the light of Hermeneutics,the process of literary translation is that of hermeneutic motion,which is always influenced by pre-understanding of the subjects of translation and the factor of historical attribute.Different interpretations of different translators are conducive to keeping vitality of the original text.As for the Chinese canons with profound connotation like Lun Yu,Hermeneutics has unique significance in illuminating the multiple translations of the Chinese classics.With the above beliefs in mind,the thesis is committed to a contrastive study of four excellent English versions of Lun Yu,respectively translated by James Legge, Ku Hungming,Ames & Rosemont,and the Khus in different eras,concerning their multiple translations of cultural elements as cases.This study applies Hermeneutics into translation in the hope of gaining multidimensional insights into translating Chinese canons.Firstly,the cultural elements in the four versions are classified and studied.Based on the comparisons,diverse translations of three interrelated key terms in Confucianism such as "ren(仁)","li(礼)","tian(天)" are discussed.To be specific,each of them starts with the exegetic inquiry into the connotation and evolution within the context of Chinese culture.Then comes the inter-lingual perspective.It is intended to,through comparison of the different comprehensions of translators and their renditions,reveal the deviation of meaning and value of the translating terms from the original from etymological,cultural and philosophical approach,and explore the causes of these differences.Next,from a macro point of view,the factors in the hermeneutic translation are taken into consideration,and hence,it is shown that the translation intention,translation strategies and target readership are influenced by different horizons of the subject and object of translation and its historicity.Translation is the result of horizons of the source text, translator and target reader.Involving fusion of horizons,translation of Chinese classics leads to difficulty in understanding and interpretation.Then the author makes an attempt to summarize five effective methods to deal with culture translation from the above four versions.After that,the thesis elucidates the necessity and significance of Lun Yu's translation in the world.It is believed that the diverse English versions of ancient canons are helpful to dig up and transmit the essence and spirit of Chinese culture to make the target readers perceive the glamour and value of traditional Chinese culture,and also to facilitate an equal dialogue between Chinese and Western culture.To sum up,the study introduces philosophical Hermeneutics into translation studies of Chinese canons.Interpretative multiplicity and many other problems in the translation can be solved by analyzing under the framework of Hermeneutics.It is to open up a fresh perspective of study for interdisciplinary approaches.The fusion of horizons,various approaches would be conducive to a great extent to the integration and incorporation of translation studies.