An Exploration Of The "Travel" Of Aestheticism In China

Starting from the cultural perspective of translation studies, this thesis surveys the whole process of entrance, transformation and reception of Aestheticism in Chinese literary system through the translation of Salome,under the guiding of Traveling Theory of Edward Said, and then under the framework of Lefevere's Manipulation Theory, this thesis discusses the reactive relationship between culture and translation.This Thesis divides the journey of Aestheticism in China into three periods; the first period covers years from 1915 to 1936, which begins with Chen Duxiu's introduction of Oscar Wilde and Salome in his preface of Jiang Sha Ji(《绛纱记》) by Su Manshu, and ends with Tian Han's admittance of Aestheticism's negative influence and announcement of his break with it in his Our Self-criticism (《我们自己的批判》). Then comes to the second period, which is the halting period of Aestheticism's travel in China. This period lasts to the end of Cultural Revolution. From the 1980s onward is the third period when Aestheticism re-embarks on its trip to China. Quite a few translations of Salome appeared in both the first and third periods, however, only some representative translations are chosen in this thesis to survey the selection and translation of Salome, as well as the inception, transformation and reception of Aestheticism. Meanwhile, what happens to Aestheticism and the background factors of the second period are also briefly illustrated in this thesis. Therefore, based on the analysis of the description of Aestheticism's travel, the interactive relationships between ideology, poetics and translation are discussed in the light of Lefevere's Manipulation Theory.This thesis moves away from the traditional perspective of translation researches, which concerns with the practical aspects relating to switch between two languages, and turns to the cultural perspective of translation studies. That is, in the large cultural context, this thesis surveys the issues of intercultural communication, influence, transformation and reception during the"travel"of Salome and Aestheticism, By surveying the detailed historical materials of Salome and Aestheticism's translation, transformation and reception, we conclude that the translators, who were in different ideology and poetics, manipulated the interpretations of Salome and Aestheticism and tinted them with the color of enlightening and anti-moralism, and reversely those"misreadings"deeply influenced the literary genres and production. The history of Salome and Aestheticism's translation, transformation and reception is the history of the interaction between culture and translation.