A Study On Image Reproduction In Classical Chinese Poetry Translation

Poetry is the essence of language. Image constitutes the soul of poetry so image reproduction serves as the key to poetry translation. Classical Chinese poetry not only becomes the exotic flower in the garden of Chinese literature for its rich and meaningful images but also has a profound influence on the creation and appreciation of other nations' poetry. Both Japanese Haiku and western Imagism draw the inspiration and get enlightenments from the image creation of classical Chinese poetry. All of them lay a good foundation of the image reproduction in classical Chinese poetry translation. Therefore, classical Chinese poetry translation is not only quite necessary but also feasible. The author makes a comprehensive use of verse translation and imitation translation theories based on the successful research experience of the scholars at home and abroad to explore and reveal the image reproduction in classical Chinese poetry translation by the approach of comparative case study.First of all, the thesis makes a brief introduction of the discussion on the translatability and untranslatability of poetry translation and demonstrates three different translation schools and their representatives home and abroad respectively, namely the verse translation school, prose translation school and imitation school. The thesis makes a stylistic analysis of classical Chinese poetry from form and sense two perspectives, which lays the foundation for further study. Meanwhile, the author shows the origin and definition of image and classifies images into two broad categories: sensory and rhetorical images. Then the author demonstrates three important ways of image arrangements which contribute to the artistic atmosphere and poetic flavor of the poem. Secondly, the author makes a comparative study on different translation versions of poem "Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" for the purpose of exploring the translation of classical Chinese poetry. The author integrates verse translation theory with imitation translation theory and holds that TL text should also be a poem, but not a prose and faithful to the spirit of the SL text. What's the most important thing, the images of the original poem must be fully reproduced. Lastly, the thesis analyzes the poetic beauty of the original poem "Night Mooring by Maple Bridge" and its realization in the target text. Classical Chinese poetry is of high aesthetic value. Images and the unique way of image arrangements contribute to the unique aesthetic features of Chinese poetry. Aesthetic elements play important roles in poetry translation. The author believes that the picturesque, harmonious and implicit beauty of image and image combinations should be well reproduced into TL text. To sum up, the author holds out that image is the essence of poetry. Image reproduction serves as the key to poetry translation so translators should use proper diction to reproduce images accurately and concisely and convey the cultural connotation of certain images so that the TL readers share the same or similar aesthetic feelings as the SL readers. So long as the image and its sense of beauty are reproduced to the utmost in the TL text, the translation is successful.