Translation, Imagination, History

This article mainly discusses some problems in the process of Chinese modernization by the virtue of the Sociology of Translation—Marxist sociological theory. Starting from explorations of some discourses, i.e. individuals, society and practice, this paper is intended to put the language practice and literature practice into the center of modern Chinese experience so as to investigate the field that multi-relations depend on each other from the late-Qing to"May 4th"period. It tries to probe how the translated cultural product intervened in the imagination and reconstruction of the image of China and how it involved in the construction of the Chinese Modernity.The modern China represented by the period of late-Qing and May 4th Movement undergoes the process of social transformation and the changes of literature system. The fact of the national crisis and the political ideal of the national power and prosperity as well as real political goals stimulate the intellectuals'interest to learn from the"other"—the West , and strive to rescue the nation from peril and transform the nation of China.Translation has played a vital role in the construction of China's national cultural identity and the image of China or subjectivity. It is also aimed at the Enlightenment and Salvation of the nation. Of all the translators during this period, Yan Fu is undoubtedly representative as well as Lu Xun.This article attempts to interpret social demand and enlightenment function by means of the Marxist social theory—human practice and social analysis. It points out that Yan Fu's choosing the"essence"of western culture as his translation task is mainly intended to"waken the ignorant", enlighten and change the ignorant for the purpose of changing the image of China. Meanwhile, it elaborates the translation activity and achievement of Lu Xun. He starts from the transformation of the"national character"and is aimed at"Lien"(individual enlightenment). His introduction of foreign culture is to arise the"national spirit"and construct a new image of the China or the subjectivity of China.While exploring the early translated texts, this article puts forward that modern China contains too much miserable history and has strong characteristics of nationalism. The intellectuals since late-Qing have been seeking the ways of the national independence and liberation. The culture during this period is founded on the basis of identity with the developed countries as well as pursuing the Chinese modernity. It is no doubt that the translation plays an important role in the process of seeking for the modernity and learning from the other countries.This article also points out that in the process of the Chinese intellectuals of enlightenment have translated the western thought to make China rise, most of them put special attention to the introduction of individualism discourse and regard it as a strategy of discourse which participated in the process of the theory construction to modern national country. The establishment of Chinese subjectivity which promotes the wakening of the Chinese national consciousness and starting the revolutionary movement of anti-feudalism and anti-imperialism is the prominent to modern China. It is paramount important to reconstruct national identity and eliminate the foolish and backward image of that time. This effort also embodies in the translators'translating activities at that time.The article considers what makes the project of Chinese modernity so special is its isomorphs of national enlightenment and individual enlightenment. These introduced ideas of politics and culture prompt transformation from the feudal state of autocracy and conversation to the modern state of national freedom and individuality liberation. Besides, written form of modern Chinese as well as literary discourse creates the modernity of Chinese literary discourse and language characteristic. It is no doubt that the paramount influence and function of translation of that time has played a very important role to reconstruct the image of China and Chinese modernity within the broader social and history context.